[RDEshadow]

I wanted to see how much I could get done on the trails south of the small town of Sprague, WA.  I was eyeing trails #82 thru #87 from the Desert Hikes Washington guidebook.  I left home at 6:15am with a favorable weather forecast for most of the day.  After arriving in the area around 7:30 I parked just off the road under the bridge across Rock Creek and started hike #86.  Lots of different birds I saw and heard along this jeep trail that follows the curves of Rock Creek for much of the way.  A female Northern Harrier was hunting just over my head and I watched her for several minutes.  I somehow missed the track that would lead me up on top of the highland area to my right so I followed the jeep trail way past where I should have gone (according to the guidebook) and ended up at a wood/steel bridge across Rock Creek.

This bridge basically only enables access to the farmland on the south side of the creek.  I crossed it and began walking along the old Milwaukee Railroad corridor (hike #87) back to the gravel road and my Blazer.  This old railroad bed takes you right behind a set of very large grain storage units.  Just before reaching the truck I saw a badger alongside the road out in the field.  He was pretty close so I zoomed in with my binoculars and watched him staring back at me.  Badgers have pretty interesting markings and this one also had a mouse in its mouth.  We watched each other for a minute or so then he ducked into his burrow to eat his breakfast.

I next drove down the gravel road a short ways until I reached Breeden Road (hike #83).  I followed this road intending to stop when the going got too difficult and just walk in to Wall Lake, which is about 4 or 5 miles at the end of Breeden Road.  It is a very rough and dusty road but it was not muddy at all so I kept going.  I would imagine it would get a little tricky in spots when heavy rains were falling.  About a mile and a half down Breeden Road is a concrete bridge over Rock Creek.  Off to the right side of the bridge is an amazingly pretty set of waterfalls.  These are the falls pictured on page 206 of the guidebook.  Enough water was flowing in the creek that the falls produced a nice set of cascades.  The sound was very relaxing so I paused here for a while to admire the whole scene. 

I proceeded down Breeden Road through lots of bunchgrass, rocks and sagebrush.  Still a rough road but negotiable if you go slow and stay atop the ruts.  The road eventually veers south and ends up at Wall Lake, a canyon lake formed between high basalt rock cliffs on either side.  A large portion of the lake was dried up and the road ends right in the lake bottom, which is where I parked.  I trekked around here for a little bit to see what could be seen.  Nothing too eventful though.  It was interesting to note however the high watermark stains on the canyon walls.  This lake must have been quite full in past years because the water stains were about 20 or 30 feet higher than the current lake level.

I retraced my route and stopped at an old jeep trail leading to Perch Lake.  I hiked the half-mile back into Perch Lake to see what it was like but it was completely dried up despite being a pretty good-sized lake.  Two Red-tailed Hawks were soaring above the lake and one was calling out its high-pitched scream pretty often as it hunted for food.  It made for a nice sound inside the canyon.  I continued driving down the road and paused again at the waterfalls.  Pretty scene way out in the middle of this desert habitat I thought. 

By now it was nearly 11:00 so I headed out to the Escure Ranch region (hike #82) inside the Rock Creek BLM Management Area.  The 2.5-mile road off of the main gravel road ends at a parking area near the ranch house.  There were no other cars at all when I arrived.  Pretty impressive spread and I imagine in its heyday the ranch was quite an operation.  There must have been a dozen large outbuildings and bunkhouses in addition to the main residence and corrals.

I crossed the bridge over the creek and went through a gate then roamed around the barnyards and buildings for a little bit.  At the far end of the ranch I hopped over a gate and took the right fork leading away from the ranch.  Take your time here because this stretch is pretty neat as the trail leads through a rather scenic canyon with several small ponds and marshes.  This area reminded me of typical scenes out of many of the John Wayne movies.  Lots of Robins, Western Meadowlarks, Red-winged Blackbirds and Yellow-headed Blackbirds could be seen and heard.  The occasional Kestrel Falcon flew by now and then.  I scared up two mule deer as I walked past where they were feeding.  I followed this good trail for quite a while.  You become an expert at opening and closing gates along this path too.  There are 4 or 5 you pass through on this route.  The terrain eventually turned into the typical desert vegetation but the wildflowers were pretty prolific this time of year, especially the balsamroot that was out in full force.

After a couple of miles up on top of the prairie the trail forks and I took the left branch and continued wandering and investigating.  A group of 4 mule deer atop a butte watched motionless as I hiked past.  Further down the jeep trail I saw a herd of 10 more mulies.  Not too many bird species did I see along this stretch however.  I stayed on this trail for a time till I reached a barbwire gate then turned around here and headed back to the ranch house.  While crossing the bridge to my Blazer I spotted a Western Kingbird and watched him for a bit. 

At the parking area I decided that since I was here and still had time before sunset I might as well take the 6-mile round trip hike into Towell Falls (hike #84).  Before heading out though I snacked and sat and relaxed for a little while in the truck.  I found 2 ticks on my shirt so I flicked them away.  Through a small gate the good trail back to Towell Falls follows Rock Creek for the first part then separates away from the water after about a half-mile.  The Red-winged Blackbirds and Meadowlarks serenaded me as I traveled through.  At about the halfway point a stand of trees were home to several other bird species that I watched and listened to.  The trail then climbed a short but steep stretch over a saddle leading back to a huge basalt butte between the creek and me.  In the shade of the butte the trail skirted right along the bottom of the high cliff wall.  Eventually you wend your way around the obstruction then gain a little elevation to a rise where the creek comes into view again.  This is where you can first begin to hear the sound of the falls and catch a small glimpse of it. 

The trail continues down a few hundred yards or so but changes into a less traveled single track leading directly down to the falls.  I imagined this is where some hikers turn around.  I proceeded however and crossed a wooden plank that has been placed over a portion of the creek.  The area right around the falls is wooded and quite brushy (and full of ticks I bet) but this is the best place to see the falls.  It is quite attractive being about 40 feet wide with a drop of about 12 feet.  And despite drought conditions there was a lot of water flowing in the creek so it made for a nice sound.  I paused here at the base of the falls for a bit then climbed up to a higher vantage point on the nearby rocks and continued to admire the views.  Though I didn’t see any I think this area is probably good habitat for rattlesnakes too.

Once again on the main trail I journeyed back to the parking area and TH.  I reached the Blazer around 4:30pm, checked myself again for ticks (found none), and then began the return trip to Spokane.  All in all a very nice day spent hiking in the desert in relative solitude.  Not a single other hiker did I see all day.  Just lots of birds and mammals.  This Escure Ranch and Towell Falls area was my favorite of the day I concluded.  I will return another day for sure!

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The worst bankrupt is the person who has lost his enthusiasm.
.-.