Swakane Canyon
Apr 25, 2009
by
Kim Brown
—
last modified
Apr 28, 2009 09:36 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Swakane Canyon
- Region: Eastern Washington -- Wenatchee
- Agency: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Avg Rating: 2.67
- Why You Should Go Now
- Wildflowers blooming
Sunlit switchback and shadowed mountain
Big views, big, rolling hills, fun wander.
The flower show hasn't started yet, but it will within a week or so. We saw plenty enough - balsamroot, blue bells, spring beauty, even a few shooting stars.
The shadows on the hills and the seemingly perpetual spring showers creating cloudscapes over the Waterville Plateau make this a beautiful place even without the flowers. The sparkling Columbia River below and the meadowlarks are a great treat for west siders.
The road is rough, but its only a few miles. A sedan should be able to make it, if one takes care.
We wandered the road where it snakes around to the north, and through an old burned area - ponderosa bark is quite burn resistant, and the pattern of burn scar and bright red bark is striking. I think we did about 10 miles, 2700 or so gain. It's a steep road-walk, but you don't really feel it - too busy marveling at the views!
Take a jacket even if it's warm out - I've been here twice, and was cold in the biting wind screaming down the canyon.
WDFW parking pass required. $12 at Wal-Mart in Wenatchee. It only took us about 5 minutes in & out to get the pass. The Swakane Cyn road is 5.4 miles north of Hwy 2 on the 97-A side of the Columbia.
The flower show hasn't started yet, but it will within a week or so. We saw plenty enough - balsamroot, blue bells, spring beauty, even a few shooting stars.
The shadows on the hills and the seemingly perpetual spring showers creating cloudscapes over the Waterville Plateau make this a beautiful place even without the flowers. The sparkling Columbia River below and the meadowlarks are a great treat for west siders.
The road is rough, but its only a few miles. A sedan should be able to make it, if one takes care.
We wandered the road where it snakes around to the north, and through an old burned area - ponderosa bark is quite burn resistant, and the pattern of burn scar and bright red bark is striking. I think we did about 10 miles, 2700 or so gain. It's a steep road-walk, but you don't really feel it - too busy marveling at the views!
Take a jacket even if it's warm out - I've been here twice, and was cold in the biting wind screaming down the canyon.
WDFW parking pass required. $12 at Wal-Mart in Wenatchee. It only took us about 5 minutes in & out to get the pass. The Swakane Cyn road is 5.4 miles north of Hwy 2 on the 97-A side of the Columbia.
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Gully and slope
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Ponderosas on the north side of the ridge
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Balsamroot
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