I connected these state parks with my feet rather than the driving option. It's about 8 miles distance between the two and as I solo hiked, I made it a round trip. I parked at the Lyons Ferry Game Management Unit (Lyons Ferry SP still closed for winter) and walked the road until an old two-track appeared below. This leads to a pretty good use trail to Marmes Pond which crosses the steep slopes below Peak 362 with its dramatic basalt outcroppings. A short scramble down takes you to Marmes Pond. From there I started cross country passing by the rock shelter above the pond.
This is mostly a cross-country hike but the last 1.6 miles joins an old road bed that goes to the bridge crossing of the railroad at the Palouse Falls State Park entrance. There is also a railroad track crossing to join this road unless you stay high where the tracks enter a tunnel and scramble down to the road where some defunct power lines are.
A couple of places require sure footing and the use of hands though exposure is minimal. If you find yourself on steepening slopes above 100' basalt cliffs, turn back and look for an easier way around. Game trails can lure you into these areas.
Edit to add: I've been informed that I crossed some private property during this hike. Though there is no indication of leaving public land and entering private parcels, it is our responsibility to know this information.
Please keep this in mind if you attempt this hike.
I made the false assumption that since others have done this hike that it was ok to proceed. I'll leave the trip report up as a source for this info. If you are interested in the hike, I suggest contacting The Ice Age Flood Institute via the link below.
Comments
mato on Lyons Ferry State Park - Marmes Pond, Palouse Falls
What a great idea for a hike! Looks like a little green is starting to show - spring is the best time in the Palouse.
Posted by:
mato on Mar 18, 2021 07:06 AM