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Rocky Ford - Crab Creek

Featured In: Best Desert Hikes: Washington, by Dan Nelson and Alan Bauer.
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Enjoy a great dip in the otherwise flat landscape where yet another upper portion of Crab Creek flows through. You can hike in both directions from the parking area trailhead to get the most out of your visit. Crab Creek is lined with lush growth in places, making it difficult to get down along the water's edge safely in late spring when the foliage is fully leafed out. This is great wildlife habitat but hiking through is difficult.

In places, the creek seems to tunnel beneath a canopy of brush and tree boughs. Fortunately, you can skirt the outer edges of these thickets, enjoying the birds and other critters from the outside looking in. Deer and coyote track often crisscross in soft sand and muddy areas near the creek. Violet-green swallows and cliff swallows seem to be everywhere. Hawks perch in the tall hawthorn trees or soar in the sky. Herons line the banks of Crab Creek. All in all, this is a lovely oasis to explore.

To head west, drop down and walk under the bridge to hike the old path/road. Once down in the creek basin and pointing west, you'll find a network of game trails meandering roughly parallel to the creek for more than 3 miles. Because the spring foliage tends to be very thick, this route is best enjoyed in late autumn and winter.

If you want more time in the area, return to the parking area and continue east. You'll find similar experiences along the creek heading east for at least a mile before Crab Creek angles north and enters private land.

Driving Directions:

From Vantage, drive east on Interstate 90 and leave the freeway at exit 231 for Tokia. Turn north (left) over the freeway. At 0.2 mile, continue straight at the stop sign. This is now Danekas Road. Drive Danekas Road 1.4 miles and turn right on Hills Road (also known as the Harrington--Tokia Road). Head north over the tracks. In 6.1 miles, just after crossing a bridge over Crab Creek, turn right into the large BLM parking area by the bridge.