Over the last couple of weeks, we extended our hiking, biking, and kayaking adventures and avoided a bit of rain by heading east to the Hood River area, and then visiting a couple high desert locations in Eastern Washington.

 

Our first stop was Viento State Park, just west of Hood River. You can access the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail right from the park. Several segments of the trail are combo walking/bike paths that follow the old highway. We biked the Viento to Wyeth segment of the trail - a hilly but fairly easy paved trail with multiple waterfalls and beautiful lookouts onto the Columbia Gorge.

 

From camp - the beautiful Columbia River

 

The main reason we camped at this particular location: easy access to this amazing bike trail!

 

 

Starvation Creek Falls - one of several falls along the trail.

 

Cabin Creek Falls- also along the trail

 

Views from one of the trail peaks

 

 

The Mitchell Point Tunnel - also part of the walking/bike path.

 

We took a day trip from camp up to Lost Lake. This late in the season we had the place virtually to ourselves and hiked the entire lake trail without seeing one other person.

 

 

 

Beautiful views of Mt. Hood from the trail.

 

Our next stop was in Tri-Cities. We'd planned a stop here primarily because it was halfway between Viento and our next destination, and really had no expectations. We were happy to find it to be a great biking location, with multiple parks and a bike trail extending for miles along both sides of the Columbia river. We did a 20 mile loop, stopping to admire the local wildlife.

 

Pioneer Memorial Bridge connecting Pasco and Kennewick - heavy traffic there, but it has a nicely separated section for walking/biking across.

 

Following Tri-Cities, we arrived at our major destination- Steamboat Rock State Park located on a peninsula in the Grand Coulee. We visited this park a couple years ago and vowed to come back with our kayaks.

 

With our campsite located right on the water, it was a perfect place to launch into the clear, island dotted waters. Visiting when we did, in early October, was perfect- with fewer visitors and cooler temps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steamboat Rock juts up 800 feet from the peninsula. There is a very steep trail to get to the top - 800 feet in less than a mile. Loose rock and dirt makes the climb not for the faint of heart, but once you get to the top it all feels worth it.

 

 

 

Views from the top

 

 

 

Getting back down the worst part of the trail - you get a huge sense of relief. I'm alive!!

 

 

The kayaking here was everything we'd hoped and more - lots of little islands and paths to explore. It was fantastic being here in the fall!

 

 

 

 

 

Our last destination was Monroe, WA - halfway to home. Being an hour east of Seattle, we found ourselves back in rain, but welcomed a little break to catch up on projects. We caught a lucky break in the weather on our one day of venturing out - taking the light rail into downtown Seattle.

 

So many changes on the Seattle waterfront!