Location: | Eastern Washington |
Roundtrip: | 1.5 miles |
Elevation Gain: | 200 ft |
Highest Point: | 1300 ft |
GPS Coordinates: | N 47 31.044 W 119 29.628 |
Visitor’s Information: |
Discover Pass Required |
Pictures below will take you on a virtual tour o the historical caves!
General Information:
Lenore Lake Caves Trail is a wonderful choice for every hiker, it’s not long, but offers great views of native Eastern Washington scenery as well as the results of Great Missoula flood.
Lake Lenore is a beautiful 1,670-acre lake that was created by the Missoula Floods. The Lake is situated between Soap Lake and Alkali Lake in Grant County, Washington. This lake is long, but narrow.
The most interesting area near Lake Lenore, to my mind, is Lake Lenore Caves, which were also created by the floods. Lake Lenore Caves are situated at the northern end of the lake and consist of seven distinct caves. All of them are easily accessible. It should be mentioned that the caves were created by the plucking of basalt rocks from the walls of the coulees. Later these caves were used by Native Americans as shelters. This area is still used by the Native Americans as a sacred gathering place.
If you want to hike in this area, you need to drive along Lake Lenore on Washington State Route 17 and take a turn-off that will lead you to a parking area where the trail takes its beginning. The parking area has several informational stands that explain the history of the caves and contain general information about the area.
From the parking lot follow the staircase carved in the rock. At the end of the stairs you will need to choose which way to go: to the left or to the right. The path to the right is more developed and well-maintained.
On you way enjoy this historic caves of different sizes, go inside and take incredible pictures. The caves are not deep, but quite large. Let’s mention that wildlife here is also abundant.
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 1 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 1
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 2 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 2
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 3 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 3
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 4 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 4
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 5 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 5
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 6 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 6
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 7 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 7
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 8 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 8
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 9 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 9
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 10 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 10
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 11 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 11
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 12 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 12
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 13 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 13
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 14 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 14
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 15 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 15
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 16 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 16
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 17 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 17
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 18 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 18
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 19 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 19
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 20 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 20
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 21 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 21
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 22 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 22
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 23 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 23
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 24 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 24
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 25 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 25
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 26 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 26
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 27 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 27
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 28 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 28
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 29 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 29
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 30 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 30
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 31 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 31
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 32 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 32
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 33 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 33
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 34 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 34
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 35 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 35
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 36 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 36
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 37 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 37
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 38 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 38
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 39 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 39
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 40 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 40
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 41 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 41
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 42 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 42
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 43 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 43
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 44 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 44
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 45 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 45
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 46 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 46
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 47 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 47
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 48 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 48
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 49 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 49
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 50 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 50
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 51 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 51
- Lake Lenore Caves Trail 52 Lake Lenore Caves Trail 52
https://beautifulwashington.com/eastern-washington/hiking/columbia-plateau-area/367-lake-lenore-caves-trail.html?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=#sigProIdfe54be8cee
These pictures were taken in April, 2015
Directions:
From I-90
Take Exit 151 for Ephrata/Soap Lake. Drive through Ephrata and onto Soap Lake, taking 281 to Hwy 283 N for 14.8 miles. Continue on Hwy 28 for another 10 miles, then. Turn left (north) onto Hwy 17 and proceed for another 9.6 miles. The Lenore Lake Road comes up quickly, so slow down and turn right onto a graveled road and drive for less than a quarter to a parking lot with room for about 10 cars.
GPS Coordinates: N 47 31.044 W 119 29.628
In order to get directions click on the map below:
Photo: Roman Khomlyak
Photo Editing: Alex Mandryko
Information: Marina Petrova