Northrup Canyon
Mar 01, 2005
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Northrup Canyon
- Region: Eastern Washington -- Wenatchee
- Agency: Washington State Parks and Recreation
- Avg Rating: 3.40
I hit the road with my dog Daisy at noon on Sunday, and drove out to Sun Lakes st park. I was going to do a short hike there and then camp, but there is some kind of horrible construction equipment going day and night, so I bailed on that noisy place. I drove through Coulee City to the Trail Lakes Coulee trailhead, but there was no place even halfway decent to camp anyhwere near there. So I decided to go on up to Steamboat Rock SP and camp there, but by then it was too late to do any kind of a hike, so I just played with the dog, barbecued, and rode my mtn bike around the area with the dog chasing after. Great stars that night, then a bright moon came out.
Monday I did some more bicycle exploring, and some lounging, and playing with the dog, then it started to rain a bit. Not enough to get wet, but I just decided I didn't feel like hiking that day. It happens. So I drove up to Grand Coulee dam and checked that out. I had never been before, and it was pretty cool. On the way back I drove up the road to Northrup canyon, and that looked interesting, so I planned that for Tuesday. I also found a WDFW camping area north of Northrup canyon but south of Electric city. I camped there Monday night since it is free if you have the WDFW VUP (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Vehicle Use Permit). It was nice, in between a high cliff and a small lake, with views towards Steamboat Rock.
Tuesday I drove back to Northrup canyon, and took off up the road on the mountain bike. After just a short ride I had to get off and walk due to solid ice on the road, covered in water, super slippery. But then the road moves over to the sunny side of the canyon, and I mounted up again. Daisy loved this, as she can finally move at her own pace instead of always waiting for her sluggish master. After a few more ups and downs the road reaches the old homestead of the Northrups. I left the bike there and we hiked up the trail towards Northrup lake. What a cool place this canyon is. There are tall cliffs with lots of tumbling boulders and rock slabs halfway fallen off the plateau above. Lots of wildlife, birds of every description and type of call. I especially liked all the awesome rock formations and distinctive boulders right along the trail. After some ups and downs and a decent uphill grind, I was at a good view area, toasty-brown grass interspersed with granite slabs and ponderosa pines and other types of pine trees. There are views up and down the canyon, with the ever-present coulee walls for added visual stimulation. I came to a junction, with the right fork heading towards Northrup lake, but I went the other way to get to another high point with more good views. From there I dropped down off trail to meet up with the Northrup lake trail again, and went over to the lake. It's 90% frozen still, but scenic in it's own small way. On the way back, I saw a bunch of the eagles that I was told to expect in the area. I got a few pictures of elongated dots that I claim are eagles, but you'd have to take my word for it. The binoculars worked better. It was nice to have the bike to roll partway back on, making the road section go more quickly and easily. I used the extra time to stop more and watch the eagles circling. It took 4 solid hours of driving to get home, plus some extra time for stopping to feed the dog, etc. Subtract about 20 minutes if you live in Seattle.
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