Northrup Canyon
Low Point: 1750'
High Point: 2300'
Season: All Year
Difficulty: 3.5/5
Directions
Drive to Mile Marker 19 on State Route 155, about 10 miles south of the Grand Coulee Dam area. Look for the "Northrup Canyon Road" sign, and drive east (uphill) about 1/2 mile to the trailhead parking area.Trail Description
Northrup Canyon is an easy, 6-mile-roundtrip hike just east of Steamboat Rock State Park. Drive to the trailhead, and walk among towering rock cliffs. The first half of the hike is along an old roadbed to the old Northrup homestead and ranger's quarters. The second half is slightly more difficult along a well-marked trail to Northrup Lake. This hike is good for children, and is perfect during the winter and early spring when the high peaks are snowbound.
I hiked this trail with my Boy Scout troop in mid-March. The last remnant of snow was melting in the deep shadows, and the sunshine reflecting off the canyon walls warmed the air nicely. We packed a lunch and ate on a bluff overlooking Northrup Lake. We saw somebody catch a nice Rainbow Trout.
At the northern end of the lake, there is evidence of a forest fire that swept through the area. It only burned the underbrush, and the trees remained virtually undamaged.
We stopped at the Bald Eagle viewpoint near the parking area, but didn't see anything in mid-afternoon. Consider hiking up nearby Steamboat Rock too if you have time.
