Black Canyon
Jun 01, 2009
by
Janice Van Cleve
—
last modified
Jun 02, 2009 12:23 PM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Black Canyon
- Region: Eastern Washington -- Yakima
- Avg Rating: 4.50
- Why You Should Go Now
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- Wildflowers blooming
The dirt road with two signs
Black Canyon is a WTA recommended spring hike in the desert so Barbella and I decided to try it. The flowers are gorgeous, the Stuart Range is in full splendor, Mt. Adams is huge, and the 7 mile round trip is pretty easy along a dirt road that gains 2000 feet gradually. We saw hawk, jackrabbit, coyote, and an angry irritated 4 foot rattlesnake which was under a sage right next to the trail. Be careful!
It is a 3 hour drive from Capitol Hill to the trailhead. Basically the road goes south from Ellensburg then curves west around Umtanum Ridge and comes up to Black Canyon from the south. Take exit 109 from I-90. Turn right, under the freeway and get into the left lane. Just past the Baskin & Robbins turn left onto Umtanum road. This is paved south up Shushuskin Canyon where it turns into gravel for the next 7 or 8 miles, and then is paved again. Go 4.2 miles on this new pavement until you come to a dirt road to the left. There is no sign other than a public notice board and a second sign further up that tells you nothing. The clincher is to note the birdhouse on the fence across the road from the public notice. If it is birdhouse #8, you're there. The fence posts all along this road have birdhouses on them with little address numbers. Very cute.
Go .5 miles up a very rocky dirt road north to a gate with a hooked chain. Close the gate behind you and go another .8 miles to the trailhead. There are no signs or amenities, just a pile of rocks blocking further vehicle access. The road/trail ascends steadily 1.5 miles to an old cabin in a charming grove. This is where we met the snake. The road continues up the canyon to a junction. Take the right fork and curve around to the east, passing a small spring and well, up into the pine trees and flowers. Water from the well is still flowing in a small rivulet down even as far as the cabin. Eventually emerge on the top of Umtanum Ridge to spectacular views north, east, and west. We met a rancher up there in a pickup truck looking for lost cows. These hills are laced with dirt roads and a sturdy high clearance vehicle can drive to the top of most of them - but what fun is that?
We took 2 hours up and 1.5 hours down. Great frappicinos at the espresso stand just before getting back on I-90 to come home.
It is a 3 hour drive from Capitol Hill to the trailhead. Basically the road goes south from Ellensburg then curves west around Umtanum Ridge and comes up to Black Canyon from the south. Take exit 109 from I-90. Turn right, under the freeway and get into the left lane. Just past the Baskin & Robbins turn left onto Umtanum road. This is paved south up Shushuskin Canyon where it turns into gravel for the next 7 or 8 miles, and then is paved again. Go 4.2 miles on this new pavement until you come to a dirt road to the left. There is no sign other than a public notice board and a second sign further up that tells you nothing. The clincher is to note the birdhouse on the fence across the road from the public notice. If it is birdhouse #8, you're there. The fence posts all along this road have birdhouses on them with little address numbers. Very cute.
Go .5 miles up a very rocky dirt road north to a gate with a hooked chain. Close the gate behind you and go another .8 miles to the trailhead. There are no signs or amenities, just a pile of rocks blocking further vehicle access. The road/trail ascends steadily 1.5 miles to an old cabin in a charming grove. This is where we met the snake. The road continues up the canyon to a junction. Take the right fork and curve around to the east, passing a small spring and well, up into the pine trees and flowers. Water from the well is still flowing in a small rivulet down even as far as the cabin. Eventually emerge on the top of Umtanum Ridge to spectacular views north, east, and west. We met a rancher up there in a pickup truck looking for lost cows. These hills are laced with dirt roads and a sturdy high clearance vehicle can drive to the top of most of them - but what fun is that?
We took 2 hours up and 1.5 hours down. Great frappicinos at the espresso stand just before getting back on I-90 to come home.
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Birdhouse #8
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The gate
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The trail to the cabin
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