[tigermn]

From last Saturday. What a great day to be on the eastside. Temps perfect and mostly sunny.

I decided to explore the various Quincy Lakes. Most people refer to this is Ancient Lakes but it is more than that. Nice drive over. Parking lot tons more cars than last year.

Ancient Lakes trailhead parking. Lots more cars than fall.

Ancient Lakes trailhead parking. Lots more cars than fall.

The trail starts as basically an old road. This time the goal was to hit Dusty Lake then Ancient.

Starting on trail.

Looking ahead.

Walls above coulee.

After about .8 miles there is somewhat faint rail heading to the right. I also noticed a trail on nwtopos that appeared to go down to the Columbia River. I decided to explore.

Trail heading to Columbia River.

This turns out to be about a 1.2 mile side trip down to the river losing 384 feet. It's a nice journey as you wind down. I recommend this side trip. At least to the view point before final descent to river.

Views from trail heading to Columbia river.

Views from trail heading to Columbia river.

Trail down below.

Looking back.

Columbia River.

Columbia River.

Columbia River.

At about 1 mile is a higher point with the best views of the river.

Pano from just above Columbia River.

Columbia River.

Columbia River.

The trail has a short steeper section as it drops down to the river. I could see a group of 8-10 campers setting up tents.

Campers below setting up camp.

Almost to river.

You literally can touch the river.

Literally down to the Columbia River.

Literally down to the Columbia River.

Views from Columbia River.

I headed back up to continue on to Dusty Lake.

Heading back up.

Views heading back up.

A few flowers.

The way back.

A few flowers.

The trail below the cliffs heading back to main trail.

Molten rocks that must have cooled with air bubbles.

Looking towards Columbia River.

Views.

After retracing my steps back to the main trail it is .64 miles to the junction to Dusty Lake. This is a basically level trail for 1 1/4 miles.

Fork to Dusty Lake.

Plains heading to Dusty Lake.

Plains heading to Dusty Lake.

Flowers.

The way to Dusty Lake.

Cliffs on either side of valley.

Flowers.

Cliffs on either side of valley.

The lake comes into view. A larger lake but nothing spectacular.

First view of Dusty Lake.

Dusty Lake.

Dusty Lake.

Dusty Lake.

I had hopes of trying to connect over to Ancient Lakes from here. That wasn't going to happen. Couldn't see the sheer cliffs last year when I was up top over there.

Walls above Dusty Lake. Notch is accessable from Ancient Lake side, not from here.

Walls above Dusty Lake. Notch is accessable from Ancient Lake side, not from here.

A couple more shots of Dusty Lake before retracing my steps.

Pano of Dusty Lake.

Dusty Lake.

Leaving Dusty Lake.

Leaving Dusty Lake.

Neat walls.

Horses.

Once back at the main trail I noticed an obscure not on any map trail and decided to follow it. I mean how can you possibly get lost here. Just head east. This is the green trail line going 1.66 miles to Ancient Lakes.

Taking an obscure fork to Ancient Lakes.

Taking an obscure fork to Ancient Lakes.

More obscure way to Ancient Lakes.

More obscure way to Ancient Lakes.

This way actually gives you closer access to the first lake which is usually bypassed by the trail more to the north.

First of Ancient Lakes.

First of Ancient Lakes.

First of Ancient Lakes.

Dry lake.

Just past this lake was tent city. Must have been 30 tents in this one area.

Tent city at Ancient Lakes.

Tent city at Ancient Lakes.

Views.

Waterfall above Ancient Lake.

I decided to head up to a nice viewpoint where I had lunch last year.

Lunch spot above Ancient Lakes.

Looking back at tent city.

Nice views and very pleasant.

Views from lunch spot.

Views from lunch spot.

Views from lunch spot.

Pano from lunch spot.

Views from lunch spot.

Views from lunch spot.

Views from lunch spot.

Views from lunch spot.

Views from lunch spot.

After a nice lunch (no yellow jackets this time at the rock I was sitting on) I decided to head down and over closer to the lake under the waterfall.

Heading back down.

Heading back down.

Heading back down.

Heading back down.

View across Ancient Lake.

Pano across Ancient Lake.

I could see people semi-scrambling up the scree to positions above the falls. That wasn't high on my fun list today so I cut back over the hill to head back and join the main trail.

Heading up away from Ancient Lakes and back.

Heading up away from Ancient Lakes and back.

Heading up away from Ancient Lakes and back.

Various waterfalls come down from the right cliffs.

Waterfall views heading out.

Waterfall views heading out.

Waterfall views heading out.

Heading out.

Heading out.

Heading out.

Heading out.

The 1 1/2 miles or so was a nice walk back. The parking lot was really packed now.

Back to parking lot.

All in all a great trip. Got in about 11.2 miles of wandering with maybe 1700 feet of elevation gain. Car to car time just over 5 hours. Packed up and headed out. I don't recommend you follow another vehicle slowly on this road as it is VERY dusty. A great road though for a gravel road. You could literally do 60MPH if you wanted on it.