Hike

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 Fishtrap Lake on Saturday, October 14th. The hike will be led by Don Chadbourne and Chris Sheeran, geologists and board members of the Cheney-Spokane Chapter. Description of Fishtrap Lake Hike We will begin and end at the Fishtrap Lake South Loop Trailhead. The hike will follow the South 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. Along the way we will have an intimate view of the channeled scablands that were carved out by the ice age floods and see features including 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 Bruce Bjornstad & Eugene Kiver, but 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) 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.