Hawk Creek Dayhike

(From Field Reports, Sunday, June 9, 1996): Errors cropped up in a recent edition of “Routes: Classic Trips in the Inland Northwest.” Hawk Creek Dayhike (May 12): Alternate access should read, “From Davenport, head north on State Highway 25…” Also, the “optional extension” described on map and text heads into private land and is off-limits to anyone who has not secured permission from the landowners.

CHECK IT OUT

Distance: 3-3/4 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Hiking time: 1-1/2 - 2-1/2 hours

Season: Virtually year-round

Maps: USGS Olsen Canyon

Info: Coulee Dam National Recreation Area, (509) 725-2715

DAYHIKING TRIP NOTES:

Access: On U.S. Highway 2 from Davenport, Wash., drive 18-1/4 miles and turn right on Miles-Creston Road toward Seven Bays (milepost 232.3). Go 11-1/2 miles and turn left on gravel road toward Hawk Creek Campground. Drive another mile, passing campground, to primitive boat launch parking area. Alternate: From Davenport, head east on State Highway 25 about 22 miles. Turn left on Miles-Creston Road (at store), and drive 7 miles, passing Seven Bays, to Hawk Creek Campground turnoff.

Attractions: Lightly used trails lead from popular summer boat playground in Coulee Dam National Recreation Area to deserted scenic heights. Trails lead past sandy beaches, through sage, under basalt caves, near sand dunes. April-May splendid with wildflowers, including balsamroot, lupine, phlox. Great views of Lake Roosevelt. Route often hikable in winter. Optional cross-country extension leads to high point for eye-level view of soaring hawks and golden eagles. Fishing for trout, burbot and other species at mouth of Hawk Creek. Spring best time to see Hawk Creek falls near campground.

Comments: Dramatic fluctuations of Lake Roosevelt water levels can leave huge sandy or mud beaches. Boat ramp at trailhead usually high and dry in spring.

Choose morning or evening to hike this dry south-facing hillside during summer. In spring, wear long pants. Tuck ends in socks. Check body for ticks after hike.

From parking area, hike through gate and follow old road along Hawk Creek, or follow footpath that contours directly above creek as it winds into canyon below precipitous rock cliff. Trail and road merge about 1/4 mile at gate.

Continue through gate on old dirt road. In low water, vast sandy beach stretches out below. Walk through grassy spot in small grove of ponderosa pines. (Note trail heading up canyon to right. See “optional extension” below.)

Continue, paralleling lake shore. Where old road peters out, stock trail continues contouring around the north side of Hawk Creek inlet. Skirt large bay, then cut right (north) into cove. One stock trail continues up this draw, but featured route contours south again, passing junction with return-route and heading up side-slope to continue skirting Hawk Creek inlet.

After passing excellent beaches, continue on stock trail to overlook of Columbia River channel. Walk down onto sagebrush flat. No defined trail for about 100 yards. Trail picks up again below sandy slide topped with pines. Continue contouring inlet, heading up above beach to another good overlook on sandy, sage-covered point.

Follow old road bed heading north and up toward large dark cave in rock outcropping. (Road shows on USGS map.) Hike below thick patch of scorched Oregon grape in draw dotted with curiosities ranging from coyote dens to aspens. Where draw begins to broaden, take sharp right turn to continue route to base of cave. (I’ve built cairn at this junction).

Good trail leads below cave and heads east on sage bench, past sand dunes, for 1/2 mile before heading down into draw. Just before trail leads into clump of trees, turn sharply right on undefined trails and head down into draw. Soon you’ll hit well-defined trail that drops steeply into narrow draw to join original route along Hawk Creek. Retrace route back to trailhead.

Optional extension: Involves cross-country hiking. From cairn at trail junction described above, continue up old road bed short way, then follow it as it sweeps left, up hillside, under pine tree on skyline. Walk over broad point, where well-defined road bends north at overlook of Lake Roosevelt and Lincoln sawmill. Walk over another crest for views of Seven Bays development. Just before road begins leading downhill toward Seven Bays, bear right, off-trail, on rocky ridge heading northeast to higher ground. Cheatgrass can be bothersome to hikers in low-cut boots in summer and fall. Phlox bloom here in spring.

At saddle, skirt base of scree slope and head up right side of pine-studded draw, through tall sage. At top of draw, continue up several benches to broad high point at elev. 2,356 feet. By hiking small circle, you can get views in all directions.

Curious hikers will want to follow ridge south toward Moonshine Canyon (on south side of Hawk Creek inlet). Curious structure perched on cliff is “hack box” used by state biologists for releasing peregrine falcon fledglings several years ago. Project abandoned after territorial golden eagles discouraged falcons from hanging around. Look for swallows. Listen for “chuk, chuk” of chukar partridge.

From here, retrace route back to cave. Experienced hikers with maps can continue east from high point, down steep slope, eventually picking up stock trails leading below rimrocks, past rimrock caves, down to grove of ponderosa pines near gate at head of Hawk Creek inlet.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map of dayhike area

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN - Routes: Classic Trips in the Inland Northwest