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Backpack - Big Bend Wildlife Area

Exploratory two-night backpack trip to a new State Wildlife Area along the Columbia River-north of Grand Coulee Dam. Expect a great camp spot the first night on a saline lake faced with black cliffs and a mystery camp spot (to be discovered) the second night along the Columbia River. Open desert terrain with some steep-ish descents/ascents with Spring wildflowers, great birding, wildlife and a dynamic river. This is an adventurous trip for those enjoying off-trail travel and unknown discoveries. This is a Leader's Permission Only trip (see below for details).

Contacts

Rob Erickson
Rob Erickson
Primary Leader
  • Moderate/Strenuous
  • Challenging
  • Mileage: 21.4 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 2,500 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 2,400 ft
  • Pace: 1.25-1.5 MPH up, 2 MPH down
  • 1 (4 capacity)
  • 1 (2 capacity)
  • Thu, Apr 2, 2026 at 2:15 PM
  • Mon, Apr 27, 2026 at 5:00 PM
  • Cancellation & Refund Policy
  • iCal Google

Come explore a new central Washington desert hiking area with me.  I have been to the first camp and it is quite nice and unique.  While on a lake it is a dry camp and we will need to get our water on the way from a pleasant spring 0.7 miles away.  The route down from the camp to the Columbia River is exploratory.  There is an abandoned road down, but we will most likely find a more interesting off-trail route both up and down to the river.  The road will be a back-up plan.  We will camp night two along the Columbia River at the Nespelem Rapids.  This trip will be exploratory--which means--I don't know exactly how it will all work out or what the second night camp will be like.  You will be the first Mountaineers group here.

In addition to the usual backpacking equipment, I am requiring:  trekking poles, 4 liters of water storage, an Ursack or Bear Canister.

Here is the proposed route:  https://www.gaiagps.com/public/8IltojWG57s19i5kK6GW6EJx/

This is a Leader's Permission Only trip. Please explicitly answer/address all the concerns/questions listed below:

1) I am in proper condition to enjoyably complete this itinerary.  I can backpack 25 miles with 2500' gain in a three day trip. Please list backpack trips this past year that demonstrate this approximate distance and gain.  Please let me know what you have been doing over this past Winter/Spring that tells me you are in great condition now for this early season trip.

2) Are you comfortable with and do you have experience in off-trail travel on rocky and/or uneven ground and moderately steep slopes?

3) Are you comfortable with the exploratory nature of the trip and not knowing exactly where we might camp, the exact route or the quality of the camps we might find?

I will carefully review your answers and get back to you.  This should be a fun and truly adventurous trip.  I hope you can join.  Rob

Big Bend Wildlife Area-north of Grand Coulee Dam  at about Noon.  The TH is about a 4 hour drive from Seattle.  Move information to  come

Route/Place

Big Bend Wildlife Area

Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

The Ten Essentials plus overnight gear which may include:

  • Tent with footprint/ground tarp
  • Stove and fuel
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping pad
  • Water filter
  • Bear canister or Ursack
  • Cooking pot/pan with plate and utensils
  • Toilet paper and shovel or blue bag to deal with waste
  • Trekking Poles
  • Water storage for dinner, overnight, breakfast and the morning the next day
Trip Reports