Umtanum Canyon
Dec 01, 2000
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Umtanum Creek Canyon
- Region: Eastern Washington -- Yakima
- Agency: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife - L.T. Murray State Wildlife Recreation Area
- Avg Rating: 3.60
- Be Aware Of
- Snow on trail
Hiking in the desert in snow – what a great day it was! I was looking for unique desert photo images, solitude, and a chance at seeing signs of the abundant winter wildlife in the L.T.Murray Wildlife Refuge, and I was right on track for all accounts. After stopping a few times along the Yakima River in the Yakima River Canyon for some exploring, I arrived at the parking area by the suspension bridge crossing over the river. It was 29 degrees and very overcast, and I hiked off without wearing my normal hiking hat for the first time since about March! No, a wool stocking cap was in order. The canyon was filled with rich unique views that quickly filled four rolls of slides. The various species of sage were dramatic close objects in a desert of snow, with the canyon walls and slopes rising behind every view. There was hardly an area in the snow that wasn’t tracked over by deer, elk, coyote, and game birds in only the three days since the snow fell. The creek is the only water source for miles around, and it’s easy to see the freeway paths of animals that come down from the canyon rim to get water. Amazing stories that must unfold daily here during the hard days of winter! Massive beaver activity is a real treat a mile up the canyon, where eager workers have created a ladder effect of pools in the creek with an amazing network of 4-6 dams in the creek. Signs of their tree falling are virtually everywhere in the alder, cottonwood, and willows along the creek! Some had been clearly worked on in the past 1-2 days! The paths they left in the snow were fun to follow. After another ½ mile or so, the path leads to needing to cross the creek, and after I found a way across my prints in the snow were the first by humans since the snow from this point on. It was shortly thereafter that I was aroused from my dreamy state of nature exploration by thundering crash sounds in the willows ahead of me. Suddenly, to my disbelief, a lifetime treat of a spectacular nature show unfolded for the next 50 minutes: nine stunningly beautiful Bighorn Sheep came quickly out, and then slowly worked their way up the slopes and rocky areas out of the canyon away from me! Four huge rams, five ewes, and once I was kneeling down behind a large sage plant, they weren’t as threatened by my presence. The one large ram took 20 minutes to work his way to just 200’ up from my vantagepoint. Initially they were only about 80’ away from me! Rather than hike much further up the canyon, I took the time to enjoy this lifetime event, and then did head up the canyon another ½ mile following the fresh tracks in the now 4” of snow of the lone ram that left the group and went up the canyon. Once I saw that ½ mile up he had headed down to the creek below I headed back. I then spotted him backtracking on the other side of the canyon to regroup with the rest of the herd!
The trip back out was spent wandering to my hearts content off the normal “trail”, discovering rich diversity in plant life to photograph in such a setting. Wild roses were thick in places, with their rose hips making a striking red contrast to the white/brown/yellow setting around them. I even found a lone little 3’ tall Ponderosa Pine tree a good 3 miles up from the Yakima River trailhead! It is hard to imaging hiking this canyon in any other type of condition than with the snow, as it was such a great day. I’m sure the wildflowers are grand as well, but for now roaming free without any concerns over ticks and rattlesnakes was a pleasure! This will be an annual late fall/early winter trek for me for certain.
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