Missoula Flood Virtual Tour

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Missoula Flood and Geological Points of Interest near Vantage, George, and Quincy, WA

The following is a suggested road and short hiking tour of Missoula flood features and other geological features near the Columbia River by Vantage, George, and Quincy Washington.

The descriptions below are for reference only and very brief. The books used that are referenced below give more detailed descriptions. These books give uniformitarian interpretations for the geological features. I am unaware of any Biblical Creation books that cover the following information. Mike Oard has a book on the Missoula Flood Controversy, but that does not cover the descriptions in these books.

References for books used below:
On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods - A geological guide to the Mid-Columbia Basin
by Bruce Bjornstad
Fire, Faults, and Floods - A Road & Trail Guide Exploring the Origins of the Columbia River Basin
by Marge & Ted Mueller
These authors are associated with the Ice Age Floods Institute which is heavily involved in legislation for preserving (and interpreting) flood geological areas.
http://www.iafi.org
http://www.iafi.org/store.html

The Google Earth Free Software Tool

Note: Text that is green colored may be copied and pasted into the Google Earth "Fly To" box. Click the search button and Google Earth takes you to that location. I was surprised at how many of the flood features and geological features that can be seen using this tool.
You can also tilt the Google Earth view and then rotate it in a 3D view. This helps give a better picture of the flood features and topography of an area, once you get used to using this 3D feature.

The one feature I used frequently was under "Tools" in the menu bar and then the "Options..." selection. This takes you to a dialog box. Under Terrain Quality there is an Elevation Exaggeration option. You can increase this to show features such as flood bars, or decrease it to show general terrain features over an area.

The Google Earth software tool is available for free at:
http://earth.google.com

GE in the references below means Google Earth.
Examples:
Ginkgo petrified forest - GE 46 56 52 N 120 02 06 W - This flies you to the Ginkgo petrified forest location.
Vantage, WA -  This flies you to Vantage, Washington.
Though this is written to suggest a road and hiking tour of the area, you can use the Google Earth tool for a virtual tour.

The Tour

Ginkgo Petrified Forest
Mueller - Pages 166 - 168

The Ginkgo Petrified forest is above the interpretive center.
One granite erratic is in the petrified forest and one across from the petrified forest.
There is also a private gem shop with petrified wood near the interpretive center.
Lava flows came from the southeast.
Ellensburg Formation is along old highway 10 towards the river.
Pillow basalt and seashells are down by the river on the north side of highway 10.
Ginkgo petrified forest - GE 46 56 52 N 120 02 06 W
Interpretive center - GE 46 57 17 N 119 59 18 W
Private gem shop (petrified wood) - GE 46 57 03 N 119 59 26 W

Note: Bruce Bjornstad identified many of the "ice-age" flood features by numbers and describes them in more detail. The numbers in blue as the one below is that reference number so that those interested can read more in Bjornstad's book.

The Frenchman Gap is the gap on the Columbia River between the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park and the east side of the river. The Frenchman Hills on the east side of the Columbia River are somewhat visible in the most exaggerated mode of Google Earth.

Bjornstad - 36. Frenchman Gap - The Frenchman Gap is simply the place where the Columbia River cut through the Frenchman Hills. The Frenchman Hills were made before the Columbia River carved its path. Also notice on the east side of the Columbia River the basalt seems to be carved out as though there were floodwaters flowing over the Frenchman Hills - GE 46 59 24 N 119 58 28 W . The Frenchman Hills are part of the "Yakima Fold". The basalt layers are tilted on both sides of the Columbia River. Much of the Frenchman Hills are above the 1425 foot elevation Bjornstad uses as the upper elevation for the Missoula floodwaters.
Frenchman Gap on the Columbia River. GE 46 58 34 N 119 59 08 W

Washington Highway 26
Mueller - Pages 165 - 166

Along Highway 26 at a road cut there are sedimentary layers including a layer of ancient Mt. St. Helen's ash - GE  46 56 02 N 119 57 32 W

On Google Earth you can select Layers to open a side window and then check the roads box. This shows many of the road names and numbers in the description.

Basalt flows east of highway are three flows of Frenchman Springs member.
Sand Hollow has pillow basalt. Orange color is palagonite (yellow glass formed from basalt cooling in water) that is common with pillow basalt (formed in water).
Petrified wood is found in the pillow basalt.
On one map I have, Sand Hollow is over 10 miles long.
Sand Hollow GE 46 55 46 N 119 57 06 W

The following is mainly based on Bjornstad's road tour number 3, page 229.

Start at George, WA and go to Quincy, WA on road 281.

Take highway 28 to Crater Coulee. GE 47 13 56 N 119 55 03 W

Bjornstad - 29. Crater Coulee - Crater Coulee flows into Lynch Coulee. The floodwaters in Crater Coulee somehow came from the southeast. The floodwaters were coming from the northeast in Lynch Coulee.
Crater Coulee GE 47 14 34 N 119 56 40 W
An abandoned spillway south of crater coulee is what Bjornstad uses to estimate the upper flood elevation of 1,425 feet. On the east side of this spillway, it slopes downward in elevation. With the current topography, the water would be flowing uphill.
GE 47 12 44 N 119 58 05 W
Rest area near Crater Coulee GE 47 13 57 N 119 57 20 W

Continue down to Lynch Coulee which has sand and gravel flood bars visible from the road. GE 47 14 13 N 119 59 36 W

Different floods in different directions. On page 153 Mueller says that there were floodwaters from the Columbia River (the west) and floodwaters from the east. There are gravel bars that show the two different directions of these floods where Baird Springs Road leaves Highway 28. GE 47 13 53 N 119 59 57 W.

Take Crescent Bar road at Trinidad, WA.

Columbia River flood current ripples are visible along Crescent Bar road. Flood deposits are visible in road cuts along Crescent Bar road. Deep Slot Canyon is visible at the mouth of Lynch Coulee at Crescent Bar, WA.

Bjornstad 30. Columbia River Flood - Unidentified source for current ripples - Bjornstad acknowledges that this was caused by floodwaters in the Columbia River and not the Missoula floodwaters. Bjornstad says the source of the floodwaters is unknown. The current ripples are visible in Google Earth.
Current ripples GE 47 12 39 N 120 02 02 W

Turn around at Crescent Bar and return on Highway 28. Turn south onto Road U (also called White Trail Road) - GE 47 13 58 N 119 56 22 W.
Rest area near Crater Coulee GE 47 13 57 N 119 57 20 W.

Turn west onto road 9 - GE 47 13 06 N 119 56 22 W.

Turn on road V and go a short distance to a small abandoned spillway. This area is Babcock Ridge that can be seen in Google Earth with the elevation exaggeration set to maximum.
An abandoned spillway south of crater coulee is what Bjornstad uses to estimate the upper flood elevation of 1,425 feet. On the east side of this spillway, it slopes downward in elevation. With the current topography, the water would be flowing uphill. The slope here is Babcock Ridge.
GE 47 12 44 N 119 58 05 W

Note: Road V and other roads in the area follow appear to follow the contour of Babcock Ridge (and Evergreen Ridge later on). Some of the darker areas look like water canal ditches. Babcock Ridge is probably sedimentary deposits from a large flood before the Missoula Flood. This may have been the Columbia River flood Bjornstad mentions, or flooding from either the east or west. This means the sedimentary layers and deposits in road cuts along these roads could reveal some interesting information.

Bjornstad 30. Columbia River Flood - Unidentified source for current ripples - Bjornstad acknowledges that this was caused by floodwaters in the Columbia River and not the Missoula floodwaters. Bjornstad says the source of the floodwaters is unknown.
Current ripples GE 47 12 39 N 120 02 02 W
Bjornstad 31. Columbia River Flood and Babcock Bench - On the west side of the Columbia River Bjornstad acknowledges there was a Columbia River flood (see No. 30). On the east side he attributes the Babcock Bench being carved out by Columbia River floodwaters.
North end of Babcock Bench GE 47 12 32 N 119 58 59 W
South end of Babcock Bench GE 47 00 55 N 119 59 30 W
I would suspect that since the Columbia River carved out Babcock Bench and left the current ripples across the river from Babcock Bench, then it may have made Babcock Ridge also. However, during the flooding, floodwaters may have come from the east or west to make this formation. On one hand these ridges seem to have been formed by waters flowing in the same direction of the Columbia River. They also appear to be similar to the west end of the Frenchman Hills.
Bjornstad 34. Babcock Ridge and Evergreen Ridge - These two ridges are just east of Babcock Bench (No. 31). Babcock Ridge is to the north above Potholes Coulee (No. 32). Babcock Ridge is somewhat visible in Google Earth. The easiest thing to look for is the line around the ridge which is probably and irrigation canal. The ridge is slightly visible under the tilt 3D view. Bjornstad says there were as many as seven former diatomite mines in Evergreen Ridge (page 233). These are probably located at these coordinates - GE 47 03 02 N 119 58 14 W
Babcock Ridge 47 11 20 N 119 58 04 W
Evergreen Ridge 47 04 44 N 119 58 53 W
It is on Babcock Ridge that Bjornstad estimates the maximum elevation of the ice age floods. The elevation of this small channel is about 1,425 feet. GE 47 12 43.23 N 119 58 10.24 W

Go back to road 9 and continue down to Babcock Bench. There is a short hike to the Columbia River. There is a view of the current ripples and the Columbia River. This is also the small canyon, to the east, that Bjornstad uses for the upper elevation for the Missoula flood.
GE 47 12 51 N 119 58 49 W

Road 9 turns into Ancient Lake Road when it heads south.
There is a gravel pit with sedimentary layers - GE 47 11 26 N 119 58 38 W

Ancient Lake comes to an end at a trailhead. This is near Potholes Coulee which is pictured on the front of Mike Oard's book, the Missoula Flood Controversy. There are trails into Potholes Coulee and along Babcock Bench.
Ancient Lake end and trailhead - GE 47 09 37 N 119 58 50 W

Bjornstad 32. Potholes Coulee - As Google Earth shows, the floodwaters that carved out Potholes Coulee appears to have come from the east and slightly from the south. This is at about  right angles to the Missoula floodwaters. Winchester Wasteway (No. 27 - GE 47 06 14 N 119 37 10 W) is only about 12 miles to the east. Winchester Wasteway flows to the south and a little to the east. Potholes Reservoir (GE 47 00 38 N 119 20 03 W) and Moses Lake (GE 47 08 53 N 119 20 43 W) are about 25 miles to the east and they also flow to the south and slightly to the east. 
Potholes Coulee GE 47 08 43 N 119 57 53 W

I should point out that my personal opinion is that there was only one flood in this area. I believe that the Missoula Flood was the last part of a much larger catastrophic flood. The Columbia River flood and the east and west floods occurred just before the Missoula Flood.

Go back to where Road 9 intersects Road U (or White Trail Road) and turn south. GE 47 13 06 N 119 56 22 W

The road turns east - GE 47 09 53 N 119 56 18 W

Turn into Quincy Lakes Recreation Area - GE 47 09 41 N 119 55 04 W

Trailhead to Potholes Coulee - GE 47 09 07 N 119 55 20 W
This trail is described by Bjornstad as Trail Q. Round trip - 2.0 miles.
There is an exposure of diatomite along this trail.

Mueller says that Potholes Coulee is made up of Frenchman Springs basalt (page 155).

Bjornstad 33. Quincy Lakes - These lakes were carved out above Potholes Coulee (No. 32). These lakes show the floodwaters were from the east and slightly from the south.
GE 47 08 10 N 119 55 20 W

The road goes by some pillow basalt - GE 47 09 00 N 119 55 19 W

Upper Ancient Lake trailhead - GE 47 08 17 N 119 55 54 W
This trail is described by Bjornstad as Trail R. Round trip - 3.2 miles.

Dusty Lake trailhead - GE 47 08 15 N 119 55 54 W
This trail is described by Bjornstad as Trail S. Round trip - 1.2 to 2.2 miles.

At Evergreen Reservoir, by a restroom, a short hike to the west shows views of the south alcove of Potholes Coulee.
GE 47 07 51 N 119 55 58 W

As you leave Evergreen Reservoir you enter Evergreen Ridge that is south of Babcock Ridge.
Go to Road 2 and turn east - GE 47 07 01 N 119 56 35 W
Then go to Road U and turn south - GE 47 06 60 N 119 56 23 W

Turn west on Road 1 - GE 47 06 07 N 119 56 23 W

Road turns south and eventually becomes road W or Silica Road - GE 47 06 05 N 119 58 55 W

Go by the entrance to the Gorge Amphitheater - GE 47 05 52 N 119 58 58 W

Page 232 - Bjornstad says there was a flood from the east and not from the North. This is based a "high delta-expansion bar".
GE 47 06 17 N 119 59 46 W

Go by the entrance to Cave B Estate Winery - GE 47 05 41 N 119 58 58 W

Intersection with Sunland Road - GE 47 04 22 N 119 58 58 W
Sunland Estates is located west along this road. There are two trails that begin there that Bjornstad describes.

The road passes by several diatomite mines - GE 47 02 33 N 119 58 14 W

A short hike from the road shows views of Frenchman Coulee - GE 47 02 10 N 119 57 15 W

Go past Caliche Lakes - GE 47 01 52 N 119 56 33 W

Turn right (west) on the old Vantage Road to head towards Frenchmen Coulee - GE 47 01 44 N 119 56 24 W

Bjornstad 35. Frenchman Coulee - The floodwaters for Frenchman Coulee appear to have come from the northeast. Notice how Babcock Bench does not appear to be carved out as much as Potholes Coulee.
GE 47 01 26 N 119 58 56 W

Road begins to descend into north alcove of Frenchman Coulee - GE 47 01 49 N 119 57 13 W
There is a trailhead here to Frenchman Coulee, Bjornstad Trail T.

The feathers as they are called is a popular basalt formation to photograph (not visible in Google Earth). GE 47 01 40 N 119 57 56 W

Trailhead to Bjornstad trail V, Frenchman Coulee Rib Trail. GE 47 01 35 N 119 57 58 W.
A trail permit is needed to park here.

Large flood bar over mouth of Frenchman Coulee (somewhat visible in GE exaggerated elevation) - GE 47 01 24 N 119 59 28 W

Trailheads begin at this point - GE 47 01 23 N 119 59 31 W

This is also the south end of the major portion of Babcock Bench for this area. There is another section of Babcock Bench across from Vantage.
South end of Babcock Bench - GE 47 00 55 N 119 59 30 W

The old Vantage Highway ends at the Columbia River - GE 47 00 02 N 119 59 25 W

Return back to Silica Road and I-90.

Road cut with peperite. This is by exit 143 on I-90
Mueller - page 160
GE 47 01 14 N 119 56 36 W

Wanapum Vista Viewpoint - GE 46 58 25 N 119 58 13 W
This has views of Frenchman Gap, the south end of Babcock Ridge, the Columbia River and more.

This is another section of Babcock Bench - GE 46 57 26 N 119 57 50 W

Note: On Bjornstad's road tour he continues on to highway 26 and 243 to the Saddle Mountains.

Something of interest:
"During Miocene time, Columbia River basalts invaded the southern part of the trench and formed a lava-dammed lake with water levels up to 800 m above sea level (Savage 1967). However, the basalt dam eventually was eroded, restoring southward drainage."
Savage, C.N. 1965 Geologic History of Pend Oreille Lake Region in North Idaho, Idaho Bureau of Mines and Geology, Pamphlet 134, 18.

According to Savage there was a basalt dam that blocked the Clark Fork River and created a Lake Missoula millions of years before the alleged ice dam. For Biblical creationists, this could not have happened. If it was not an ice dam but lava or basalt that temporarily blocked Lake Missoula, it would mean that the Missoula Flood and the ice-age floods were part of a larger catastrophe. If it was a lava dam from the Columbia Basin lava flows, it would have also blocked other rivers including the Columbia River. This begins to explain why the Columbia River flooded, carved out Babcock Bench, and why the floodwaters came from different directions. It explains why ice-rafted erratic boulders came from hundreds of miles away in British Columbia as has been mentioned by Mike Oard and many other geologists. Taking this into consideration could make the road tour a little more interesting and a little more challenging.

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