First hike - Issuu

from 2022 Quincy Valley Recreation Guide

Wine

Getting started

Here is a great way to put your feet on a trail in Quincy’s Ancient Lakes Story and photos by Dave Burgess

You get close to the volcanic rock outcroppings typical of central Washington. It is important, for your safety to stay on the paths.

Instead of seeing central Washington’s desert-like landscape from a car window only, why not get out into it for an easy hike and discover the shrub-steppe. Quincy’s Ancient Lakes area has a variety of trails to try, but for beginners there is one easy walk that is an especially good way to get oriented and ready to explore other trails in the future. This trail starts in the upper lakes level, is easy to fi nd, and can be hiked in a roundtrip time of just 30 minutes. It gives the walker an See First hike, page 13

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First hike, from page 12 up-close experience on an easy-to-follow trail – a beginner is not likely to get lost, yet it is not wide like a road – and it leads to a big bonus: a clifftop view over Dusty Lake in the lower lakes level.

The trail is short, about 2,000 feet, or about fourtenths of a mile one way. The up and down of this route amounts to a flight or two of stairs – not much. There are no signs marking the trail, but that just adds to the sense of desert solitude.

To find this trail in the upper lakes level, it is best to check a map. Drive on State Route 28 west of Quincy and turn south on White Trail Road, aka Road U NW. Travel 5.8 miles, signal, slow down, and turn right onto a gravel road.

The gravel road heads south to the gated entrance of the Quincy Lakes Unit of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area, managed by Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife (wdfw.wa.gov/placesto-go/wildlife-areas). The

See First hike, page 14

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road is a north-south axis useful for starting a mental map of the area. On Google Maps, this road is labeled Road T NW.

Shortly, in just 0.8 miles from the turnoff from White Trail Road, there is a large parking area on the right, which is the trailhead for the Ancient Lake Trail. This trail is an option for those who dislike gravel roads. The parking area is also nice and level, suitable for any vehicle.

Keep going to reach the Dusty Lake overlook trail. Travel 1.9 miles from the turnoff from White Trail Road, past Stan Coffin Lake and then Quincy Lake on the left. Across

The trunks and branches of the shrubs can be twisted into fantastic shapes. the road from the Burke Lake public access point, See First hike, p. 16

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Trails

To State Route 28

RD T NW

Ancient Lake

Dusty Lake H Lake Rd 5 NW/Whitetrail

Stan

Coffi n

Lake Quincy Lake Flat Lake

Burke Lake Evergreen Rd U NW Rd 2 NW Reservoir Rd 3 NW

Silica RD Rd U NW

RD 1 NW

W Baseline RD

Beverly Burke RD

281

THE QUINCY VALLEY

Lakes

283

RD 1 NW N Frontage RD W

S Frontage RD W W Baseline RD

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First hike, from p. 14 is a vault toilet on the right. It marks a small parking area sometimes used for camping.

A vehicle with little ground clearance may be better off parked in the smooth turnaround circling the vault toilet, because there are some jagged rocks in the parking area.

The trail starts in the middle of the western side (away from the road) of the parking area. Put one foot in front of the other, take it slow, and watch your step.

Stop frequently to take in the scenery and get your bearings.

And, stay on the trail. In this rugged terrain, a hiker who has veered off the trail for, say, 20 paces, can look back and not see the trail. Also, know to the south is a cliff about 300 feet away. There are no warning signs or railings.

Approaching the destination viewpoint, if hiking with young children, hold their hands.

The clifftop view is fantastic: Dusty Lake framed by basalt walls and opening up to the basin beyond.

Return to the parking area on the same path. If

See First hike, p. 18

At top left, the view west from the trail. At top right, at bottom and on the opposing page, the Dusty Lake overlook, which is the destination on this short trail.

First hike, from p. 16 this trail inspires future explorations, take a minute to walk up the road, to the left, about 50 feet and see the start of another trail. This one starts out in similar terrain but is much longer. It goes a couple of miles down a ravine and all the way down to the lower lake level. There are steep parts.

Some of the trails scattered around the Ancient Lakes are easy to see and follow, while others that get less foot traffi c may fade out of sight. Most are unmarked – there are few

See First hike, p. 19 Lichen on rock almost seems painted by an Impressionist artist.

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First hike, from p. 18 signs telling hikers where they are or how long a trail is. The upper area is closer to paved road, but the lower level has miles and miles of trails laced through the brush.

To reach the lower lakes level, drive west on Road 9 NW. It curves south, descends, and becomes Ancient Lake Road NW. It is 4 miles on a good gravel road to reach the trailhead.

This level is fantastic for hiking, trail running, biking, horseback riding and camping. It has great views of basalt walls and mountains to the west. A Discover Pass is required to park in this area.