When I visited, my group opted to hike the trail clockwise, but the loop can be completed in either direction. This is a landscape shaped by the Missoula floods, with hike highlights 15,000 years in the making. The trail is well marked and there are well-spaced benches along the way, inviting hikers to linger along the route. By hiking clockwise we found a dramatic vantage point allowing us to look down on Rock Rose Crater from above.  

Since the hike is short, bring some additional supplies to help you savor the journey. This is an ideal place for photography and bird watching, or even plein air painting. Books on geology and the Missoula floods can also be useful to have along on the hike to help interpret geologic features visible along the trail. We found spring wildflowers including arrowleaf balsamroot and phlox. On my group’s visit, we also packed a picnic lunch to enjoy at Odessa’s Reiman Park after we had completed the hike.  

There is one warning I must pass along about this hike: It is a spring hotbed for ticks. I had already applied my annual clothing treatment of Permethrin prior to my mid-April visit, which I found worked well for myself. My hiking companion didn’t have any tick treatment on and discovered several ticks along the course of the hike. My poor dog, who was wearing a Permethrin-treated bandana but had not yet received his spring and summer tick treatment, ultimately brought several hitchhikers home. While dogs are permitted on this hike, due to the prevalence of ticks, it might be better to leave them at home.

Hike Stats

Round-trip distance: 1.5 miles 

Rating: Easy 

Elevation gain: 175 feet 

Map: Lakeview Recreation Area on the BLM Website (map)

Getting there: From Odessa, Wash., take Highway 21 north. Travel 6.6 miles to a small parking area with a trailhead kiosk located on the east side of the highway. 

Find more Hike of the Month ideas in the OTO archives.

Holly Weiler is a crew leader for Washington Trails Association and writes the Hike of the Month for each issue. She looks forward to enjoying spring wildflowers. 

Editor’s Note: Fishtrap Recreation Area remains open year-round even during stay-at-home orders because of its open accessibility (no gates). It has limited facilities and those remained locked and unusable during the Washington State “Stay Healthy, Stay Home” public health proclamation.

This article was originally published as “Odessa Craters: Eastern Washington’s Channeled Scablands” for the Hike of the Month column in the April 2020 issue.

The post Spring Hiking to Odessa Craters appeared first on Out There Venture.

Here are 5 favorite family-friendly hikes in Eastern Washington and North Idaho:

1. Fishtrap Lake–North: This 4-mi. roundtrip hike offers fantastic views of Fishtrap Lake and descends to the water in two spots. The trail wanders through ponderosa pine and aspen stands, making it perfect for a warm spring day. Wildflowers here are a great way to get young kids actively interested in the trail. WTA has two wildflower guides online (“Wildflowers Mountain,” is a pdf that shows Cascade species but is also applicable to eastern WA; “Wildflower Guide,” shows month-by-month blooms but is more limited). A Northwest Forest Pass is required, $30/annual pass good in WA and OR or $5 for day pass.

2. McKenzie Conservation Area: This property offers 3.3 mi. of trails to wander with a chance to look out over Newman Lake northeast of Spokane. This 420-acre area hosts a network of trails, great wildlife and bird watching, and a native plant garden. No parking fee.

3. Tubbs Hill: Well-known because of its proximity to downtown Coeur d’Alene, this 2.5-mile trail never fails to disappoint. There are remarkable views from the shade of the trees and plenty of opportunities to wander down to the shore and dip your toes in the cool water. Dogs are welcome, and fishing is also allowed. Park along S. 10th St. just before it intersects Lakeshore Dr. as it is often less crowded here (no parking fee). Directions and a Junior Friends of Tubbs Hill Activity Book can be found online at cdaid.org.

4. Revett Lake: At 2.6 miles, roundtrip, this sub-alpine hike just west of the Idaho-Montana border is great for kids. Although there is a bit of elevation gain (915 ft) there is always the promise of something new to see. A waterfall awaits about ¾-mile up the trail at a bridge crossing the creek. The final climb is rewarded with a beautiful sub-alpine lake framed by steep slopes and a view of Granite Peak. The outlet stream to the left of the main trail is mostly swampy meadow, but there is some good rock-hopping and stream-exploring if you go far enough. A brush-choked trail leads to the far end of the lake. Hopeful swimmers be aware that this alpine lake is always very cold. Fishing is allowed, and there is no parking fee. Details can be found in 100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest by Rich Landers.

5. Sullivan Lake: Aspen, hemlock, and birch dot the shoreline of this prominent lake in the Colville National Forest. The fairly-flat Lakeshore Trail along the eastside of the lake lets little ones set their own distance, with plenty of opportunities to jump in the water and cool off. The 4-mile trail (one way) goes along the east side of Sullivan Lake connects East Sullivan Campground to the north with Noisy Creek Campground to the south. The best route begins at the trailhead near East Sullivan Campground where you will keep right to find the lakeside trail. Hike out and back, ending the day at the swimming beaches. No parking fee.

For driving directions and further details about hiking destinations within Washington State, visit wta.org.

When she is not editing engineering articles, Crystal Atamian has found that she loves skijoring with her dog, trying new microbrews, and laughing at her sons’ jokes. She wrote about snowshoeing in the December issue.

For more articles about lakes and Inland NW Family Outdoors Guide content, visit the OTO archives.

The post 5 Family Hikes for Lakeside Fun Near Spokane appeared first on Out There Venture.