MCKENZIE CONSERVATION AREA – TURTLE ROCK & BEDROCK RIDGE TRAIL

EASTERN WASHINGTON

Summary

McKenzie Conservation Area offers access to the shores of Newman Lake and short hiking trails with plenty of views as the trails meander through the forest. Wildlife sightings are common, white tailed deer and a plethora of birds frequent the area.

Trail Stats

Mileage: 2.63 miles Round Trip

(with one offshoot)

Elevation Gain: 348 feet

Toilet at trailhead: Yes

Sandwich Spots: Yes

Parking: yes

Mileage/EG from Garmin watch

Trail map, thanks to Gaia. One section of the ridge was not accounted for

Trail Details

With the inspirational words of a former colleague, “Suck it up Buttercup”, in mind we headed into the rain for some fresh air. Being that it’s now above freezing the same applied to Lucille, who let me know her displeasure on being taken from her mid morning nap. Cats.

As today qualified as a classic “Seattle” day we bundled up in fleece, our ugly yet wonderfully waterproof albeit annoyingly swishy rain pants (leftover from our Seattle days) and rain jackets. I even donned my gaiters. Not sure they were needed if we had stayed on the beaten path but we tend not to do that… Doug likes to see all the things.

Today’s adventure involved the McKenzie Conservation area. We originally planned a longer excursion through more of the offered trails but quickly decided trudging through the rain in 5 inches of slop was not to our immediate liking or pleasure. Thus, just a short jaunt today.

There are two entry points to the Conservation Area, both off North Peninsula Drive. We’ve always parked in the “West Newman Lake Drive Trailhead”. There’s a port-o -potty there if need be.

We began our excursion heading to Turtle Rock. The trail is on an old road leading down to Newman Lake. Lucille did get out to walk briefly here, after protesting riding in her pack. Only a little snarkiness on her end at this point.

After a brief jaunt through the woods with intermittent meadows the lake came into view. Today it was shrouded in mists, a haunting view of whites melting into grays. The marshes are home to many birds, though we regularly see deer frolicking through the area. Their white tails up like flags as they bound to and fro are adorable.

Turtle rock is a small rock outcropping overlooking the lake. Popular with hikers in the park it offers a lovely lookout of (and access to) the lake. One summer we had an anniversary picnic up on the rock. In summertime the lake is busy with sun worshipers, fishermen and boaters who blast their music for all to hear as they careen to and fro on the lake. Sometimes with tubers, always fun to see someone launch out of their tube.

Today we could see tracks across the semi frozen lake, likely snowmobile, presumably from a week or so ago when everything in the area was frozen solid after days of below 0 temperatures. I much prefer today’s balmy 36 degrees (2.22 C).

From here we planned to hit up the other park access point as we have never bothered to prior, and a small loop out there. However, at this point the trail was no longer packed down and it only took a few hundred feet or so of us slogging through the slop before we decided that this was in fact, not fun and not worth it. So, turned back around and headed up Bedrock Ridge.

By this time Lucille was complaining about her cushy ride again. She was allowed out and was quite the trooper as we headed up the hill. She even charged ahead and, at times protested if I stopped to take a photo. She’s even learned to avoid puddles, something that always shocked her before. Now she stopped and walked around. Getting wiser. Not to say she stays on trail. If there was a nice clear patch under a tree that’s where she wanted to be. Can’t say as I blame her. Eventually we forced her back into the carrier, mostly to make sure her cute little toe beans wouldn’t freeze. Consequently she had much to say on her ride back out as it was not her idea this time.

As we headed up the small hillside there were intermittent partial views of Newman Lake below. It’s quite pretty. This ridge line trail took us up and through the woods, eventually skirting Peninsula Road again before ending in the parking lot again. There are a few offshoot trails but again, they were not tracked down and we were done with being wet. What can I say, in the nearly 3 years I’ve escaped Seattle I no longer care for moss in between my toes and being perpetually wet and cold outside. Nor do I like the sweltering heat. I’m Goldilocks I guess. That all aside, this is a nice little trek through the woods with pleasant views of Newman Lake.