Hike Ancient Lakes

South on Whitetrail Rd / Rd U, right on Rd 9 NW and continue on Ancient Lake Rd until you reach the parking area. I have explored the area in spring (March 2016) and winter (January 2017). Plenty of trail to explore throughout the area. There is an overlook over Dusty Lake and you are able to scramble to the top of the waterfall. In the winter, massive icicles form off the edges of the mesas and waterfalls.

Lots of wide open spaces and beautiful canyon cliffs to explore, we wanted to go off trail to scramble every cliff and see every waterfall, but be mindful of LNT and enjoy this otherworldly place. Just know that there is a road that takes you to the south of the lakes area as well, putting you 4 or 5 miles past the main lakes and onto an open plain. We got quite turned around here, and without cell service had to use a trail guide to sort out that we were on a completely different road. We also camped out here, be mindful that it is very cold in March still, but having said that, besides some coyote packs, we had the place all to ourselves.

We hit the trail just after 4:30 in order to give us just enough time to witness one of the many spectacular sunsets Central and Eastern Washington are renowned for. With an average yearly rain accumulation under 10 inches, Ancient Lakes in Quincy, WA has fairly moderate weather year-round. It was windy so don't forget a sweatshirt and shell! After climbing above the main waterfall overlooking the lakes and watching the sky burst into color, we found our way back via headlamp. A great evening to hit the trail!

This is a great spot for when you're feeling those winter blues in Seattle and need some sunshine and sagebrush country. There are 12 miles of trail throughout the Ancient Lakes network, so you can expand your adventure if you want to. Definitely be wary of rattlesnakes, especially in the early morning or getting closer to sunset (when I came across one right in the middle of the path soaking up some warmth). This area also has Western poison ivy, so generally a good idea to stay on trail here. There are fantastic wildflowers here in the spring and a wildlife reserve where you can see lots of different bird species as you hike. Make sure you bring all the water you need for a day hike or overnight because all water in this area is irrigation runoff and not safe for drinking even after filtration. Discover Pass required here.

We hiked here on a Saturday in April and it was so crowded! There were at least three scout troops that backpacked in and were camping overnight in addition to all the other people who were there! We found a quiet place on the shore of the far lake opposite the waterfall to eat our lunch. We then hiked to the waterfall by way of the boulders and came across a rattlesnake (danger!). We didn't go outside the first three lake area to the area beyond the waterfall, but the area is still beautiful and worth the time.