EASTERN WASHINGTON

Summary

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The trail to Liberty Lake Waterfall is a pleasant hike leading past marshlands and into the surrounding forest. The mostly gentle grade makes for a pleasant, low key hike to a small water feature tucked in the hillside.

Trail Stats

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Trail Details

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Recent events have me recovering from a long avoided labral repair of a hip. It has seriously hampered getting outside and hiking as I recover. Surgery is such a drag, while at the same time I’m entirely grateful to have it “fixed”. All the better to hike with! (Eventually)

Thus said, I have settled for building tolerance with short walks, progressed to short walks on dirt paths and now finally a hike. I was pleased to complete this one without injury or any of the annoying stabbing pains through the front of my hip. Yeah for healing!

Anyhow, onto the hike.

Starting from the first parking lot (by the playground) you’ll head through Liberty Lake Regional Park, past a pavilion and small amphitheater. Continue through the campground and you’ll find a gate to the main trail. This park is paid use for part of the year, so depending on the season, you’ll pay a fee to enter.

There are a multitude of possibilities starting from this location. I’m covering the so called waterfall as that’s what I was able to complete this time (Seriously, this may be the least climactic waterfall in the history of waterfalls). However, if you like to go further, there’s the Liberty Lake Loop, access to old logging roads, Camp Hughes Cabin and a trail up to Mica Peak.

Initially you’ll traverse on a wide trail along the marshes of the southernmost tip of Liberty Lake. Along the way are informative placards if you like the interpretive trail experience. This wetland area is teaming with life and a lot of birds. Once we were lucky enough to see an owl perched in the trees. Owls are the best.

On this particular day, I took Lucille. Lucky cat. Taking her forces me to a slower pace. At least when she’s out of her carrier. There is no hustling a cat along. She either is willing to walk or will refuse. There is no in between.

Letting her out alongside the marsh she was not so interested in walking but did want to look around and check out the smells. And there is an olfactory experience here. The smell of wet mud, decomposing marsh soup with a hint of old skunk cabbage mixed in for fun. Mmmm… lovely. In a way it smells refreshing and real. Much better than the stale smell of artificial environments we call the indoors. Lucille at least found it interesting if not a tad concerning.

Entering into the woods the trail splits and is clearly marked. For the “waterfall” it’s dead ahead. This lower section is relatively flat and an easy stroll. There is another split in the trail ahead, it doesn’t matter which you choose. They connect again shortly, the split takes you on either side of Liberty Creek. The path on the left will take you past an old abandoned vehicle. There are a lot of these in the area and they are made into “features” on hikes. Keep heading forward and you’ll enter a Cedar Grove. This is a lovely spot to stop for a rest, or in my particular case, let Lucille out to explore.

This was Lucille’s first hike in the forest. She inspected the tree’s and meowed at all the tree trunks. Not sure what she was saying.

There’s a bridge crossing the creek where you immediately begin your ascent up a few switchbacks. These switchbacks are notoriously ice laden slippery slopes in winter and this day was no exception. At this point I was glad to slip on a pair of ice cleats over my boots. Hooray for walking forward without sliding back or falling. As my surgeon mentioned, no falling is preferred for the recovery of my hip. And just in general, falling is to be avoided. All my medical professional friends would agree.

The last switchback offers a view looking back to Liberty Lake and Mount Spokane, take a moment to look. It’s your only real view from the hillside.

Once past the switchbacks it’s a gentle grade up to the waterfall. You’ll know you’ve arrived, there’s a bridge crossing the water. I did warn that the falls are not very inspiring. In summer they are minimal. In the depths of winter it’s a cascading carpet of ice climbing the hillside. I’ve never gotten a decent photo. There’s trees, fallen logs and forest debris in the way, dang trees.

I chose to stop and turn around at this point as it was getting late and I supposed I should be nice to my hip. Really I just don’t relish walking out in the dark. Oh, and my physical therapist told me to gradually return to activity. Sigh. Annoying, that’s what I used to tell my patients.

Should you decide to continue on (the trail can be made into a loop or take off to other areas), the path turns to the right just past the water fall. Do not continue around the hill. It may look like a trail but trust me, you’ll end up wandering around confused on the wrong side of the hill. I speak from experience.

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