This is a short hike to the cache - approximately a quarter of a mile from the parking area. However, and I'm not gonna lie, it is a steep hike. You will gain about 280 feet in that short distance. There isn't a trail but there are some cow/deer trails and the terrain is fairly open. You shouldn't have to hike over any large rocks or outcroppings to get to the cache. If you hike a little ways up past the cache, there's a nice little viewpoint of the Snake River that I've named "Hawk's Landing" as I had a hawk fly right over my head as I stopped to look below.
This area is part of the Nisqually John Habitat Management Unit. The Nisqually John Habitat Management Area totals approximately 3,509 acres and was created in mitigation for land lost when Lower Granite Dam was built. It is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers for a day-use area, fishing, hiking, hunting, bird watching and wildlife viewing. More information can be found <here> and I've included a map of the area below.
Birders have seen red-tailed, sharp-shinned, and rough-legged hawks in the area. The Red-tailed Hawk (noted for its red tail feathers) is probably the most common hawks in the area and are one of the largest birds you’ll see in North America - yet even the biggest females weigh in at only about 3 pounds. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a small hawk (sometimes referred to as a "Sparrow hawk"), are called "Sharp-shinned" because their lower legs simply are thin and not cloaked by feathers. Males being the smallest hawks in the United States and Canada. The "Rough-legged" Hawk gets its name from its feathered legs. Both the Red-tailed Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk tend to stay in the lower 48 states year round, whereas the Rough-legged Hawk will only winter in the lower 48 states,
A few notes about hiking in this area. It is rattlesnake country. However, as I tend to hike these hillsides from about the end of October until about the beginning of April, I've never seen any snakes during this time. It is also relatively free of snow during the winter months. Also, come about April/May the wildflowers will bloom, but the ticks will start to appear. If you hike this area in the summer, make sure to bring some water. Finally, there can be a few hunters in the area during hunting season in the Fall.
Please put the cache back exactly as you found it as this area can get really windy. Since the cache is smaller, there's a chance it could blow down the hillside if not replaced as it was found.
***Please note, although this is public land, ranchers will sometimes run cattle in the Spring in this area. At the parking area, you may have to cross a barb wire gate. Its there to make sure the cows don't get out on the main road. It is okay to go through the gate.
