Ancient Lakes

 We headed out to Ancient Lakes and Dusty Lake in the Potholes Coulee in Eastern Washington near Quincey. There are many trails and boot tracks here. We had seen lots of trip reports for this area, so were surprised to see very few people today. We parked in the eastern parking area and followed the trail to the coulee. There were wildflowers blooming all over.

Pano looking towards the first coulee.

 So much to see, the rock walls of the coulee are amazing, there are basalt columns, and here a huge boulder and waterfall.

Pano of one of the lakes at Ancient Lakes,

We saw many birds, including this great blue heron,

 and ducks and  hawks screeching over head.

 At the west end of Ancient Lakes is this beautiful waterfall.

Pano from the base of the waterfall looking down the coulee

 We found a spot on the other side of the lake, to take a break and enjoy our lunch.

Pano from the same area, seeing 3 of the Ancient Lakes

 We took one of the trails up the rock wall between Ancient Lakes and Dusty Lake.

 Part way up the trail, looking back at Ancient Lakes.

 We headed up to the large gap in the wall,

 Looking down at the large Dusky Lake from the gap.

Pano from the same gap looking westward

and eastward

 We continued on the trail that leads along the wall up to the western parking area,

 The walls are beautiful

 Pano from another large gap in the wall looking at Dusty Lake from the side

 We returned to the trail, winding our way towards the western parking area,

besides lots of wildflowers in bloom, we found this old skull.

Between the end of the trail coming up from Ancient Lakes and the trail going down to Dusty Lake is a small camping area at Burke Lake.

 View near the beginning of the trail down to Dusty Lake (seen between the two large walls)

 a cascade heading down towards Dusty Lake

 getting closer to Dusty Lake.

Pano from the southwest end of Dusty Lake, the trail is behind, from here to the other end of the lake, we are following boot tracks along the right wall.

 Pano from one of the arms of Dusty Lake, looking back towards where we came down.

 Looking back up the wall, where we had been earlier, peering down

 Wide angle from along another arm of Dusty Lake

 Looking back along the wall and lakeshore we came across.

 Nearing the end of the coulee that holds Dusty Lake

 The end of the coulee wall.

Some of the plants and wildflowers we saw along the trail today: