As the previous member mentioned, once you get to the flatland, head north up a rocky trail. There is a white arrow spray painted on the rock wall for a marker. Be aware that it is literally a rock trail made up of rocks so bringing your poles and wearing good shoes is recommended. Higher up there is still snow and slippery mud on the trail which can make it difficult to climb the last bit of elevation. But once you get to the top it is worth it. What a view! The lake is still frozen and the ice cover is beautiful. It was very windy at the top so I was glad to have my windbreaker. Ran into a herd of deer at the top too. If you don't have a problem with a few challenges, it's a worthy hike. If not, it might be best to wait until the snow is melted.

See additional links below for more trip photos. Once again, the hit-or-miss weather forecast this weekend brought us out east. Apart from the long drive, Steamboat Rock continues to be a favorite fallback destination. All but the first trip were done in late winter, which had proven to be the best and the prettiest time to visit. Not only did we get to spend more time roaming around in cooler weather, but we also got to enjoy absence of high-season chaos. A few cars and a couple of campers in the campground areas when we arrived around noon. We followed our previous route tracing along the rim of the rock. We saw two other groups on the way up and hiked past one of them on their way down. A nearly bluebird afternoon to start. Up to a foot of snow patches on top, mostly along the west rim. Hikers trail got pretty muddy from the melting snow and warmer afternoon temperatures. Banks Lake was still frozen over with zero water activities. Another beautiful day in the neighborhood as I continued to be fascinated by the geology differentials of our state. Gear: none

This hike is a must for Grand Coulee area visitors. A 650 foot gain, and choice of trails on top of the mesa. It's best to go north (right) at the junction towards the top; views are better. The gully leading to the top is a bit steep and loose so hiking poles are a good idea, also wear your boots against the sharp rocks. We saw a smallish rattlesnake which was more scared of us than vice versa.

Another short Coulee hike with a great payoff. The second campsite is closest to the trailhead, there's a small number of parking spaces in front of the restrooms, the rest of the spots are for campers. The initial ascent is a bit steep over piles of scree, 3 points of contact and a low center of gravity is a good tactic. After arriving at the fork I went left and promptly lost the trail, would definitely go right next time. I picked it back up on the north end of the rock and enjoyed the views for awhile before heading back. There were a ton of gnats and small flying bugs, but too hot and windy for mosquitos. Great way to spend 3-4 hours, don't forget sunscreen and water as there is zero shade unless you're hiking late afternoon.

We were staying at Steamboat Rock State Park, so it was just a quick scramble for us. We had Grandma with us, but had to have her turn back as soon as we hit the rock. I wouldn't reccomend trying this hike unless you've got great footing, although the two little guys we brought did just fine (8 and 9 year olds are darn tough). Beautiful loop once you get to the top!