Ancient Lakes | The Outback

While the Cascades are locked in winter, the Central Washington desert slips into its prime season — snow‑free, wide‑open terrain, long quiet routes, cool air, and clarity of sun and sky. Join us for this classic hike on Sunday, March 29.

Journey Through a Desert Carved by Time
This loop hike begins with a quiet walk toward the Columbia River, where the flood‑scoured plain and towering basalt walls set the tone for a primordial landscape sculpted by ancient forces. From the shoreline, the route turns inland and rises gently into the deep bowl of Dusty Lake — a coulee walled in by dark columnar cliffs and shaped by recessional cataract canyons that still show the traces of primeval thundering water from the last ice age. The basalt itself is millions of years old, formed from massive lava flows.

Climbing out of the basin leads onto the high desert bench — a wide, wind‑swept platform of sage, sand, and stone where the views stretch unbroken across the vast Columbia Plateau. This is the spacious heart of the loop, a place where the coulees fall away on both sides and the scale of the landscape feels almost geologic. Ancient Lakes appear — an amphitheater of dark rock, still water, and sky, a broad basin holding a spacious, echoing calm. After we linger beside the still waters of Ancient Lakes, the route carries us across open desert for the final miles back to the trailhead, closing a loop that feels both expansive and quietly dramatic.

Hike Stats - Ancient Lakes and Dusty Lake Loop
Distance: 13 miles
Route Type: Counterclockwise Loop
Elevation Gain: 1,500 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Estimated Hiking Time: 6–7 hours, including breaks

Trail Map
Ten Hiking Essentials
WTA

Itinerary
0630 - Meet at the Park & Ride, if looking to carpool
0930 - Meet at the trailhead
1000 - Begin hiking
1700 – Return to the trailhead
2000 - Return to the Park and Ride

Carpool Location
Eastgate Park and Ride
14200 SE 32nd St,
Bellevue, WA 98007
GPS: 47.58087, -122.15282

Trailhead Location
Ancient Lakes Lower Trailhead
Ancient Lake Rd NW
Quincy, WA 98848
GPS: 47.16010, -119.98074

Logistics | Carpooling
We will first meet at the Park & Ride location above for carpooling. You may also meet the group directly at the trailhead per the schedule above. Rideshare Fee: $40 per passenger (cash or Venmo). Please pay your driver when you get into their car. Bring a plastic bag for your muddy boots and clothes after the hike. A Discover Pass is required to park a vehicle at this trailhead.

Disclaimer
I am not a guide; I am simply a recreationist sharing a hike. By choosing to participate, you acknowledge the inherent risks of wilderness hiking and accept full responsibility for your own safety and decisions. You also acknowledge that the event host cannot be held liable for any accidents or unforeseen incidents and is indemnified.

RSVP Etiquette
All participants must be registered here, confirmed on the going list and have a clear facial profile picture for safety and identification in order to attend this event. Please RSVP only if you are fully committed to attending. Late cancellations and no‑shows are recorded and may affect your ability to join future hikes.

Click here to message the event host with any questions.