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The city of
Sprague is located in Lincoln County at the junction of Interstate 90
and State Route 23; easily located at Exit 245 from I-90. From
Sprague you have access to over 7,000 acres of public land managed by
the Bureau
of Land Management in the Fishtrap
Recreation Area. "What", you ask, "does
one do in the barren wasteland of eastern Washington?"
Sight-seeing, for one thing... You may be surprised to discover that
many acres of the Fishtrap Recreation Area consist of the rugged
Channeled Scablands. The area is named for the trenches and
outcrops of ragged, scarred rock interspersed with wet meadows and
wheat fields. The landscape was carved about 12,000 years ago
by the Great Missoula Ice Age Floods that flooded the region. |
A fine example
of one of the wetland meadows is Smick
Meadows. While you're at Smick Meadows, be sure to check
out historic Folsom Farm.
"So how do I get there, now that I'm in Sprague?", you
ask. Take 1st St. out of town eastbound, it quickly turns into
the Sprague Highway. About six miles or so you'll see the BLM
sign for the Fishtrap Recreation Area. Follow that road to a
small parking area to start your hike, bicycle ride, or horseback ride.
There are other access points, however, at this one you can pick up
a map of the area with all of the access roads shown.
Personally, I like to ride my mountain bike, and when you're riding
the outback of eastern Washington you don't want to be on anything
else (except maybe a horse)! |
