Cowiche CanyonIn 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.
Driving Directions:
From Ellensburg, drive east on Interstate 82 to exit 31A to get on westbound US 12. Take the second exit off US 12 --the exit is signed "N. 40th Ave. and Fruitvale Blvd." Drive under the freeway, across Fruitvale, and in 1.5 miles from US 12 turn right onto Summitview. Continue for 7.1 miles and turn right on Weikel Road (signs on Summitview indicate Cowiche Canyon turnoff). Drive 0.4 mile on Weikel Road, and turn right at the sign for Cowiche Canyon. Recent Trip Reports
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I spent some time the last 2 afternoons in Cowiche Canyon. Yesterday I walked in from the east end...
I spent some time the last 2 afternoons in Cowiche Canyon. Yesterday I walked in from the east end and today I started at the Scenic Drive trailhead and walked into the canyon & up the winery trail to the cliffs. Yesterday was cloudy & cold, today was sunny with a nip in the air. The color in the canyon is probably about as good as it's going to get, but it's not the greatest year for fall color. It looks good from a distance, plenty of yellow & red, but also still some green &, when you look close you see that many of the trees & shrubs have lost quite a few leaves. Nonetheless, it's always nice here in the fall.
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I took an afternoon walk in Cowiche Canyon today to check on the fall color. It was a mostly...
I took an afternoon walk in Cowiche Canyon today to check on the fall color. It was a mostly sunny, mild afternoon. The sumac is still red & some of the trees are yellowing up nicely, but it will still be a week or so before the color is at its peak.
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This is a beautiful little hike. All the Sumac trees were bright red and the poplars are just starting...
This is a beautiful little hike. All the Sumac trees were bright red and the poplars are just starting to turn as well. A pair of big Golden eagles were calling to each other as they circled overhead. The canyon walls have great examples of volcanic rock, (columnar basalt?) The trail is in great shape, clean and clear but not overdone.
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I caught a short window of sunshine & took an afternoon walk in Cowiche Canyon today to check on the...
I caught a short window of sunshine & took an afternoon walk in Cowiche Canyon today to check on the fall color. Much of the sumac has turned a brilliant red, but the color in the rest of the shrubs & trees was just barely beginning to show. It was a nice walk, but it will be a couple of weeks or so before the canyon is at its fall color best.
Day hike
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Wildflowers blooming
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A great day for a desert hike. We began our hike around 9 am. The best view was...
A great day for a desert hike. We began our hike around 9 am. The best view was from the hilltop on the path to the winery. We could see Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier and the Yakima Valley from the opposite view.
Flowers were blooming. Relaxing at the Wilridge Winery was a pleasant attraction, even purchased a bottle. Picked apricots at the trail head. |
More than 200 species of plants grow in Cowiche Canyon. Blue eyed grasses are one of the early bloomers. Photo by Kim Brown.
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