Explore the Ancient Lakes Trail and the Western Edge of the Columbia Gorge with a Trip to Quincy
After hiking the spectacular trail, indulge with a night at a posh resort
By Kristen Russell April 28, 2018
This article originally appeared in the May 2018 issue of Seattle magazine.
This article appears in print in the May 2018 issue, as part of the “Sunny Getaways” cover story. Click here to subscribe.
Leave the Seattle area’s low cloud deck in the rear-view mirror and strike out for the arid side of our state. Destination: the western edge of the Columbia Gorge, just a two-and-a half-hour drive from Seattle near the town of Quincy, where the sun is shining and highs are in the mid-70s right about now. Your itinerary for the weekend: an easy hike through an enchanting, ancient landscape, followed by wine tasting, cliff dwelling and a stint at a spa.
Set out early to arrive at the Ancient Lakes trailhead by noon—before the heat and crowds arrive. This trail is beloved among day hikers and backpackers alike, and with good reason: Prolific payoff views are rarely this easily come by in the Northwest.
Your easy 2-mile meander takes you past million-year-old lakes, ringed by towering basalt cliffs.
You wanted warm, and this hike delivers, with nary a tree to cast a shadow and hawks circling overhead on sage-scented thermals. Pause awhile next to the second waterfall to gaze out across the coulee. Debate the merits of the relatively steep scree scramble down to the lake. If you’re game, ring the lake and wind through more dramatic desert vistas before eventually dropping down to the Columbia River.
After a hike on the Ancient Lakes trail, spend the night at luxe Cave B Inn and Spa. Photographs by: Kristen Russell (Ancient Lakes); Cave B (exterior).
Return to your car for the 25-minute drive to Cave B Inn and Spa Resort, a lovely, low-slung resort perched 900 feet above the Columbia River, designed by Seattle architect Tom Kundig of Olson Kundig. Plan ahead to score one of the romantic and gorgeously appointed Cliffehouses, each of which features a two-sided gas fireplace, soft leather couch, soaking tub and sweeping view of the gorge. Be sure to time your stay to coincide with (or to avoid!) the lively scene at the Gorge Amphitheatre next door.
Shake off the last of your city stress with aromatherapy at Cave B’s serene little spa, and then wander a path among grapevines to the tasting room of Cave B Estate Winery, one of only a dozen or so wineries in the Ancient Lakes AVA. A variety of estate-grown reds and whites are poured here; take a bottle of the Cave B Cuvée Blanc back to sip on your patio as you watch the sunset paint the gorge orange.
Then gorge yourself on locally sourced fare in Tendrils, the resort’s restaurant, and raise a glass to your escape from the Seattle spring.
Sun meter: On average, Quincy receives 194 days of sun annually.
Getting there: Quincy is 160 miles east of Seattle and about a three-hour drive.
The Ancient Lakes trailhead is about 10 miles south of Quincy. Find details at the Washington Trails Association site. Discover Pass required.
Cave B Inn and Spa, Quincy, 344 Silica Road NW; 509.787.800. From $139.
Follow Us
A Lighthouse Stay on Bellingham Bay
Hotel Bellwether’s refreshed waterfront stay, dapper lobby dog, and scenic route north turn the short drive from Seattle into a real getaway.
The first sign that Bellingham was going to feel farther away than it is came in Edison, over a rich, flaky pastry. Earlier this spring, I was invited to stay at Hotel Bellwether, and my friend and I headed north from Seattle, a roughly 90-mile drive that usually takes about an hour and a half…
Five Lesser-Known Washington State Parks for Spring and Summer
From Hood Canal beaches to Blue Mountain wildflowers, these quieter parks give warmer weekends some breathing room.
As the outdoor season gets going, many of us, myself included, tend to gravitate toward Washington’s national parks and a handful of the state’s most popular trails. There’s no arguing that they’re pretty spectacular. However, we also know that summer crowds are an issue and detract from the very reason we went in the first…
The Warmest Welcome: Why You Should Visit the Tri-Cities This Year
Just a few hours away from Seattle, this robust community offers great wine, a budding food scene, and more than 300 days of sun.
There is a point, when I’m traveling along Interstate 82 (I-82), somewhere around Exit 26, when I usually notice a shift in the light—especially in the wintertime. Coming out from the pass and heading south to leave the flat, cloud-shrouded gray of Western Washington behind, I feel a burst of happiness at the blue skies…
Paint Check: Select Alaska Airlines Planes Get a Fresh Look
The local aviation company debuts a bold Aurora Borealis-inspired livery as it expands internationally.
At the beginning of the year, Alaska Airlines unveiled its new global livery: a bold design inspired by the Aurora Borealis. Painted in a palette of deep blues and shimmering emerald greens, the sleek look is a nod to Alaska Airlines’ continued addition of international destinations, which will expand to London, Rome, and Reykjavik by…