Take a wander, see a wonder
R. HANS MILLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 week, 3 days AGO
Steamboat Rock in Northern Grant County is also home to a state park and hiking trail that offers opportunities to see wildlife.
FILE PHOTO
Managing Editor Rob Miller is a 4-year U.S. Army veteran who grew up in Western Montana in a community about the size of Soap Lake. An honors graduate of Texas State University, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Brandee, and their three dogs, Draco, Pepper and Cinnamon. He has one son, William. During his free time, he enjoys photography, video games, reading and working on the house he and his wife bought in Ephrata. He is passionate about the First Amendment and educating communities. | February 2, 2026 2:48 PM
MOSES LAKE — Living in Central Washington has a lot of perks, and one of those is the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife.
According to the Grant County website, the county is home to dozens of fun species, including small mammals such as rabbits and foxes and larger species like white-tailed and mule deer. There are plenty of ways to explore the area and find them, with many being state-operated trails.
Steamboat Rock Trail is located toward the northern end of the county and provides an opportunity to see a wide variety of animals. Birds you may see along the trail include gulls, raptors such as Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels and others. Smaller animals include coyotes, rabbits, squirrels and fish jumping in the water below the trail.
If you’re in the Ephrata area, you can get a great overview of the city by hiking Beezley Hill. The trailhead is on the side of town nearest Quincy and there’s good parking at the bottom of the hill. Flowers hide under the sagebrush along the hill and many small birds can be found flying about, as well as the occasional coyote. Make sure to take water along during the summer if you hike the trail, as it is a bit of a climb.
Head along Stratford Road north of Moses Lake and visit the trailhead at Artesian and Black Lake Trail. The cliffs provide a beautiful view and the trail winds through scrublands that hold a variety of local animals.
ARTICLES BY R. HANS MILLER
Feb. 10 initial election results
EPHRATA — Voters were asked to approve or reject educational programs and operations levy requests from a number of Grant and Adams county school districts in Tuesday’s special election. Voters in the Ephrata School District and East Adams Rural Healthcare decided the fate of specific proposals. Unofficial results released Tuesday night are listed below with additional votes coming in via mail over the next few days. Mailed-in ballots must have been postmarked by Feb. 10, 2026 to be counted.
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Take a wander, see a wonder
MOSES LAKE — Living in Central Washington has a lot of perks, and one of those is the opportunity to see a variety of wildlife.