AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness

Lancaster Falls–Lower Lancaster Falls, 6 sights

12.5 mi · ▲ 6,061 ft · 7 hr 12 min

Lancaster Falls–Lower Lancaster Falls, 6 sights is a 12.5-mile out-and-back in Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness near Cook, WA. The route passes Lancaster Falls, Lower Lancaster Falls and Mount Defiance before reaching Bear Lake at the turnaround, 6.2 miles in. It climbs 6,061 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 62/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi128 – 4,958 ft · steepest grade: 31%12.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail 45.68689, -121.70309
Nearest town Cook, WA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lancaster Falls–Lower Lancaster Falls, 6 sights

12.5 mi · ▲ 6,061 ft · 7 hr 12 min

Elevation 127–4,956 ft

Out & Back · Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness

Trailhead: Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail · 45.68689, -121.70309

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:33 AM · sunset 7:41 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Mount Defiance Trail #413, heading SE.
  2. 0.2 miPass Lancaster Falls.
  3. 50 ftPass Lower Lancaster Falls.
  4. 4 miBear right onto Mount Defiance Summit Trail #413B, heading S.
  5. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Mt. Defiance Road, heading S.
  6. 250 ftContinue straight onto Mount Defiance Summit Trail #413B, heading S.
  7. 150 ftPass Mount Defiance.
  8. 0.2 miTurn left onto Mount Defiance Trail #413, heading SW.
  9. 0.9 miSharp right onto Bear Lake Trail #413A, heading S.
  10. 0.7 miPass Bear Lake.
  11. 100 ftReach Lancaster Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.7 miSharp left onto Mount Defiance Trail #413, heading S.
  13. 0.9 miTurn right onto Mount Defiance Summit Trail #413B, heading NE.
  14. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Mt. Defiance Road, heading N.
  15. 250 ftContinue straight onto Mount Defiance Summit Trail #413B, heading NE.
  16. 0.3 miBear left onto Mount Defiance Trail #413, heading E.
  17. 4.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/lancaster-falls-lower-lancaster-falls-out-back-6-sights

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:33 AMSunset 7:41 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.1 mi in (~269 min). Leave by 2:52 PM for the 7:41 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:10 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Cook, Washington