This is a trip report for the small hike located close to the Frenchman Coulee river access area. This is a short, flat hike (1.7 mile one way) with a few nice shady spots where you can access the water. We chose this hike over the other ones in the area since we were with our black lab and he gets really hot, really fast, especially in the Eastern Washington sun. 

The hike passes an Osprey nest and it was intriguing to see the Osprey's behavior as we passed by - it would start circling the nest; probably surveying if we were threats to it. 

The trail here is right next to private property and the two are separated by a dirt road, so make sure you don't stray into private land and stay on the same side of the dirt road as when you start out. 

My first visit to this area and I hiked around the rim of Echo Basin and visited some lakes south of the main coulee. After leaving from the climber's parking area where the toilet is, walk the old Jeep track/trail a short distance past Agathla Tower until a boot trail is seen headed up south to a break in the cliffs. There are a few scramble moves at the top as this must be the climber's access to the north side of Echo Basin. 

Flowers were not as good as I expected since it's been a rather dry spring east of the mountains. Some bitterroot is starting to bloom but aside from balsamroot and what looks like aster, there is little else. 

Flowers are scattered among the sagebrush and bitterbrush. Pleasant but don't expect sweeping hills of flowers.

No ticks encountered.

Only 4 cars at the trail head. LOTS of people climbing the rocks along Vantage road as you drive to the trail head.

Plenty of water in the falls.

After your hike, there are two nearby places to visit:
Drive down Vantage rd another mile to enjoy a short trail along the Columbia river. Slightly different flowers.
Drive back up Vantage Rd and turn N on Silica Rd. In about 1/4 mile pass the source of the waterfall--ponds with cattails and birdsong. Just past the ponds park on the side of the road and walk 200' to the cliff overlooking the waterfall. You don't see much water but the view of the Coulee is impressive.

We got a leisurely start and left Seattle at 9, arriving to filtered sunshine, 60° and plenty of parking (though the rock climbing areas were parked full) at 11:30. A couple guys were doing some shooting right at the trailhead. Personally, not the spot I’d have chosen, but they appeared to have all the things they needed to shoot safely and they were mindful of hikers who wanted to walk by them. It’s a land of many uses and, aside from the occasional echo of a shot off the canyon walls, it did not disrupt our plans. Trail is fine to the waterfall and, while some flowers are out, it’s going to be a bonanza in about two weeks. At the waterfall, we opted to cross the stream (very easy) and hike an obvious trail up to the canyon rim, where it met up with Silica Rd. We walked from there, taking pictures from above, checking out the climbers and making use of the privy at the larger parking area. We were not moving quickly... just taking it in. Got back to the car at 2:15, though this can be done much faster. Not eager to head back to the rain at home, we drove down into the Columbia Gorge by following Silica Rd. We parked and walked down to the water. A lot more wildflowers out here and nothing like stepping right up to the Columbia. A great day.

I read lovely trip reports about a hike to a waterfall, so for my second break from today’s drive, I thought I would try this one. I started off in the wrong direction, toward a wet spot I could see off in the on the cliff. I did see climbers scaling the basalt columns and more than a few phlox blooming under the protection of sage and rabbit brush.  When I returned to the car, I realized my mistake and tried a little of the right trail. Nothing is signed out here. 

The wrong trail feels like an old road for a while, then becomes more of a single track toward the wrong cliff.  The one going toward the real waterfall is an old road track the whole way. I followed it for about a half mile before time constraints forced me to turn back. It was a windy day.  The wind pushed me away from the car, then blew my hair behind me on the way back.  

I did find a view of the waterfall from the road on the drive back to the highway. I couldn’t see it on my wayto the trailhead because I was concentrating on keeping the car on the road and out of the abyss.

This dry windy hike was quite a contrast from this morning’s hike at Twin Falls.