Lance Travels: Seattle to Grand Coulee: A Resource of Travel Info and Tips

Lake Lenor and Highway 17. Coulee Corridor.

In January of 2013 I discovered the Coulee Corridor, a region from the town of Soap Lake to the town of Grand Coulee. I've created this site to help others in the Seattle region know where to go and what there is to see.

Warning: I've been in the region January through May, and it is beautiful. I just returned from camping in the exact same spot in July, and it was miserable. All due to one thing: an onslaught of mosquitoes. There is a large amount of shallow still water in throughout the Coulee Corridor, which is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. All other seasons besides summer shouldn't have bugs, but be warned the summer is entirely different in respect to a Bug Apocalypse.

[scroll to bottom of post for route map]

Dry Falls

Random Travel Tips

Seattle to Grand Coulee Dam: 257 miles. map

True desert starts about 10 miles east of Ellensberg.
Towns with "everything" along the way: Ellensberg and Moses Lake.
Even though Ellensberg has everything, I prefer to stop in the next town to the east, Kittitas, if I just need fuel or snacks. Kittitas is just an easier and faster stop.
Even though Moses Lake has everything, I prefer to stop in the next town to the north -Soap Lake- which has lots of character, great restaurants and espresso cafes.
Town of Grand Coulee is small but at least has a Safeway.
There is an alternate route, taking Highway 283 from Interstate 90 to Ephrata. Its a little shorter in distance, but I much prefer the scenery of the Moses Lake route.
Once off the Interstate there will be signs directing to the Grand Coulee Dam the whole way. It will be very hard to get lost.
Going along Interstate 90 from the Columbia River to Moses Lake notice all the electrical grid powerlines and stations. The land is a patchwork of them. You are looking at an industrial desert, full of electricity and manmade irrigation. When you get to the Grand Coulee Dam, you'll be looking at the source of the electricity and irrigation you saw along Interstate 90;
Cellphone coverage. This may fit in with the industrial desert moniker, I've gotten great cell connectivity along the whole route from Seattle to the Grand Coulee Dam. There are a few gaps in very specific spots in Coulee Corridor.

Things You Must See

The attractions are presented in the order the are encountered while driving from Seattle to Grand Coulee. The first two entries (Wild Horses Monument and Frenchman Coulee) are at adjacent Interstate exits and within a few miles of the I-90 Columbia River crossing. A nice mini-trip would be to the town of Vantage for food, then on to the next exit to see Wild Horses Monument, then on to the next exit to see Frenchman Coulee.

Wild Horses Monument map (139 miles from Seattle) provides the greatest vista of the Columbia River Gorge I've ever seen. Take Exit 139 just east of the I-90 bridge over the Columbia, the exit is to a single road terminating at a parking area and vista. The view from this point is great. If you are up for it, there is a trail from the parking area up 150 feet to the steel sculptures depicting a herd of wild horses running across the desert plains. The path is dirt, rock and loose stones, my five year old son did it with no problem, though it did take a little concentration. Washington Trail Association website reports the elevation at 1300 feet, though I thought it appeared much higher. http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/wild-horses-monument Google Image Search Results
Lake Lenore Caves

Lake Lenore Caves map. 11 miles past the town of Soap Lake, Discovery Pass
needed. on my first trip to the Coulee Corridor I hiked up to one of these caves, didn't see much impressive, so I skipped it the next several trips. Then my five year old son wanted to stop, and we went further along the trail than my previous visit. I'm so glad we did, because we came to a much more impressive cave. The trail does an elevation gain of 200 feet, is easy, though there is a very lethal 200 foot plummet along some of the trail.
Frenchman Coulee map(145 miles from Seattle) is part of the coulee system, and a path of the greatest flood in history, but in a place miles from the Coulee Corridor. Luckily, it is on the route between Seattle and Grand Coulee, at Exit 143 along Interstate 90. This exit is the same that goes to the Gorge Amphitheater. There are no services/businesses, and very few houses. When you take the exit, turn towards the Amphitheater/Columbia River. Almost immediately there will be a crossroad. Turn left on this crossroad, onto the Old Vantage Highway, this will be the road that takes you through the Frenchman Coulee. Within a minute or two driving you should come out onto an amazing view, just keep driving, this is the road and the scenery. There are rock walls popular with rock climbers, and a few rugged campsites. Be forewarned: the road goes along pure drop offs, a guard rail on the edge of the road concrete and then about an 800 foot plunge straight down.

Frenchman Coulee
Dry Falls Visitor Center map. This is right on Highway 17. The greatest volume waterfall in history for the planet, now dry. Wikipedia: Dry Falls

Son and Dad at Dry Falls
Steamboat Rock State Park map. Discovery Pass
needed. Best campground in the region. Hiking trails, including 800 ft climb to top. During the summer campsites are reserved, and reservations are made at least 9 months in advance. I've only camped there in Winter and Spring, and loved it. Wikipedia: Steamboat Rock

Steamboat Rock
Grand Coulee Dam map. The largest concrete structure on Earth. Wikipedia: Grand Coulee Dam