Steamboat Rock - Washington
Posted by: 
Hikenutty
N 47° 51.794 W 119° 08.096
11T E 340326 N 5303304
Steamboat Rock is a massive basalt butte, several miles long and 800 ft. high. It was formed when the Columbia River was re-routed by ice dams during the last ice age.
Waymark Code: WM2J2H
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 11/09/2007
Views: 53
Steamboat Rock is a massive basalt butte, several miles long and 800 ft. high. It sits on the edge of Banks Lake, a resevoir of the Grand Coulee dam. Originally the rock was an island of the Columbia river. The river was rerouted from its typical flow by ice dams formed during the last ice age. Torrents of water flowed through the area and over the years gouged away the softer stone and debris, leaving this towering mammoth chunk of basalt.
When the last of the ice dams broke during the Missoula flood the water rushed back into the original Columbia riverbed leaving deep coulees across eastern Washington state. This particular coulee, Grand Coulee, was seen as a great location for a dam/resevoir system to service the irrigation needs of the orchards and wheat fields of the dry eastern portion of the state.
Coordinates given are for a great viewpoint of the lake and surrounding area from the top of Steamboat Rock. Start at Steamboat Rock State Park and follow the signs to the trail.
Waymark is confirmed to be publicly accessible: yes
Requires a high clearance vehicle to visit.: no
Requires 4x4 vehicle to visit.: no
Public Transport available: no
Website reference: [Web Link]
Parking Coordinates: Not Listed
Access fee (In local currency): Not Listed
|
Visit Instructions:
No specific requirements, just have fun visiting the waymark.