Spring Fling! Let's go camping (and hiking, of course!) Updates.

Let’s go camping and hiking for a few days on the other side of the Cascades. Central Washington's weather forecast next week is sunny, with highs in the upper 60's and lows in the mid 40's. Spring wildflowers are blooming, the geology is interesting over yonder, and no reservations are needed for our lovely state park campgrounds (but are available if you wish--see my message below.) Please come with tall tales and s'mores fixings for around the campfire, plus good spirits and flexibility, because plans may change. Feel free to join us for any or all activities. Or just show up and be the camp cook!

Pass: Discover Pass.

Day 1 (Monday): Get yourself and your gear to Lake Wenatchee State Park – South Entrance – for our first overnight. There are some short hikes with spring woodland wildflowers in the park.
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/lake-wenatchee-state-park-shore-trail
Night 1: Lake Wenatchee SP South Campground.
https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/lake-wenatchee-state-park

Day 2: Pack up camp and drive 43 miles to Horse Lake Reserve for our wildflower hike in the Wenatchee foothills. Some of you will remember this from a few years ago.
Hike Horse Lake Reserve: 5.2 miles minimum--will likely add more loops for a longer hike. 700’ gain, elev. 2,410’
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/horse-lake-reserve
Drive 26 miles to Sun Lakes/Dry Falls State Park.

Optional short hike along the route: Lenore Lake Caves: 1.5 miles RT, 200’ gain, elev 1,300’. Trailhead is 6 miles from campground.
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/lenore-lake-caves
https://parks.wa.gov/about/news-center/field-guide-blog/lake-lenore-caves-state-park-heritage-site-history

Night 2: Sun Lakes/Dry Falls State Park
https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/sun-lakes-dry-falls-state-park
https://parks.wa.gov/about/news-center/field-guide-blog/sun-lakes-dry-falls-state-park-history
Day 3: Hike Umatilla Rock: 5 miles, 100’ gain; trailhead is a 10-minute drive from campground.
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/go-hiking/hikes/umatilla-rock-monument-coulee
Visit Dry Falls Overlook (about a mile north of Sun Lakes SP on Highway 17)

Night 3: Steamboat Rock State Park
https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/steamboat-rock-state-park
Day 4: Hike Moses Coulee, Steamboat Rock, or Northrup Canyon & Lakes, tbd. Decision to be made the day of the hike based on group enthusiasm and additional research.
Moses Coulee: 4 miles RT, no gain, 1,750’ elev.; 45-minute drive to trailhead from the campground.
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/moses-coulee-preserve
Northrup Canyon and Lakes: 6 miles RT, 384 gain, 2,134’ elev.; 11-minute drive to trailhead.
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/northrup-canyon
Steamboat Rock: 6 miles RT, 650’ gain, 2,250’ elev.; 20-minute walk to trailhead.
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/steamboat-rock
Drive 75 miles to Alta State Park.

Night 4: Alta Lake State Park
https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/alta-lake-state-park
Day 5 (Friday) Pack up and drive 60 miles (1.25 hours) to Swakane Canyon (south of Entiat)
Swakane Canyon: 6 miles, 1,470’ gain, elev. 2,980; 1.25-hour drive SW of Alta Lake SP.
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/swakane-canyon
From WTA: Swakane Canyon is a nice two season hike on an old road with views of the Columbia River valley from Badger Mountain to Wenatchee. Enroute you may see spring flowers, unique rock formations, and animals like deer, coyotes, snakes and hawks. The last part of the drive to the trailhead sounds tough, but there is apparently parking before that starts (see the WTA article and April 2023 trip report)
Home Friday night.

Here's a Google Maps link for our route:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/bRrYBCnLLBUw1M4h9