Plenty of sunshine in the entire WA, but I was looking for some remote hike, so I decided to finally take this one out of my backpack. It’s a long but enjoyable ride from Seattle and very worthy. I arrived at the trailhead by 1 pm, finding five more cars parked there.
Intersection of SR-24 and the park road is well signed, so don’t be afraid to miss the turn. Gravel road is in good condition and perfectly passable. Parking lot is not signed, but easy to see - I expected some shoulder parking, but it’s actually a small area separated from the access road. There are no amenities, signage or other kind of information. WTA site suggests that the Discover Pass is required for this trail, but I haven’t seen any posted requirement to display it neither at the TH nor on the entire length of the access road.
The trail is nothing special right from the start. Things change when sand dunes come into view. They seem small at the beginning, but as you get closer, these sandy giants become overwhelming. It’s hard to believe there is a piece of Sahara in the very heart of the evergreen state.
There are two major dunes (not sure if that’s a constant number). All other hikers were satisfied by the first dune and didn’t proceed further, so it was pretty crowded. I couldn’t find any established trail once I passed it, so I just followed a faint boot-and-paw path towards the second dune. It seems to be a build-your-own adventure. 1.5h after start, I reached the top of the second dune, which I had all to myself. Great feeling and unforgettable experience. I turned around there, so I’m not sure if there’s a trail beyond the second dune. Return trip was shorter, and I reached the parking lot just before 3.30 pm, spending 2.5h on the trail.
A few useful tips. Keep in mind that on the windy day the dune will devour your footprints promptly. Of course it’s hard to get lost there, as the Columbia will always lead you back, but still there’s a chance you won’t find your track on the way back. Use caution when traversing the dunes. Each step causes a little sand slide. Close to the dune’s ridge, where sand is loose, such a sand shift may be quite substantial. I don’t believe it could bury a human, but I got my feet sucked into sand up to my ankles. Finally, bring water, lots of water. Even today, with temps in mid-60s and a gentle breeze, it was extremely hot on white reflecting dunes. I can’t even imagine what it’s like to be there in summer.
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