East Lenore Coulee Hike
Hike Rating: Moderate
Hike Length: 6.2 miles roundtrip (variable)
Elevation Gain: 715’
Trailhead Elevation: 720’
Best Season: April-June and September
Driving Access: Any vehicle
Plus
Points
• An easy overland route into a
hidden coulee, with Ice Age flood features
• Hiking route is under dramatic cliffs of a knife-edged
ridge, The Great Blade
• Mega-flood erosional features, such as potholes, plunge
pools and dry falls
• Spring wildflowers include arrowleaf balsamroot, phlox,
buckwheat and larkspur
• Though cows are present during the grazing season, the
area is lightly used
• An isolated desert coulee that is a world apart, with a
good chance for solitude
Minus Points
• No established trail, but
walking is easy, except a few short, steep scrambles
• Very little shade or cover, so it's best to start in the
early AM on hot days
• Rattlesnakes are a possibility throughout the summer, so
be aware
Download
(PDF, 706 KB): Photos of East Lenore Coulee
Hike
Download
(PDF, 666 KB): Topo Map for East Lenore Coulee
Hike
Download
(GPX, 1 KB): GPS Points for East Lenore Coulee
Hike
Download
(PDF, 568 KB): Road Map for East Lenore Coulee
Hike
Trail
Notes
From the
turnout on Hwy 17 (GPS Point 1), the hike ascends a
double-track jeep road to the northeast, through a wire
gate. The road ends in a small flat after 100 yards and a
steep, single-track trail continues up the hillside,
between rock talus slopes. The trail soon crests the hill
and continues northeast over a grassy slope toward a notch
in the rock wall (GPS Point 2). At the notch, the trail
cross a wire drift fence and continues into a
flat-bottomed, steep-walled coulee.
Once in the coulee, follow cow trails north toward a rocky
talus slope at the head of a prominent lobe in the coulee.
The cow trail climbs this talus slope, through a bit of
brush, to a narrow flood channel on top (GPS Point 3).
Follow the trail north in the narrow channel for a few
hundred yards, past a giant pothole on the east, to where
one can see the south end of the knife-edge ridge, known as
The Great Blade. Follow game trails up onto the flat bench
east of the blade, to where they cross an old downed,
east-west fence at 0.7 miles (GPS Point 4).
From here,
the route continues north cross-country, parallel to the
east side of the blade, following along the flat bench
about 50 yards away from the rocky slope. There is no
established trail, but old game trails are easy to find in
the grassy, sage steppe. Wherever there's a rocky or
difficult stretch, there's always a good game trail to be
found through it.
At 1.8 miles, the route passes a couple of perfectly round
potholes, several hundred yards across, which were
excavated out of the basalt bedrock by swirling flood
waters. Within the next mile, one sees more deeply-eroded
grooves and potholes to the east, some 50'-100' deep. At
3.1 miles, the route reaches an overlook on a rounded
bluff, with good views of the ancient plunge pool lake (now
dry) and the dry falls at the head of East Lenore Coulee.
This makes a good hike and lunch destination. Return as you
came.
Road
to Trailhead
On State Hwy 17, about 7.1
miles north of Soap Lake, WA, or 9.4 miles south of Sun
Lakes- Dry Falls State Park, look for a steep turnout on
the east side of the highway, just south of Milepost 83.
This pullout is 1.8 miles south of the turnoff to the Lake
Lenore Caves State Park on Hwy 17. Pull into this turnout
and park well off the highway in the small, steep parking
area. The hike starts up the jeep road to the northeast,
through the wire gate. A WA State Discover Pass is required
at this trailhead.
Camping
Options
The nearest
public campground is at Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park,
about 9.4 driving miles north of the trailhead. This is a
large campground with flush toilets, showers, drinking
water, full hookups and over 190 campsites, including
spaces for tents as well as the largest RVs and travel
trailers. Be prepared for high winds. Reservations are
available April 15 through September 15 and are highly
recommended for the summer months. Visit the WA State
Parks website or call (888) 226-7688.
Camping fees are based on the type of campsite selected.
Campsites are also available at two private campgrounds in
Soap Lake, WA, about 7 driving miles south of the trailhead
on State Route 17.
Agency
Contact: Washington Dept. of Fish &
Wildlife, (509) 765-6641
DISCLAIMER:
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this
information, but the authors do not guarantee that it is
either current or correct. The reader assumes full
responsibility for any use of this information, and is
encouraged to contact local public land agencies to inquire
about current conditions before
traveling.
Page
last updated: 12/8/14