Fagin's Hike of the Week- Finding the Sun

Updated  3-28-2017
Less than a two hour drive will get you to the almost always sunny Vantage (near) Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park 
Note that the flower pictures were taken in prior years so we are probably a week or 2 away from flowers. Thanks to Alan Bauer for many of the photos

Sage Violet @ Alan Bauer

Cirrus clouds @ Alan Bauer 

Desert Shooting Star @ Alan Bauer 

Desert Bluebells @ Alan Bauer

Horned Lizard @ Alan Bauer

Columbia River from Ginkgo

 After Ginkgo State Park drive less than two miles to the north there is Rocky Coulee Recreation Center.

Enjoying views of Columbia River

Sage of course

Balsamroot @ Karen Sykes

Then back on I-90 East and cross the Columbia River and stopped by the Wild Horses

Wild Horse @ Karen Sykes

Back on I-90 to  Frenchman Coulee east of Vantage

Climbers always here

Michael enjoying the views @ Karen Sykes

Driving Directions: To visitors Center from Seattle take I-90 East and take exit 136 toward Vantage/Huntzinger Rd. Then left onto Main St/Vantage Hwy/Wanapum Rd Continue to follow Vantage Hwy less then a mile follow signs to Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Interpretive Center. After this center then drive a short 2 miles west on Old Vantage Highway and Parking lot is on right for the hiking trails.
Trail stats: 3 miles minimal
Photo below is map of area

Directions are the best estimates that we have so please bring map and compass and or GPS.

Directions to Frenchman's Coulee: From Ellensburg, drive east on Interstate 90 to exit 143. After exiting, turn left under the freeway. At 0.8 mile, turn left onto Vantage Road. Drive 2.7 miles to the parking area on the right (north) side of the road. You will need a Washington State Discover Pass for Ginkgo and Frenchman Coulee .

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