1.8 hr
Overview
There are a number of pleasant strolls in the Catherine Creek area: this one visits the Catherine Creek Arch , an old corral, and ponderosa pine parklands offering views to the Columbia River and a display of wildflowers in the spring. A new (2019) footbridge and a section of trail built by the Washington Trails Association allows you to complete a loop without walking on Highway 14. Originally the Lauterbach Ranch, the property, which extends from Tracy Hill west to the Labyrinth, was purchased by the Trust for Public Land in 1985. In 1986, the Scenic Area was established and the next year, the Forest Service purchased the land from TPL in keeping with its goal to expand public holdings within the CRGNSA. At first, only a few botanizers explored these slopes: the area has greater floral diversity than places like Dog Mountain because of the unusual scabland nature of the slopes below 1,200 feet, which were scoured repeatedly by the Bretz (Missoula) Floods (15,300 – 12,700 years ago). Now, Catherine Creek is a very popular destination, especially in the spring, so it's a good idea to get here early on weekends to have the place a little to yourself.
Trail Stats
5.5 km
152 m
187 m
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Photos
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