Columbia National Wildlife Refuge - Rimrock Lake, Columbia National Wildlife Refuge - Crab Creek & Columbia National Wildlife Refuge - Marsh Lake — Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023

Getting there & Trailhead

Area is accessible from both Othello via WA-26 and Moses Lake via WA-17. Be ready to battle severe winds and hoards of tumbleweed on I-90 between Ellensburg and George.

Roads inside the refuge are well-maintained gravel roads with no potholes. Some stretches are pretty loose gravel that may affect traction - take it slow.

Rimrock [south] trailhead has a very usable portable toilet. Crab Creek [north] trailhead has no amenities. Each area parks half a dozen, best case about ten cars.

Trails

There’re three trails in the area. All three start from the Rimrock / south trailhead, and Crab Creek trail connects north and south trailheads. So no matter where you start you can easily cover all three [two during seasonal closures].

Marsh Lake: closed till March. Please respect closure signs as migratory birds are numerous right now.

Rimrock Lake: a very scenic lollipop loop with many interpretive signs. Apart from naming confusion, the trail is very well-signed and easy to follow. Its “handle” is mostly flat and lies in a canyon full of weeds and sagebrush, while its “circle” runs rocky edge of a mesa providing fantastic views. Getting on top of the mesa requires a short but aggressive ascent. Definitely a must see trail and totally justifies the entire trip from Seattle. Pack your layers for chilly winds.

Crab Creek: a less scenic trail following a creek inside the coulee forming area’s landscape. While not as great overall as Rimrock Lake trail, it does have two features making it worthy: unexpected view of a waterfall and a short offshoot to a kolk, one of many in the area, with a great interpretive sign. When hiking this trail from the Rimrock Lake TH, at a three-way intersection - the one with kolk sign - keep right and downstairs to stay on the trail. Path leading straight will become faint and disappear soon.

Timing & Stats

Started from the south trailhead at 11.30am with just one more car at the parking lot.

Rimrock Lake trail - 1 h 15 min.

Crab Creek trail - 50 min.

Arrived to find a couple more cars in the parking lot. No cars seen at the north trailhead.