More than 200 species of plants grow in Cowiche Canyon. Blue eyed grasses are one of the early bloomers. Photo by Kim Brown.

A group of dedicated volunteers with the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy worked for years to develop this trail--or, rather, to un-develop this trail--because this old railroad right-of-way is now a path through a wild wonderland.

In short, this trail could be the crown jewel in Washington's collection of rails-to-trails. The old train line path weaves through an astounding set of deep road cuts and over a double handful of trestle bridges spanning Cowiche Creek as it climbs through this stunning canyon.The path in the canyon bottom follows a portion of the old 1880s railroad route that stretched from Yakima to the Tieton area in the Cascade foothills. Today the gentle grade makes a terrific 3-mile one-way trek end to end.

Just the rock formations found throughout the canyon make this a worthwhile trail to explore. However, those towering rock sculptures are highlighted by the brilliance of the local wildflower show, which kicks off in mid-April each year. In the canyon lowlands, the first arrowleaf balsam¬root are just starting to bloom. Not enough for you? As you stroll the gentle trail through the natural splendor of the canyon, keep one eye on the sky to watch for kestrels, hawks, eagles, and ravens. You might also see swallows, swifts, bluebirds, and flycatchers. You should also keep an eye on the ground, looking for marmots, badgers, rabbits, and rattlesnakes. Simply put, this old railroad grade is now a pristine wildlands trail.