Hike

Name: Cheney-Spokane Members Meeting and Public Lecture
Start: 2025-10-11T11:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-10-11T16:00:00-07:00
Location: Doris Morrison Learning Center (DMLC)

October 2024
October 26, 2024 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm PDT

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Fishtrap Lake Scablands Hike

Fishtrap Lake South Loop

Fishtrap Lake, Washington (BLM Photo) Come join us for a 5-mile hike to explore the Ice Age floods features in the Fishtrap Lake area east of Sprague, WA! The Cheney-Spokane Chapter of the IAFI is scheduling a hike at the south loop trailhead of Fishtrap Lake on Saturday, October 26th . The hike will start at 10:00 a.m. The hike will be led by Don Chadbourne, geologist and board member of the Cheney-Spokane Chapter. You will meet the leader at the trailhead. Description of Fishtrap Lake Hike The hike will begin and end at the south trailhead at Fishtrap Lake. The hike will follow the south loop trail, with a total length of about 5.5 miles. The trail is mostly single track over dirt and rock, with an elevation gain and loss of about 500 feet. The hike will provide an intimate view of the channeled scablands that were carved out by the ice age floods. Features will include pothole lakes, rock benches, mima mounds, kolks, and streamlined and scarped Palouse hills. The hike will also provide wide open views of Fishtrap Lake and the surrounding country. This hike is included in On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods – Northern Reaches, by Bjornstad & Kiver. However, we will be following trails that were constructed after the book was published. Directions to the trailhead From I-90 take Exit 254 and proceed south 3.6 miles on the Sprague Highway. Turn left (east) on Miller Ranch Road and proceed 0.2 miles to the “T” at the Miller Ranch house. Turn right(south) and drive 0.8 miles to the trailhead parking lot. There is a vault toilet at the parking lot. (Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/9Zz7nwdwziMzHYh69 map coordinates: 47.33381100925525, -117.863529217959) Sign up for the hike on the iafi.org events website. The hike will be limited to 20 hikers. Items to bring with you: appropriate shoes, day pack, water, snacks, appropriate clothing for changes in the weather, sun protection, emergency items, camera and binoculars. Walking poles will be helpful. The hike is free; however, donations for support of Chapter activities will be accepted. For addition questions contact Don at 509-891-5875. A signed liability release form is required for each hiker. If you are able, please download the form and print a copy for each member of your group. Sign the form and bring it to the trailhead. (We will have extra copies on hand at the trailhead.)
November 2024
November 9, 2024 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm PST

Lower Grand Coulee Field Trip

Soap Lake Senior Center 121 2nd Ave SE, Soap Lake, United States

Monster Rock - Ephrata Fan Join Geologist, Mark Amara and Outing Coordinator Gene Wing of the Lower Grand Coulee Chapter for an exciting outing exploring the Lower Grand Coulee area. We will leave the Senior Center at 10am and drive South to the famous "Monster Rock" and the "Ephrata Fan area", Next we head North to the Lake Lenore area to see the Lenore Lake Monocline rocks and the Great Blade, and then we head North and do a short hike into the Deep Lake Potholes within Sun Lakes State Park and end the outing at the Dry Falls Visitor Center. Meeting Place: Soap Lake Senior Center, located at 121 2nd Ave SE, Soap Lake, WA 98851 Date: Saturday November 9, 2024 Start time: 10:00am More information: Contact Denis Felton Discover Pass is required
March 2025
March 15 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pm PDT

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Escure Ranch / Towell Falls

Escure Ranch Washington

The Cheney-Spokane Chapter of the IAFI is scheduling a hike at Escure Ranch on the BLM Rock Creek Recreation Site on Saturday, March 15th. The hike will start at 10:00 a.m. It will be led by Don Chadbourne, geologist and board member of the Cheney-Spokane Chapter. You will meet the leader at the trailhead. Description of the Escure Ranch Hike The hike will begin and end at the Escure Ranch parking area, of the Bureau of Land Management, Rock Creek Recreation site. The hike will follow an old ranch road to Towell Falls and return on the same route. The out and back hike will be about 6.5 miles. The trail is mostly double track over dirt and rock, with an elevation gain and loss of about 160 feet. The hike is a pleasant trek through a remote scabland canyon. Features will include rock benches and basins, flood bars, Mima mounds, mesas and waterfalls. This hike is included in the book, On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods – Northern Reaches, by Bjornstad & Kiver. Directions to the trailhead will be provided to hikers after registration. Click on the Register button to sign up for the hike. The hike will be limited to 20 hikers. Items to bring with you: appropriate shoes, day pack, water, snacks, appropriate clothing for changes in the weather, sun protection, emergency items, camera and binoculars. Walking poles will be helpful. The hike is free; however, donations for support of Chapter activities will be accepted. For additional questions, contact Don at 509-891-5875.
March 21 - March 23

Othello Sandhill Crane Festival

Othello, WA WA, United States

The 27th annual Othello Sandhill Crane Festival - March 21, 22, and 23! Founded in 1998, the Othello Sandhill Crane Festival highlights the spring return of Sandhill Cranes to the greater Othello area and the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. Not only are there bird lectures and tours on all three days, but the Festival always incorporates many geology talks; and field trips into Flood Country. Please see the events brochure here: https://www.othellosandhillcranefestival.org/_files/ugd/00304c_e3ceea5f94c44279af5e6e7a1cd036d7.pdf?index=true General admission is $10 and covers lectures and activities at the School and Church. All other tours and activities priced as noted in the schedule along with general admission. Friday Night Featured Lecture - Bruce Bjornstad – The Grand Coulee Nowhere is the evidence for Ice Age Megafloods so dramatic and awe-inspiring than Grand Coulee. The evolution of Grand Coulee will be presented via a unique bird’s eye view of this unique 50-mile-long canyon. Evidence for dozens of megafloods through Grand Coulee, as recently as 15,000 years ago, will be examined. This Lecture is free to attend in the Red Room at 7 PM. Saturday, March 22 there will be several talks on geology at the Crane Festival.. Ice Age Floodscapes. Bruce Bjornstad tells of an appreciation of the huge scale of Ice Age Megafloods and the features they left behind are often hidden and lost at close range. An aerial perspective of dozens of different unique flood features will be presented to bring the immense power and magnitude of the Ice Age Floods into focus Coulees, Canyons, and Valleys, Oh My! Lloyd Stoess will present a somewhat tongue-in-cheek look at how scientists can’t always agree on the definition of landforms, like coulees. Coulees interlace the landscape of the channeled scablands of eastern Washington which were carved by the Ice Age Floods, but what really defines them and how do they differ from canyons and valleys? Coyote Canyon: A Mammoth Burial in Ice Age Floods Sediments. Gary Kleinknecht will introduce the audience to Columbian Mammoths, North America’s elephant. He will present evidence for the assertion that this specimen is buried in slack water deposits left by a series of huge floods which created temporary Lake Lewis in the southern Columbia Basin. The discovery of mammoth bones, the on-going excavation of the site, and the paleoenvironmental study at Coyote Canyon will also be discussed. Sunday, March 23, Geology Field Trips Mega Floods Through Wild Drumheller Channels Hike, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. $60.00. This moderately difficult 3-4-mile hike, led by geologist Bruce Bjornstad, will directly explore the flood channels (including the former path of the Columbia River), potholes, erratic, and streamlined basalt islands rimmed with towering 50’ basalt columns. One hundred years ago, J Harlen Bretz recognized this area as one of the most spectacular examples of Ice Age Flood erosion in the Channeled Scabland. Note that there will be no restrooms available on this hike. Bagged lunches are available for order on the registration form. This tour is six hours in length, so bring food, drink, and sturdy walking shoes. SONY DSC The Great Escape of Quincy Basin, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. $60.00. Join Lloyd Stoess and Ken Lacy on a tour to showcase some of the most impressive floodscape that they have ever shown. It will focus on the impact of flood waters escaping the Quincy Basin. Imagine 150 feet of water dropping 800 feet in less than 3 miles, we will see this at the Potholes Coulee. We will also visit places with particularly dramatic views in the Drumheller Channels, Frenchman Coulee, West Bar, and the Ephrata Fan. There will be no hikes but open-toed shoes will not be appropriate. There will be bathroom breaks along the way. This tour is about 8 hours from start to fin
April 2025
April 5 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pm PDT

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Fishtrap Lake Scablands

Fishtrap Lake North Loop Sprague, WA, United States

The Cheney-Spokane Chapter of the IAFI is scheduling a hike at the north loop trailhead of Fishtrap Lake on Saturday, April 5th. The hike will start at 10:00 a.m. It will be led by Don Chadbourne, geologist and board member of the Cheney-Spokane Chapter. You will meet the leader at the trailhead. Fishtrap Lake, Washington (BLM Photo) Description of Hike The hike will begin and end at the north trailhead at Fishtrap Lake. The hike will follow the north loop trail, with a total length of about 5 miles. The trail is mostly single track over dirt and rock, with an elevation gain and loss of about 500 feet. The hike will provide an intimate view of the channeled scablands that were carved out by the ice age floods. Features will include pothole lakes, rock benches, Mima mounds, and streamlined and scarped Palouse hills. The hike will also provide wide open views of Fishtrap Lake and the surrounding country. This hike is included in On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods – Northern Reaches, by Bjornstad & Kiver. However, we will be following trails that were constructed after the book was published. Directions to the trailhead From I-90 take Exit 254 and proceed south 2.4 miles on the Sprague Highway. Turn left (east) on Fishtrap Road and proceed 0.6 miles to the trailhead parking on the right. Register for the hike using the buttons below. This event will be limited to 20 hikers. Items to bring with you: appropriate shoes, day pack, water, snacks, appropriate clothing for changes in the weather, sun protection, emergency items, camera and binoculars. Walking poles will be helpful. The hike is free; however, donations for support of Chapter activities will be accepted. For addition questions contact Don at 509-891-5875.
May 2025
May 17 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm PDT

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Palisades Park

Palisades Park 2-198 S Rimrock Dr, Spokane, WA, United States

The 3-mile hike will be led by IAFICS board member geologist Michael Hamilton. It will take place along Rimrock Drive, which has spectacular views of Spokane and the Spokane Valley. The Glacial Outburst Flood Story will include a lot of "arm-waving," pointing out flood features both along the trail and with views to the east. The geology discussion will include details of another kind of flood that hit the Spokane area 14 million years ago. The hike will then cut to the west along one of the park's trails to find mysterious Mima mounds, and then loop back to the parking area.
July 2025
July 26 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm PDT

Ice Age FloodFest 2025

Dry Falls Visitor Center 35661 HWY 17 North, Coulee City, WA, United States

Get ready for the Ice Age Floodfest 2025, an unparalleled celebration of the cataclysmic events that carved out the Pacific Northwest's iconic channeled scablands! Dive deep into the geological story that spans millennia and reshaped the very landscape beneath our feet. From towering coulees to vast dry falls, the evidence of these ancient, colossal floods is everywhere, and this year's Floodfest promises to raise your awareness and understanding of their incredible power and lasting impact. Join us in the Lower Grand Coulee for a day of expert-led talks, fascinating field trips, and engaging exhibits that will transport you back to a time when mile-high ice dams burst, unleashing torrents of water that dwarfed any flood in human history. Whether you're a seasoned geologist or simply curious about the natural wonders around you, the Ice Age Floodfest 2025 is an event you won't want to miss! Presenters will share their knowledge and their appreciation of Ice Age Floods Geology, the Channeled Scablands, Shrub Steppe Ecosystems, Anthropology, Archeology, and History. Field Trip Hike: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Where: Lake Lenore Caves Heritage Area Bruce Bjornstad, a Research Scientist based in Richland, Washington and author of the popular ‘On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods’ guidebooks, will lead an educational hike from the Lake Lenore Caves trailhead. The park is situated above Lake Lenore, and it offers stunning views of the valley. The caves themselves are shallow basalt formations created during the Great Missoula floods. Outdoor Booths: 10 AM – 3 PM on the campus of Dry Falls Visitor Center. Featuring Federal, State, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Nonprofits, Historians, Authors, & Volunteers Where: Dry Falls Visitor Center – Sun Lakes Dry Falls State Park 35661 HWY 17 North, Coulee City, WA 99115 Ice Age Floods Institute - Lower Grand Coulee Chapter and other Ice Age Flood Institute chapters from Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Washington. The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation will have historic photographs telling the story and the history of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. They will also share the legends of the beautiful landscape of the Dry Falls area and surrounding landscape. Dr. Karen Capuder - Anthropologist and Senior Archaeologist Colville Tribes, will share some of the cultural and political history of the Colville Tribes, from time immemorial to the present day. Grant County Historians/authors: Dan Bolyard & John M. Kemble – Dan Bolyard has been a lifelong Grant County Big Bend area resident and railroad historian. John M. Kemble is a local historian and explorer highlighting Dry Falls, Sun Lakes, Steamboat Rock, The Grand Coulee, and Banks Lake. North Central Regional Library –April Harward, learn about the NCW Summer Library programs - captivating storytelling to engaging workshops and fun activities, everyone can unleash their unique voice and explore their passions. National Park Service – Justin Radford, Program Manager for the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail with a Mobile Interpretive Center showcasing the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail, the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, and The Grand Coulee a National Natural Landmark. Foster Creek & Columbia Basin Conservation Districts – programs on Shrub Steppe ecology, water resources, wildlife, and native vegetation. Washington Department of Wildlife – wildlife found in Eastern Washington as well as the enhancement and preservation work that is done in the Columbia Basin. Archeologist – Mark Amara, Kim Lancaster, and Kellie Green; representing the Cascadia Conservation District, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Their booth will highlight the importance of historical artifacts, tools of the trade, and hands-on activity too. Bureau of Reclamation – will have an overview of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, and the Grand Coulee Dam. Presentations: 10 am - 3 pm Where: inside/upstairs in the Dry Falls Visitor Center NPS Ranger Justin Radford Ranger David McWalter 10 am – 11 am: Justin Radford, Program Manager, NPS, Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail, will present an overview of this unique geologic trail starting in Montana, through Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Interpretive Specialist, David McWalter, will present an overview of Washington's Ice Age Floods, introduce the rugged terrain of eastern Washington that was shaped by floods of unimaginable power during the last ice age, and share how the scientific views of the landscape have changed over the last century. 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: WA DNR, Geologist Joel Gombiner will present an update on recent studies of Washington’s Ice Age Floods and introduce a new lidar-based visualization of Dry Falls. 1 pm – 2 pm: WA State Parks, Interpretive Specialist 1, Sarah Overby will present "Brushstrokes: The Colorful Story of Lichen". From rocks, trees, soil, and pretty much anything that will sit still long enough, lichen will spring up in robust colonies. Crusty, leafy, or even… fuzzy? They paint beautiful bright oranges and greens across the dark basalt rock and the branches of the sagebrush, but what are they doing there? This 45-minute presentation aims to dive deeper into the complexities of lichen and discuss its impact on ecosystems as well as its impact on us. 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Viewing of Bruce Bjornstad’s - "Ice Age Floodscapes" Bretz’ Great Cataract Group Primordial Potholes Coulee Grand Coulee – NW Exposures Dry Falls Deep Lake Potholes Dry Falls Visitor Center - weather station - up-to-date weather conditions at Dry Falls provided by the National Park Service. Watch a timelapse of the past 24 hours by clicking on the small photo, enlarge, press play, and enjoy!
July 26 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm PDT

Rescheduled Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Waikiki Springs

Waikiki Springs Trailhead Washington

Join us for a scenic and informative hike north of Spokane, where geologist Michael Hamilton, an IAFICS board member, will guide us through fascinating Ice Age flood features. This newly protected conservation area boasts well-established trails and stunning geological formations. At Waikiki Springs, the Spokane Aquifer emerges from beneath an ancient, sand-and-gravel-filled valley—evidence of the massive outburst floods that shaped the region during the last Ice Age. Group size is limited to the first 20 registrants. Once you sign up, we’ll provide full hike details and keep you updated on any changes leading up to the event. Resources: Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve
October 2025
October 4 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm PDT

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Quarry Hike

Spokane Conservation District Office 4422 E 8th Ave, Spokane Valley, WA, United States

🪨 Explore 1.3 Billion Years in One Afternoon! Saturday, October 4 — Join the inimitable Michael Hamilton for a guided geology hike through Spokane Conservation District’s remarkable new headquarters, nestled in an ancient basalt quarry. This site is both brand new and unimaginably old. The Quarry reveals a stunning cross-section of Earth’s history—1.3 billion years of geologic drama exposed in a short, accessible hike. Along the way, you’ll see and learn about the effects of Ice Age floods, huge lava flows, tectonic shifts, and more, all woven into a developing geologic trail for the community. Don’t miss this rare chance to walk through deep time with expert insight and plenty of scenic stops. The new Scale House Market at the Quarry will be open with public bathrooms and the access gate will be open. We will meet up at 1 PM in front of the SCD office. Good walking shoes are recommended for this easy-moderate hike. Register for the hike using the button below. Each participant will need to have a signed liability waiver-click on the red button to download one for printing and bring it along. We will have more at the trailhead.
October 11 @ 11:00 am - 4:00 pm PDT

Cheney-Spokane Members Meeting and Public Lecture

Doris Morrison Learning Center (DMLC) 1330 S Henry Road, Greenacres, Washington

This event is open to the public, but only IAFI Cheney-Spokane members can vote during the member meeting. It will be held at the beautiful new Doris Morrison Learning Center at 1330 S. Henry Road. Exit the freeway south on Barker Road, turn left at the roundabout at Sprague Road, then right at the three-way junction on Henry Road. Saltese Uplands Conservation Area hike: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Note: A completed liability form is required for this 3-mile hike. It is of moderate difficulty and consists of a dirt and rock trail with switchbacks, spanning about 700 vertical feet. Bring your own snacks & drinks, good hiking shoes, and dress appropriately for mid October weather conditions. Lunch is not provided. Meet the hike leader at the Saltese Flats Wetland trailhead at 11 AM.) Member meeting: 2:00-3:00 PM Speaker: USGS Geologist Jim O'Connor (beginning after the Member meeting) "A Century of Discovery: 102 Years of Studying the Ice Age Spokane Flood" Synopsis: For more than a century, geologists have investigated the massive Ice Age floods that swept through Spokane, reshaping the region’s terrain and sparking global scientific interest. USGS Geologist Jim O'Connor will review some of the discoveries made in our understanding of these cataclysmic events—from their origins and pathways to the dramatic landforms they left behind. He will also highlight some of the enduring questions that continue to drive new research, revealing how much there is still to learn about one of North America's most extraordinary geological phenomena. Note: At present, we have three openings on our chapter board. Our board meets the third Tuesday of each month from 3-5 PM at the Wren-Pierson Building in Cheney. Interested? Members with expertise in accounting or K-12 education or medical experience or any other expertise that would aid our chapter's mission should send a very brief vita to Dr. Linda McCollum, President, IAFI Cheney-Spokane Chapter, lmccollum@ewu.edu Please use the button below to sign up for the event and optional hike. Your registration helps us plan more smoothly and ensure a great experience for everyone.

Hike

October 2024

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Fishtrap Lake Scablands Hike

November 2024

Lower Grand Coulee Field Trip

March 2025

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Escure Ranch / Towell Falls

Othello Sandhill Crane Festival

April 2025

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Fishtrap Lake Scablands

May 2025

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Palisades Park

July 2025

Ice Age FloodFest 2025

Rescheduled Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Waikiki Springs

October 2025

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Quarry Hike

Cheney-Spokane Members Meeting and Public Lecture

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