Park Lake Canyon can be accessed from a (closed to vehicles) State Park Road on the south side of the lake.   We rode our bikes down from the campground, then hiked up an old jeep track all the way up the canyon.

Basalt cliffs lien the canyon on both sides as the track gradually climbs all the way to the rim in 4.2 km.   We chose to loop back along the top of the cliffs on our way back.

Bitterroot was in bloom on the rocky slopes above.   It was named by Lewis and Clark after they saw Interior First Nations people eating the young roots.   The flowers only open in the sun.

Higher in the canyon and on top of the plateau were a number of ponds in rocky basins still filled with water in spring..

We had seen a National Geographic show where a biologist poured some water on dried out mosses in a desert environment and they instantly grew.   We tried this and the areas that received the water did exactly this in seconds.   Note the green and brown areas of the same plant.

On the way back out weather was moving in from the south so picked up our pace back to the campground.

on the way out of the canyon

This moderate hike in the desert country in the channeled scablands was 8 km (5 miles) long.   Combined with hikes to Umatilla Rock and the Lenore Caves, Sun Lakes Park makes a fine destination for both camping and hiking.

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