Not sure this outing was in the Marsh Unit? We hiked in off McManomon Road. Be aware that some of this area is closed from October to March.

Scrambling buttes, jumping small streams, navigating around potholes and lakes, it is impossible to hike in a straight line! But that is what makes it so much fun exploring this scab land part of our state. It is a beautiful area but unfortunately fellow outdoors enthusiasts have left "tons" of trash along the game trails, boot tracks and shorelines.

So much yet to explore, will be back after March 1 to check out other areas.

I saw in this month's magazine that trail reports for this area are needed so I'm adding mine. :) I wander around this area quite a bit since it's 10 minutes from my house and usually pretty empty. I've only been on the actual 'nature trail' one time and while it was interesting and beautiful, it is in need of some serious help. The black weed barrier that was used under the gravel is totally ripped apart all along the trail and should probably just be taken out. The trail is very, very overgrown with wild roses, cheat grass and other bushes and such. The informational signs are still in pretty good shape and I didn't see an graffiti anywhere. It just needs some TLC. :)

Decided to hike around in the Wildlife Refuge with my Dad after visiting with some relatives for Easter. After we parked we followed a primitive road a 1/4 mile and then took a right at another road and continued on until we wanted to get a closer look at the basalt cliffs. After going off the road, you had to bushwhack a ways until you got to the stream. There was a small flat log laying across, but it was rotted, so you had to wade across. Then you could do a short scramble up the basalt cliff on its western most side. Walking along the ridge we ran into two white tail deer and a large hawk. The wind was strong but wasn't an issue. Once you are on the cliff, the way to get back down was pretty tricky, how ever not impossible. Once we were down, we walked to a small stream where there was a 2 by 4 going across it that provided some help. We made it back to the road and continued to head west on it until we got to a small reservoir and then looped back to head south back to the car. A nice walk with a lot of wildlife and views.

This is a nice hike in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, Marsh Unit #1. The T.H. is off the Soda Lake dam, about 2 miles south of the O'Sullivan dam. The trick is that there is little information about this area. The map at the T.H. does not show a road that is really the major route, to the left when you come to a "Y". This route is great but does not seem to be "the one". We took it for a few miles to far end of Long Lake. It is along the canal they built (a real wow) and thus high enough to look down on the lake areas. Nice views. We probably should have taken the faint, older route at the "Y", to get into the actual lake area. This is not an area where one can go easily across country. Flowers are out, no snakes seen. Saw a porcupine in a tree, whipping around in the wind, later that evening. He was eating twigs. Pretty neat! A good hike out of the snow and maybe in the sun!