Ancient Lakes

Each time I've come to Ancient Lakes, I've hiked some of the same areas and something different. I have always parked at the lower parking area. Today we hiked about 7.5 miles with an overall elevation gain of 1,100 ft.
Waterfall coming off the coulee wall to the east.

One of the ancient lakes

another ancient lake, with a view the waterfalls at the far end.

View of the lower falls from the lakeshore.

View of the same falls as we continued around this lake.

There were lots of signs of beaver activity, but we did not see any beavers today.

Another more distant view of the waterfalls.

Another one of the lakes,  we watched Canadian geese land in the water.

and another ancient lake, with the blue sky reflecting in the lake.

We then took a trail up the west coulee wall, here on the bench, we had a nice view of the area we had just hiked through.

Basalt columns as we continue up the coulee wall.

from up on the coulee wall, looking down into one end of the coulee  that holds Dusty Lake.

View of Dusty Lake from the coulee wall.

Today, we took a trail down to the bench of the coulee wall on the Dusky Lake side for a little exploring. Here we are heading back up from the bench to cross back down to the Ancient Lakes side of the wall.









Lots of interesting rock formations.

We continued back along the west side of the coulee. These rock formations make me think of a ruined castle.

The only wildflowers we saw in bloom today were a few sagebrush buttercups.
















I like the contrast of the bright lichen on the dried bush.

Today's route.