While CK was gallivanting about the North Atlantic Seaboard last month (see here, here, here, here, and here for his New York City travelogue), I stuck closer to home. Somebody had to mind the store, after all. The great thing about eastern Washington, though, is that nature has a way of keeping you guessing. At left is Elk Creek Falls, just two hours (and an easy two-mile hike) north of Spokane; at right is the view from the summit of Steptoe Butte, an hour in the opposite direction.
Ugly carbon footprint. Get a motorcycle.
Where is Elk Creek Falls?
Moritz—and anyone else interested in checking out Elk Creek Falls—here’s how you get there:
From the town of Metaline Falls, follow State Highway 31 north for 2.4 miles to the junction of Sullivan Lake Road (County Road 9345). Turn right (south) and follow the Sullivan Lake Road for 3.2 miles to the entrance of the Mill Pond Historic Site. There are two trailheads, both of them clearly marked. One is for the Mill Pond, the other is for Elk Creek Falls. The falls loop is roughly 2.1 miles, give or take, with a little—but not much—elevation gain. You get great views of the pond and Sullivan Lake, plus the thimbleberries are ripe (or at least they were a couple of weeks ago). And the falls themselves are, as I hope the photo indicates, gorgeous.
This hike, and a lot of others, are found in Day Hiking: Eastern Washington by Rich Landers and Craig Romano, which I picked up at Costco for around $12, I think.
by Craig