Naturalist Trip - Echo Basin

Trip

Naturalist Trip - Echo Basin

To appreciate being in the shrub-steppe with its open space, plants, and animals.

  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 4.0 mi
  • Pace: naturalist

Itinerary plan: Start at Sand Hollow Campground trail which is minimal distance. Then, plan to caravan to a pull-out "just south of the Vantage bridge on the north-bound side of Highway 26 just past the fork with Highway 243. There is a wide pullout area on the northbound side of HIghway 26 that makes for good parking (easily seen in aerial image on Google maps.)" Then caravan to Echo basin. From the Echo basin parking area, we will make our way to the sand dune apprx 1 mile away. From there, depending on how the group feels , we may explore further  in the area apprx 1-2 miles or return directly from the sand dune to the parking area.

The pace will be a naturalist pace (e.g. slow with time to appreciate), but please be prepared to walk on uneven ground and sand. Also, the area is shrub-steppe so please bring water and electrolytes. 

We will be roughly following the itinerary of a recent article written by David Giblin, Ph.D. Univ of Washington Herbarium, Burke Museum in the Washington Native Plant Society magazine Douglasia Fall-Winter 2024, page 5-7. Thank you David Giblin and I recommend supporting Washington Native Plant Society if you can!

2024_48_03_winter_Douglasia_Web.pdf

Another great resource is an article written by Maddy Lucas in the Washington Native Plant Society magazine Douglasia Summer 2024. Thank you Maddy Lucas!

Douglasia (navigate to summer  2024 issue)

9 am at Sand Hollow campground. Sand Hollow Recreation Area - 509River.org Trip leaders Juliet Liu and Jonathan Goff plan on camping the night before at Sand Hollow campground. Come join us (please make your own camping reservation) or wake up early and meet us there.

Route/Place

Vantage (Frenchman Coulee)


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

The Ten Essentials

  • Navigation
  • Headlamp
  • Sun protection
  • First aid
  • Knife
  • Fire
  • Shelter
  • Extra food
  • Extra water
  • Extra clothes
Trip Reports