HIKING -- Disrespectful hikers are trespassing and fouling the experience at the popular spring Hog Canyon waterfall trek southwest of Spokane (Hike 108 in Day Hiking Eastern Washington).

Instead of walking in along the west side of the lake and stopping at the marked property line near an overlook of the scenic waterfall, some hikers have been unlawfully going to the waterfall and up along it.

That's private land and the area is clearly posted no trespassing.

This week, some people got belligerent with the landowners who confronted them.  That's a black-eye for hikers and other visitors to the public U.S. Bureau of Land Management recreation area.

"BLM always asks the public to respect private property along our public lands," said Steve  Smith, Spokane District recreation staffer.

"Trespassing has made the situation dicey," said Mike Sprecher, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife enforcement officer.

Hog Canyon is a popular winter fishing lake off I-90 from the Fishtrap exit (season closed April 1).

Runoff period is a good time to visit. The waterfall is a scablands surprise.

First timers might want to use the BLM Fishtrap map to find your way to the Hog Canyon boat launch. Hike the west shoreline, scramble up to the rim and follow the rim up lake to a point overlooking the falls, with the lake below you to the right. Beautiful.

But don't trespass on private land, please.