Big Bend Wildlife Area — Friday, Feb. 5, 2021

The trailhead is at the south end of the Big Bend Wildlife Area and has plenty of parking, but be aware the dirt road can be muddy after wet weather.

To get to the trailhead, drive to Grand Coulee, WA. At the intersection of state highways 174 and 155, turn north on 174 and go 6.1 miles to Smith Lake Road and turn right. Stay on this highway as it turns to gravel after 6.4 miles. After almost a mile of gravel, take a right. If you miss this turn, you'll come to a T-intersection in a couple hundred feet and can't go further. Turn right if this happens. Follow this dirt road for less than a mile and you'll come to the wide parking area and big green gate of the entrance to the wildlife area.

The Big Bend Wildlife Area consists of some formerly privately-owned cattle ranches, so the trails are roads that lead to several now abandoned and derelict homes.

I chose to hoof it cross-country since the going is easy in the shrub-steppe landscape, but as you head north from the trailhead, twice you'll come to coulee cliffs that may require a long detour to get around. Sticking to the old roads eliminates this problem.

I made it to a ridge that overlooks the Columbia River at the most northerly section of the area, and this is where the landscape is most rugged and beautiful. The photos I took are from this section. However it's a full day hike and I covered about 18 miles.

It was my third visit this winter, and each time I've seen coyotes and multiple groups of mule deer. I've read this area is good habitat for bird-watching, and I spooked over a dozen endangered sharp-tail grouse from beneath a fallen pine, however I didn't see bunches of birds. Maybe it's the time of year. Also, keep in mind when hiking in autumn, the area is open for hunting.

The combination of basalt cliffs, coulees, occasional treed sections and granite -composed hills made a fun time for exploring and admiring. Though there's plenty of visible human impact with the old farmhouses, rusting equipment and fence lines, the area is nearly devoid of recent impacts or despoiling. I've yet to see a hiker or even another car at the trailhead.