Frenchman Coulee — Attraction in Quincy

This is a fantastic climbing spot. The Feathers, a basalt formation near the northeast part of the park, are a delightful little selection of short climbs perfect for a day trip. There's primitive campsites available in the basins on either side. First come, first served, and no fires between May and October I believe. But it's a great spot, with access to Echo Canyon nearby as well.

Bathrooms were added to the climbing/camping areas, I think in 2018. They're great, but there's only so fancy a park outhouse can get. It's good to have them.

In the summer it gets HOT, and rattlesnakes are always a possibility, so be prepared and wear bells.

Also, dawn here is amazing, especially in the summer. The rosy colors really pop and it's much cooler for climbing in the...

Look we're all entitled to enjoy nature, so I'm not trying to attack climbers when I say this but they are truly trashing one of the MOST STUNNING examples of columnar basalt in Washington state... In just a year a good 20+ rock bolts and chains have been sunk into the rim on the north side of Echo Basin. What should be a pristine cliff ecosystem is instead a jungle gym for climbers. Why this isn't a protected state park is beyond me, I have hiked all around Washington and Frenchman Coulee is simply stunning, on par and far exceeding many other state parks. Yet enjoyment gets cut short by the absolute HOARDS of climbers that descend like locusts, honestly it should require a limited lottery permit...

This hike was in the Frenchman Coulee in the Quincy Lakes Wildlife Area. An awesome hike and a great workout! If you like sagebrush, it has a lot. If you fancy basalt rock, its got you covered. And its got stunning views of the Columbia River gorge. Its also a bit known for rock climbing!

The hiking trails run the gambit from easy, fairly flat to climbing near vertical rock staircases. You walk through all the trail surface types" bare, hard basalt, basalt ballast and shale, gravels, hard pack dirt, and a fair amount of soft, loose sand as you head towards the waterfall at the northeast of the coulee.

My map is incomplete, but I think the route we took was...