This was a surprisingly pleasant day hike.  We hit the trailhead at about 8:30am on June 7th, a clear sunny day.  Temperature was in the low 60s.  The "parking lot" at the trailhead holds maybe three cars.  Roundtrip to the waterfall (I was pleasantly surprised it was flowing) was a little over two hours.  By the time we returned to the car the temperature was up around 80.  Definitely a desert hike.  Trail is easy to follow and mostly flat.  Very easy walk.  Some loose sand that is like walking on a beach.  A short steep section of trail to get to the base of the waterfall.  If you don't have a Discover Pass there's a yellow pay station gizmo on the left side of the road as you drive in where a pass can be purchased.  

Beautiful trail and waterfall. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, and water. Little to no shade the whole trail but it feels nice to get misted by the falls if you climb up a bit.

We parked above Frenchman Coulee near the climber’s camp and restrooms. The place was packed by the time we arrived at 10:30, however, once we started on the trail we saw very few people.

We made this a loop, shown in the last image. We followed the trail west, climbing to a high point where it then leveled out for the next mile. Signs marked different climbing areas, accessible by gullies. We stayed on top. The flowers are just springing up and there is a lot of greenery so it felt lush and verdant. We made our way down to Echo Basin and headed south toward the sand dunes. We climbed to the top of the dunes and then followed a faint trail east and then north back to our car.

Saw a lot of flowers, plants, lichen, basalt rock and some deer. Plenty of solitude. There are some beautiful little surprises on this trail, including a desert oasis with lakes, a stream, and waterfall.

No shade, bring water & snacks, have fun! Gaia or GPS is helpful. The route we took was 4.5 miles, 750 gain and 2.5 hours with a few short breaks.

Headed to state parks today to make use of the free day.

Getting There & Trailhead

Old Vantage Highway is a paved road that poses no issues for any car. Parking lots are rocky and could be treacherous, but there’s plenty of space to park on the shoulder if you’re unsure.

Main parking area was full with climbers and hikers as I arrived at 11.30am. I continued further along the road and parked at a small lot a couple miles down the highway, since trail system is anyway spanning between these two parking areas. There’re no amenities in any lot/pullout besides the main one.

Hike

From where I parked, trail starts in the coulee and heads towards its walls, soon climbing them in a convenient incline (this is, not too steep and not requiring a rope).

Once at the top, there is a primary trail that you will lose and find, but it’s very much a free-ride hike. When wandering close to the edges, be mindful about numerous climbers. They are unseen but can be heard oftentimes. Try not to cause rockfall by stepping too close to the edge and for sure don’t throw anything down the walls.

Near the main parking area, there’re a few trails of different steepness to get back down to the road - or climb the walls if you’re parked there. For the least steep climb, follow the main trail (wide dirt road) as it curves past distinct rock formation and further southeast until it reaches a gap in rocks; from there, pick your favorite trail on your right.

I chose to return to my car via the road rather than trail. Traffic was light, so there were no issues sharing the road.

Timing, Crowds, and More

I’ve been wandering randomly on top of the coulee walls for about 1.40, including hike back to the car.

Tons of climbers but very few hikers; had the top of the coulee to myself pretty much.

Driving down to boat launch on the Columbia will be a nice addition to a gorgeous day at the Coulee. Watch for a large pullout just as the road makes a sharp turn and starts going downhill; views are especially scenic at that point.

Waterfall is another highlight for sure, but there’s no parking close to it that would make the trail easily accessible. There’s a spot designated as camping area overlooking the waterfall, but I wouldn’t attempt entering it in a low clearance car.

This place is a gem, and I lucked into a perfect day for it. My first time here, and I knew very little about it in advance. I took the simple, direct, 2-mile walk as described by WTA, to the waterfall which is running strong and picturesquely. As hikes go, it's short and not at all challenging, but it's a great journey through geologic history, conveniently packed into a relatively small area.

It's also home to an unfortunate quantity of "cultural artifacts," including the remnants of at least two cars that appear to have plunged 250 feet or more from the road that runs along the upper edge of the coulee. It's not a pristine wilderness. But that's just a minor distraction from the scenic bounty.

I hope to come back and explore some of the interesting features, off the beaten path, that other reporters have described.