Enjoy A Secluded Stroll On A Little-Known Path Along This Iconic Washington Lake
By Andrea Verschuyl|Published February 15, 2024
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Andrea Verschuyl
Author
Having grown up in Washington, Andrea is a self-admitted Pacific Northwest snob. In their opinion, there's simply nowhere else in the country with the Evergreen State's beauty. After attending university, Andrea devoted themselves to writing full-time. They're thrilled to represent Washington for Only In Your State while pursuing other professional and personal projects. They currently reside in Olympia, where they enjoy leaf-blowing their yard, perfecting homemade ramen, cuddling with their three tiny dogs, and feeding their pufferfish, Sea Biscuit.
I’ve lived my whole life in the west Cascades rain shadow, so my perception of our state’s biomes is admittedly skewed towards the lush and saturated. But Evergreeners have it all, and this quiet hike to a lake in Washington is precisely why I have a hard time believing any state could be more beautiful than ours. Across the mountains and just 45 minutes from Wenatchee, Dusty Lake Trail boasts views that would make it wildly popular anywhere else. Here? It slips right beneath the radar.
You'll reach Dusty Lakes via the Ancient Lakes trailhead, a set of routes that braid Potholes Coulee. It's part of the region's legacy of cataclysmic flooding.
Following the last Ice Age, glacial meltwater skipped like a wave on a rocky beach across the local terrain, overflowing ravines and carving deep canyons in the bedrock until it plunged almost 1,000 feet into the Columbia River.
Today, as hikers visit each of the coulee's four, small lakes, they'll see evidence of this incredible geologic event all around them, not least in the 300-foot basalt cliffs that seem to rise and fall from nowhere, helping create spectacular views.
I arrived via the Upper Trailhead, which meant walking in for a little over a mile until I spotted a sign for Dusty Lakes on my right. Granted, this initial stint isn't quite so spectacular as the rest of the route, but it's fun to see people use the more accessible lakes for fishing, and it's also possible to spot migratory birds— including swans— taking advantage of the calm waters to recuperate before the next leg of their journey.
A word of warning: if you're directionally impaired like me, it's wise to bring someone who knows where they're going or a map to help you collect your bearings. Trails at Ancient Lakes often intersect, meaning a three-mile excursion can quickly become a six or seven-mile trek.
I wasn't on a schedule, so I made peace with the ambiguity. The trail was quiet, but there was enough traffic that I could ask for help if I became well and truly lost. In the meantime, my wandering allotted me more time to appreciate Dusty Lake's subtler virtues, the ones that can get overlooked for the jaw-dropping scenery.
I didn't come equipped to spend the night, but I'd absolutely camp here in the future. Though Ancient Lakes offer nothing to speak of in terms of amenities, there are several established sites dotted throughout the preserve, and I can only imagine how serene sunrise would be over this landscape.
Dusty Lake remains snow-free late into the season, but it's also a great place to explore on snowshoes. Just remember that winter sports can burn 50 percent more calories than their summertime equivalents, so arrive prepared.
I've been hiking for as long as I can remember, but there are only a few trails that have truly stuck with me. Dusty Lake is one of these and I can't wait to return in the future.
At this underrated spot just 45 minutes from Wenatchee, you’ll hike to a lake in Washington that will mesmerize you with its otherworldly beauty. With its cathedral-like cliffs and stained-glass waters, it’s a trail that’s stuck with me for years, becoming one of my hands-down favorites in our state.
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