May is the best time to visit Escure Ranch. This year with the cool and rainy spring we've had, it's especially verdant. If you google Escure Ranch BLM, a clear map of the area can be loaded onto your phone or printed, which I did.
I've hiked to Towell Falls before, so this time I headed west from the trailhead toward Wall Lake. The trail, like the others, is an old ranch road that's easy to follow and well-signed with brown carsonite markers. However the spur trail to the lake is not marked, but I found my way there anyhow.
I continued westward for at least a couple miles more, paralleling the Palouse to Cascades Trail which marks Escure's northern boundary. The map shows it intersecting the Spokane, Seattle and Portland railroad bed which is the western boundary, but I never came to it despite walking far further than I needed to, so it seemed.
So I cut across the landscape heading south, hoping I was still on public land, still keeping my plan to roughly hike the perimeter of the entire Escure ranch. I enjoyed exploring some minor coulees, riparian areas and finding an old rock monument sitting in the middle of nowhere. I came out at the corner of Calloway and Zornes Road, and seeing BLM signage, was happy to discover I'd remained on public land.
I headed eastward, roughly following Zornes road, then the fence line separating Escure property from private land to the south. Here the landscape is mostly flat and featureless, but very well vegetated and green. After about 3 miles, the coulees reappear as I approached Rock Creek.
I stayed on the west side of Rock Creek as I headed north toward the trailhead, going up and down the coulees along the way. Bit less than a mile of walking brought me to Towell Falls. The valley is especially green right now, and it is so beautiful.
Caught sight of mule deer on a couple occasions and spotted what appeared to be a cougar, desperately fleeing from me by leaping up a rock face of 8-10 feet. It is the first time I've seen a cougar in my decades of extensive hiking experience.
Took 10 and 1/2 hours to complete the hike, but so worth it.
Comments
mato on Escure Ranch - Towell Falls
This has been on my to-do list - thanks for the reminder.
I am hoping this is the year I spot a cougar. The one I saw running down the road with a chicken in its jaws doesn't count. Lucky you!
Posted by:
mato on May 17, 2022 04:29 PM
Escure Ranch
I'm planning to return again soon, mato. I'd like to explore interior areas I haven't traversed yet. Hopefully a cougar sighting will come your way soon.
Posted by:
Jukebox Jim on May 18, 2022 02:50 PM
mato on Escure Ranch - Towell Falls
I saw one today! He ran across the road about fifty yards ahead of me on the 'Loop. Does that count? Not as sensory as being on foot, but still cool!
Posted by:
mato on Jun 12, 2022 07:13 PM
Jukebox Jim on Escure Ranch - Towell Falls
Counts! Sure, not quite as sensory as being on foot, but it's a rare thing. Some sort of celebration tonight is in order, I'd think.
Posted by:
Jukebox Jim on Jun 12, 2022 08:27 PM