Nice clean recreation camping area developed by Grant County PUD…read more Nice bathrooms, well marked tent pads, river trails, paved. Pretty river views, looks to be open year round First bathroom gets a lot of use as a highway rest stop.

* Summer Flashback * When I think of state parks and forests…read morein Washington, I always assume they'll consist of lush green foliage. However, Eastern Washington takes on a totally different landscape! The Gingko forest was dry like a desert and I immediately felt like I was transported to a different state. The park is split into two main areas which both require the Discover Pass or $10 for admission. The first area is home to the gift shop, interpretive center and stumps of petrified wood outside on display. This was my first time seeing any remains of petrified wood which are actually considered stone. The wood was smoothed over and some of the surfaces had developed shiny deposits! There are some plaques to read around the exhibit which describe the history of the land and provide more information on the petrified artifacts. It's an amazing realization that we were standing in an area that was once overtaken by lava flows. We could actually see lava remains on the grounds as well! From behind the interpretive center, you can get an expansive view of the Columbia River and Vantage Bridge. Inside, you'll find various types of petrified wood clearly labeled in glass displays which are definitely worth taking a moment to browse. A friendly park guide was also happy to answer any questions. About two miles up the road is a trail which apparently leads to petrified logs. Unfortunately, due to high fire risk (dry summer weather), this area was closed. Somewhere, you can see petroglyphs as well which we also missed this time around. While driving to and from this area, we spotted a herd of antelope! They were in the middle of the road and we caught a glimpse of them as they crossed right in front of us. What a sight! Overall, this is a park that everyone can enjoy, even those who cannot walk a far distance. The petrified wood and interpretive center at the first location is within a very short distance of the parking lot. While not exactly what I expected of a state park, it was still a fascinating visit. I couldn't help but marvel at all of the artifacts that originated from thousands of years ago. Stop by and touch a piece of history!

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park is a MUST see when traveling back to western WA. I'm still…read moreperplexed at how naturally beautiful the state of WA is, it's truly unreal how this park and Wenatchee can be 1-2 hours from the other. Our goal is visit as many national parks as we can, in an effort to acknowledge and honor the gift of nature.

This is a fantastic park. We went for a quick morning walk. It was more than we expected. Beautiful…read moreviews of the river and short but lovely trails through the woods. My bird app identified about a dozen bird species within a minute. A very special place.

Lots of activities Frisbee course water boarding. Kayaking, sunbathing, beside river nature walk,…read morepicnicking, swimming, rope swing (to be used at own risk and responsibly.). Connected with an under freeway bridge greenway walk to another park where you can take your dog besides having access to other side of lakes and nature trail.

Such a great place to bring your family for a day of fun!! There is a swimming area, a boat dock to…read morelaunch your boat, a fishing dock, and a large park with a playground, frisbee golf course and lots of picnic areas!

This is a big lovely park on the side of I-90 in Moses Lake…read more There are mostly pros, especially in the size (it's huge!) and the variety of things to do here. Even on abuts weekend with a wedding taking place in part of the park, it doesn't feel crowded. There are gazebos galore, 3 buildings with facilities, grills, a playground, a dock, a basketball court, a swimming area and tiny beach, and a disc golf course. You can reach it by the bike path or car. Cons: the freeway is loud in the park proper if you're seeking a quiet place, but I wouldn't call it too obnoxious. I haven't been on a weekday, but on a mid-Sunday in summer, be prepared to pack out your garbage because all cans will be full (and I didn't see places for recycling). If you're an avid disc golfer like S., the course might be a disappointment, say a 2-3 star. There are only nine holes, all par three, and if you are here during a normal summer afternoon, most holes will be obstructed by other park-goers, as it's all incorporated right into the park. But it's a good place to practice, and if you arrive early, especially on weekdays, you can get in a full round. For me, it's great for a summer in-town getaway.

Excellent view of the columns We loved the ride and took…read morepictures of the formations. However we didn't get to see the tall ones or maybe the shadows did not allowed a great view

There is a pull-off from West McManamon Road where you can park your car as you visit Drumheller…read moreChannels National Natural Landmark. I had been debating about whether to stop here after hiking some of the trails past the main entrance of the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge and decided to stop because the pull-off had ample space for me to park and a sign denoting the pull-off corresponding to the National Natural Landmark was easy to spot from the road. From the parking area there is a short gravel path to a vista/viewing point that looks out over the channeled scablands. This viewing area has a few informational placards with information about the history of the area and about the importance of the natural habitat the area provides for wildlife. A number of small trails branched away from the vista/viewing point that I chose not to explore. I enjoyed stopping here and it tickled my tastebuds to do more exploring in the vein of past geology projects of mine. In my sedimentology and stratigraphy course as an undergraduate training in geology and geophysics one of my focus projects was on the channeled scablands. I chose the topic because the word scablands was not familiar to me. Funny enough, the channeled scablands ended up being in my home state (Washington State)! So stopping here carried a large sentimental meaning to me. Even if the channeled scablands have not been a focus of your professional activities I recommend stopping here. The location provides a good view of the scablands and a great cursory background of the importance of the area in understanding Earth's (natural) history.

This is a great little self-guided tour where you walk a trail and view actual petrified wood in…read moreit's natural setting where it was found. Unfortunately thieves keep trying to break it and steal chunks of it so it has to be caged off like being locked up in a jail. The cage really obscures photographs but it's totally understandable since we are in a world full of thieves in undesirables. You will be up in a beautiful open desert setting. It is not beautiful like a forest but it is beautiful to see another type of landscape created for us.

Nice stop off I-90 if you need to stretch your legs and take a little walk. The interpretive…read morecenter itself has a movie showing how the petrified forest (petrified wood) came about. There are some neat displays, maybe about 10 minutes worth of looking. Great view of the Columbia and the Vantage bridge. You do need a discovery pass to park here, but you can buy a day pass or an annual pass inside from the Park Ranger. Also, a little ways down the street, there is a 3/4 mile short walk through the actual forest, and longer (3+ mile) trails which are signed.. Clean bathrooms and a friendly park ranger make this a nice little break from the car!

It's not the landscape, the wildlife, the trails or the views. It's the people. Most are…read moreperfectly fine and are out there to camp, hike, and fish for the sake of the activities. However, there is a percentage that is there because it's free and remote while still being accessible to a town where they can get their drug of choice. You'll recognize them by the ancient, filthy, motorhomes. My son was hiking with his girlfriend when they were approached by one of these "campers" who asked if they had any fentanyl to sell! Wow! Is there no where to escape this scrounge? Anywhere?

Mileage: estimated about 10 miles total (2 miles to where we set up our tents, then we hiked a loop…read moreof about 6 miles, then 2 miles back to the car the next day) Backpacked: April 16-17, 2016 This past weekend a group of us did an overnight backpack trek to Ancient Lakes. 3 first timers backpacking and it turned out to be an awesome trip! We had some problems trying to find directions out to the place, so here's directions from my personal experience. Directions: we stayed in Quincy the night before, so we took the 28 to Whitetail Road. Made a left on Whitetail from the 28, then a right on road 9 NW. follow road 9 NW and it turns into Ancient Lakes Rd NW. At the end of the road, you'll find the west parking lot. I am not sure how to get to the east parking lot. There's a lot of parking here, when we got there by 11 am, it was really crowded but we still found a spot. (When you are on Whitetail Rd, it might look like you are just driving through farms, but buried in there, there's Ancient Lakes!) There is a port-o-potty at the trail head on the west side. Trail head: is well marked, we hiked in about 2 miles and got to the lakes and the rolling grass area where you can set up tent where ever. There are some man made fire rings scattered through out the area. Hiking: After we picked a spot and set up camp, we hiked a loop around the lakes. We started towards the waterfall. It was a scramble up the side of the waterfall, like a class 4 rock scramble lol. Loose rocks, loose footing. From there, we went pass that waterfall and onto the backside where the east parking lot is. Which there's another waterfall there, and there's also camp spots there too. We looped around, it wasn't too hard. We estimated this part of the hike to be around 6 miles round trip back to our tents. Lots of people camping, we counted about 50 tents, then you estimate about 2/per tent, so like 100 people were out here! But you still are able to find solitude. We came across 3 snakes, an owl, and a marmot. Easy trek, not very hilly at all. Good for first time backpackers. The area can be explored in a day. I found this site useful: https://www.theoutbound.com/washington/backpacking/ancient-lakes-day-hike-or-backpack

Beautiful park. 8…read moreBRAND NEW PICKLEBALL COURTS built 2019! Playground, swimming pool during the summer, favorite picnic spot for groups, the annual venue for the folk life music festival. Local middle school shares the rubber track or run around the circumference of the park for a great elevation changing .89 mile. Terraced grass hillside for intense training. Old growth trees makes the open fields picturesque.

Lovely park in the neighborhood, perfect for walking your dog, or enjoying the day with your…read morefamily. Great area to meet people to during COVID-19 for safe enough distance and fresh air purposes.

Rusty S has kind of said it all but Vantage isn't much of a town at all. It's more of just a rest…read morestop to stretch your legs and get something to eat or take in the gorgeous view of the Columbia river. They have one has station and I believe two restaurants. Other than that and a small motel/campground there isn't much else. It's not far from two state parks though; Wanapum and Gingko. It's a nice place to stop though if you get kind of bored on you drive on I-90.

Not much more than a wide spot in the road at the intersection of I-90 and the Columbia River,…read moreVantage makes a convenient rest stop on road trips through Eastern Washington. There are a few gas stations, a couple of restaurants, and a public boat launch. Just across the bridge (Eastbound on I-90) there's a turnoff for the Wild Horses Monument. No services there, but a fantastic view!

This Japanese Botanical Garden may be small, but it beautifully lives up to its name. Tucked away…read morein a peaceful setting, the garden offers a cozy, quiet escape with meandering walking paths, gentle streams, serene ponds, and even a few graceful koi fish gliding through the water. A charming little fountain adds a soft, soothing soundscape to the experience. Though seating is limited, there are a few well-placed benches where you can pause and take in the calm surroundings. The zen garden areas feature carefully raked sand, textured stones, and layered designs that invite stillness and reflection. You'll also find stone pagoda-like statues, stacked stone towers, and miniature trees that complete the traditional Japanese aesthetic. It's a lovely, peaceful retreat--perfect for a slow stroll, quiet contemplation, or simply enjoying a moment of calm. While it's not large, its thoughtful design and serene atmosphere make it well worth the visit.

A hidden gem in the middle of downtown Mosses Lake. We enjoyed the grassy area, trees, and…read morefountains. It's a perfect place to relax, meditate, read, and have a picnic.