Frenchman Coulee Echo Basin by Potholes Coulee / 法蘭區深谷

  • Reading time:8 mins read

Frenchman Coulee by Potholes Coulee holds the expansive Echo Basin. It faces the Columbia River to the west. Vantage, the climbing area here, is synonymous with the small community west of Vantage Bridge.

Frenchman Coulee from the east depression
Frenchman Coulee from the east depression

See more trip photos here.

Frenchman Coulee at a Glance

Access: Old Vantage Highway at mile 2.6
Round Trip: 5.3 miles
Elevation Range: 740′-1310′
Gear: none
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: yes

Frenchman Coulee Echo Basin

We’ve welcomed the new year on a mountain for the past eight years. The plan for Deception Pass State Park fell through due to the 80% rain forecast. So after tossing around some ideas, we took off to Frenchman Coulee. As with yesterday’s trip, it was our eighth time here.

We went past the climbing area and parked by the gate, which accessed both basins. Then we went to the south, Echo Basin, which appealed more to me. Most people spend time in the north for the waterfall, but I prefer walking around the rim without interruptions. Besides, we get more exercise away from the nearest road.

No getting over the rainbow
No getting over the rainbow

See more trip photos here.

A Sunny Morning Out East

We started walking in the cloudy morning as several trails weaved through. But we tend to scramble around, submerging in the bittersweet scent of sagebrush. We used the same route as before and went to the southwest edge of the coulee.

Rather than going straight up the sand, we hugged the edges for traction. Once on top, we then scrambled toward the rim. Soon, I spotted hikers at the rock tier below, with another party ahead, looking to be climbing with loud music.

Reaching out
Reaching out

See more trip photos here.

Strolling Above Echo Basin

We moved away from the edge before reaching the east end. Then we went to the small pond farther east I had wanted to check out but always forgotten. One can easily miss the glistening blue water with the tall brush obscuring it.

After returning to the rim, we hiked to one of the high points overlooking the basin. Then we went down a slight depression to the north via a hidden ramp. A trail through the dip hinted hikers also come in from the east.

Frenchman Coulee east depression
Frenchman Coulee east depression

See more trip photos here.

French Coulee High Point Views

Before the hikers caught up, we went east again to see another pond. Then we returned to the high point a while later and took a long break to enjoy the views. The noise from the climbers on the north basalt rocks would sometimes alert the dogs.

Our trip in February 2017 was the prettiest so far. On that trip, we saw the most snow in all three outings during the same month. It grew relatively warm at noon, with the temperatures in the low 50s. It was a hot first day of January.

West panorama from Frenchman Coulee
West panorama from Frenchman Coulee

See more trip photos here.

Leaving Echo Basin

After soaking up the heat, we started moving again to finish the loop through the climbing area. Soon, we lazied through the north rim with sunset at another three hours away. Glad to see everyone benefitted from the gorgeous weather.

We saw several groups in the north basin as I analyzed the two main trails here. We soon came upon the main path before reaching the west edge. Then it was a quick exit via the climber’s route back to the car.

Leaving Echo Basin
Leaving Echo Basin

See more trip photos here.

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Shannon

    Beautiful and dry! How long does it take to get there from the west side, John?

    1. onehikeaweek

      Thanks! Just under two hours of driving from Issaquah!

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