Just slightly North of Summer Falls State Park there is a small bridge along Pinto Ridge Road NE. Just before and after the bridge are dirt roads that run along the north canal and head up to additional small lakes and rocky bluffs. Great to hike in the winter as the rattlesnakes are hibernating and the views are gorgeous. Some snow, loose rock, and windy. Shallow parts of the small lakes are frozen with 3-4 inches of ice.

Directions to the TH are accurate in Dan nelson's "Desert Hikes Washington". Billy Clapp Lake is more than 3 miles long and receives its water from the main canal from Banks Lake. The water is dumped into Billy Clapp Lake via Summer Falls where water is released only in the spring and summer to meet irrigation needs. The lake is beautiful with many basalt cliffs lining the lake. Sadly the first 1/4 mile is littered with trash. We carried out a 1/2 gallon spiced wine bottle, a pink air mattress, and a gatorade bottle on our return to the TH. All were within 50 yards of the TH. We saw a loon at our lunch spot. Phlox, Phacelia, larkspur, balsamroot, wallflower, and white lupine were some of the flowers seen.

This was hike #2 on the eastern wa tour, it was on the way to steamboat rock just a slight detour. We parked at the fishing area and talked to some guys from Bonney Lake next town from where we live, they were really nice. We headed up the trail behind the pit toilet and were wow'd with views the rest of the hike. Our destination was to be summer falls but we didn't reach it, not sure where it was but we drove there instead after the hike. It wasn't all that, smaller falls. There are several flowers just starting to open another week it should be great! We only saw those 2 fishermen the whole time, no many boats or people out yet. No snakes or ticks on our trip. We did some climbing up and down nice wind keeping us perfect temp. I would come back to this one, only complaint was there was ALOT of broken glass along the way. I just don't get why people have to trash such beautiful areas.

I led a Cascadian hike to Billy Clapp Lake east of the Grand Coulee today. We hiked about 3 miles up the lake before it was time for lunch. On the way we saw 2 large herds of deer and a coyote. The flowers were out, but not especially showy. On the way back we scared up a marmot that must have run as fast as he could for a city block or so to get away. The day was sunny, but breezy and a little cool. There was quite a bit more graffiti on the rocks near the trailhead than I remembered from when I was here in 06. The only other hikers we saw were a couple and their dog near the trailhead as we returned. A nice time was had by all.