Steamboat Rock is a massive "island" of a rock mountain floating on the shore of Banks Lake. The durable rock was left behind through all of the Great Missoula Floods and was later nearly surrounded by the waters diverted by the Grand Coulee Dam. The top of the rock is a broad, flat plateau offering stunning views across the scablands of coulee country.

From the parking area, the trail tracks across the lower slope of the rocky butte. Wildflowers abound along the lower foot of the butte: arrowleaf balsamroot and prairie star flowers are particularly prominent. Within the first few hundred yards, the trail becomes very rough and steep for about 0.15 mile as it runs up through a slot in the cliffs.

Halfway up the butte, the trail slides across a broad ledge, which is carpeted with sagebrush buttercups. The trail splits here (both forks lead to the top). Go left to climb another couple hundred vertical feet to the western end of Steamboat Rock's top. Stroll over to the sharp edge of the butte to peer down to the lake far below. The top of the rock here is blanketed in foliage, with a large garden of prairie lupines.

Drop back down the trail and head up the eastern spur trail to reach the eastern flank of the butte's top. Keep an eye out for deer here as a small herd lives on the rock, and they generally browse up high during the day but come down for water in the morning. Scramble around the butte as much as you desire before heading back down.