The Mega Flood Route - The Washington Coast to Missoula Mt

[BillandCarole]

Hi Everyone
We have been planning to tour the Scablands. They essentially run from the mouth of the Columbia River to Missoula, Montana. The area was scoured out by Ice Age floods that periodically swept the area when the glaciers repeatedly melted and unplugged ice dams in what is now the Columbia River Basin. Has anyone else driven this? What route did you follow? Dry Falls is a definite must see. ( a 3.5-mile-long (5,600 m) scalloped precipice in central Washington) as is Grand Coulee Dam. No single route was used so were not sure exactly sure how to explore this vast region.
Any input is welcome.
Thanks and Regards
Bill and Carole

[jamesu]

Good for you! Few people have heard of Eastern Washington’s basalt “Channelled Scablands” nor care how it was formed by the great Missoula Flood thousands of years ago.

Pretty much choose any east-west route through that part of the State and you will experience it. Some of my favorites: (1) US2 from Spokane to Waterville...at Coulee City you can head north on WA155 along Banks Lake to Grand Coulee Dam. The coulees in this area are awesome. (2) The entire Palouse Hills region in SE Washington...US195 from Spokane to Pullman and down to Clarkston, WA/Lewiston, ID. and west from Clarkston on US12 through Walls Walls and onward on I-82 through the Tri-Cities and Yakima. (3) WA26 from Pullman to Vantage which is on the Columbia...this highway passes through the “potholes” region, hundreds of lakes formed by the flood...this area basically encompasses most of the huge region from here all the way north to Grand Coulee. Palouse Falls is just south of WA26 between Hooper and Washtucna.

I am a Western Washington native, but I went to college in Pullman, and I love Eastern Washington. Have done a lot of exploring. If your objective is to experience the Channelled Scablands, that part of the State is a tremendous classroom. You might also get good info through WSU in Pullman.

I skimmed the surface. Ok to PM me.

[path1]

I'm not sure of entire route....
The light show at one of the dams on hwy97 in WA (forget the name of dam)...be sure to look at the time when it starts and when it gets over. Makes a late evening if any younger kids involved as still sunlight till late. But kids might enjoy http://stonerosefossil.org/ if going in that direction. Sure would be nice to read about a trip report when finished.