ANCIENT LAKES

Ancient Lakes is located outside the small town of Quincy, Washington hidden among farmland, ranches, and flat desert landscape. Plant life abounds due to the rich soil which comes from six inches of ash that fell when Mt. St. Helens erupted. The plant life, the two lakes, and the waterfalls provide plenty of substance for wildlife to consider this area to be home. Deer, coyotes, rattlesnakes, birds, and elk happen to be just a few animal species a person might find hidden away in the safety of the basin outlined with volcanic basalt formations. The trail back to Ancient Lakes leads the hiker three miles to a spectacular waterfall cascading over the cliffs fed by the upper resevoirs of the Coulee Basin. Lush green vegetation around this waterfall provides the onlooker with a picturesque panorama of contrast against the desert landscape. After a refreshing stop the trail continues around for another three miles for a six mile round trip hike. If a person wanted to continue hiking, the trail does continue for another two miles to Dusty Lake at which point one can return by way of the Ancient Lakes trail, totaling 14 miles round trip, or continue up to the Dusty Lake trail head, offering a good desert hike of 8.5 miles. A car could be parked at the Ancient Lakes trail head and another one at Dusty Lake trail head if one preferred not to hike the loop. This trail is great for hikers, horseback riders, or even to train animals like llamas. The trail is a flat dusty trail until it nears the waterfall. The best time of year to enjoy this hike would be spring and early summer when the wild flowers dress the basin in their brilliant colors and the desert offers cooler temperatures.