Rock Creek Washington

 I watch a lot of YouTube videos about off road riding. YouTube suggested I watch Rocks & Knolls: Riding the Palouse and the Scablands. So I did. What caught my attention is at the 9 to 13 minute mark. It is called Rock Creek and there is a geology story here.

The producers posted a track on YouTube so I created a route focusing on the Rock Creek part of their video. It took me about 1 hour to get to get off the pavement. On the way I was thinking how crowded many National Parks and some recreation areas have become over the past 20 years and was very thankful for the remoteness I was about to experience. We maybe the last generation to experience Yosemite without a timed permit or get a walk in campsite at Zion. Our kids will accept reservations as normal and I find that odd.

I wanted to try riding this area because the mountain roads are still closed by snow and the mighty DR650 takes me to places the FJR won't go. I have rode the FJR on all the paved roads in this area but the DR allows to do more, see more and do it at a slower pace. Also the Rock Lake and Rock Creek area one of the more visually impressive places in the scablands near Spokane Washington. The idea is to circumnavigate the creek.

This is where I start my day on a gravel road.



Soon a coulee carved by the Ice Age Floods appears. It is the reason I ride here. Glaciated valley's are U shaped while Coulees carved by water are squared off at the bottom



At the same location looking the other way with the DR in the shot.



Same place without the DR.



This photo demonstrates the Coulee's square shape. A lot of water came through here!



It is not quite the Grand Canyon but it is grand, it is remote and it is one hour from home.

The road goes down one side of the coulee and up the other. Near the top is this sign.



In all my years I have never seen a sign warning "Gravel Ends". Though not on my route I follow the road for a bit to see what could possibly account for such an odd sign. After a mile or so the surface was not gravel but sandy - big deal.

My route took me here to see Rock Lake but there was no view other than this old structure.



So I follow the road,



to Breeden Falls.



Take the shot and continue on.



A gate appears. There are no signs saying motorcycles are prohibited so I go through the gate and follow the old road. Before the gate the road was rough and I stood up to negotiate the rough parts but after the gate, where vehicles have not travel in years, the way is much smoother.

Like this.



Along the way some mule deer cross my path bounding over a fence and rocks as if they are not there. No photos they were too quick and a blast from my dual PIAA slimline horns quickened their pace!

I was at Escure Ranch the site of a former Sheep Ranch. It was here I realized leaving late and an dinner engagement would cut this ride short so I headed home.

The road home.





I don't need to go to Yellowstone NP to see bison they are 20 minutes from home.



I plan on returning to finish the ride when the weather permits.