'''Frenchman Coulee''' is a gorge located in the Columbia River Plateau region of central Washington state that is popular with rock climbers.

Understand

History

Frenchman Coulee is one of the most beautiful features left behind by the great Ice-Age floods. Frenchman Coulee is a dual coulee and cataract system. Like its neighbor to the north, Potholes Coulee, Scabland floods created Frenchman Coulee. During the first stages of flooding, the water levels between the flood-filled Quincy Basin and the Columbia River immediately west of Evergreen Ridge approached 700 feet over just a few miles. This incredible difference in water levels caused floodwaters to relentlessly eat away the underlying rock layers. Erosion continued for at least as long as it took for the water level in the Columbia Valley to rise to about 1200 feet, or until the floodwater supply was exhausted.

Landscape

Flora and fauna

Climate

Frenchman Coulee receives very little rain at any time of the year. The summers are typically hot and windy making spring and fall the best time to visit the area.

Get in

Frenchman Coulee is located one mile off of I-90, take the Silica Road exit (#143). On Silica Road, turn left On Vantage Highway. From there on, you will see the beautiful sites of Frencman Coulee.

Fees/Permits

To park your vehicle in the area, you'll need a Vehicle Use Permit from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. These permits are available at most outdoor equipment and hardware stores and are cost $10.95 USD for the year. A $66 USD fine is charged if you are caught parking without one.

Get around

See

By Frenchman Coulee, there_fs the North cataract. On the other side of Vantage highway, there_fs a middle cataract which is a small cataract. South of the cataract, there's Echo Cove that stand tall in front of Echo Basin. From up there, there is a beautiful view of Echo Basin. You can also see the depression that the floods left behind at the bottom of the cataract.. South of Echo Basin, there is another cataract that has a pile of sand dunes at the bottom. At the top of that cataract, you can see the diatom which is white powder used for mining. If you keep going down Vantage Highway, you will eventually come to an end where the road and the Columbia River meet each other.

Do

Rock climbing is the primary draw for people to Frenchman Coulee. There are hundreds of routes, sport and traditional, on a variety of rock ranging from 30m basalt column column cracks to sporty 5.12 jug-fests. An excellent guidebook is available for the area. For sport climbing, you'll need a 60m rope and sixteen draws plus some slings and carabiners for anchors.

Buy

With no facilities, there is nothing to buy in Frenchman Coulee. Vantage, to the west, and Quincy, to the northeast, are your nearest towns. Also, less than 10 miles on I-90, a bit closer than Quincy, is the small town of George (Washington), that has several convenience stores, a gas station, and a small restaurant.

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Lodging

Camping

There are a number of camping location to choose from.

  • The free camp sites - There is a designated areas located near the main parking area. There are no designated sites but you can drive in on rough dirt trail. Portable toilets are nearby but there is no running water, no picnic tables and no fires are allowed. The area can become quite busy during long weekends or when there are big concerts held at the nearby amphitheater in George.
  • Wanapum State Park - Approximately ten miles from Frenchman Coulee is Wanapum State Park. There are 50 camp sites that are quite nice, situated along the Columbia River (Wanapum Lake) and lined with trees. Tent and RV sites are available and all cost $22 USD / night. Reservations can be made online for an additional $7 fee. The sites are almost completely booked up during the weekends over the summer.
  • There are also several campgrounds located in and around the Vantage, George, and Quincy townships.
  • Remember that the wind in this area is notorious for picking up from no where into gale force winds. Make sure that you tie your tent down and inspect the trees in your vicinity for rot and the potential for them to blow over.

    Backcountry

    There is no backcountry camping in the area. Camping is restricted to designated locations.

    Stay safe

    Get out