Umtanum Creek Falls
Jan 25, 2009
by
Kim Brown
—
last modified
Jan 25, 2009 05:58 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Umtanum Creek Falls
- Region: Eastern Washington -- Yakima
- Agency: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Avg Rating: 3.17
Brilliant willows and pointy slope
I won't go into details for this well-known hike off Canyon River Road outside of Ellensburg, but wanted to let folks know the conditions.
This is a wonderful winter walk; colorful willows of coral, scarlet and orange contrast with the brilliant white snow, last years' dull sagebrush and the coulee walls.
The trail is covered with a thick coating of solid ice, and currently that is covered by a dusting of snow. We walked on the outer edge of the trail or off trail as much as possible. The rainwater used the trailbed as a creek, then froze solid. Some folks were there in Yak Trax, but advised even those were slipping. Several local people were there enjoying the sunny side of the canyon.
We just wore regular boots and thankfully had trekking poles, so it's doable regardless. Just wanted to give folks the idea that January is a wonderful time to visit this place, and if you go now, to expect slick conditions.
Saw several eagles perched in trees along the Yakima River. That was pretty funny, because Janet and I drove all the way up to the Bald Eagle Festival in Rockport yesterday and though we saw eagles and Janet had her super-duper eagle camera lense, none were close enough to get a good photo. The eagles along the Yakima were a lot closer for us to see, they were posed perfectly, and the lighting was ideal. Of course today she didn't have her super-duper eagle camera lense; which was even funnier (well, not really).
This is a wonderful winter walk; colorful willows of coral, scarlet and orange contrast with the brilliant white snow, last years' dull sagebrush and the coulee walls.
The trail is covered with a thick coating of solid ice, and currently that is covered by a dusting of snow. We walked on the outer edge of the trail or off trail as much as possible. The rainwater used the trailbed as a creek, then froze solid. Some folks were there in Yak Trax, but advised even those were slipping. Several local people were there enjoying the sunny side of the canyon.
We just wore regular boots and thankfully had trekking poles, so it's doable regardless. Just wanted to give folks the idea that January is a wonderful time to visit this place, and if you go now, to expect slick conditions.
Saw several eagles perched in trees along the Yakima River. That was pretty funny, because Janet and I drove all the way up to the Bald Eagle Festival in Rockport yesterday and though we saw eagles and Janet had her super-duper eagle camera lense, none were close enough to get a good photo. The eagles along the Yakima were a lot closer for us to see, they were posed perfectly, and the lighting was ideal. Of course today she didn't have her super-duper eagle camera lense; which was even funnier (well, not really).
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Hikers on snowy path through birch grove
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Canyon and brilliant willows
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The drive along Canyon River Road is worth the trip
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