Black Canyon
Apr 03, 2005
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Black Canyon
- Region: Eastern Washington -- Yakima
- Agency: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Avg Rating: 4.40
Escaped the drippy wetside for explorations in sagebrush country. Partly for the exercise, and half to see how the spring wildflower season is sprouting (pun intended). A few weeks early, however some tiny yellows and purples are beginning to bloom. Dust off those lenses:)
Out of Ellensburg, followed the dirt road over the Umtaneum (*go straight instead of right onto Durr Rd. leading to Yakima Canyon Rim N. TH). Scenic drive in pine and open range until Wenas Valley. Right on WDFW marked road at Black Canyon, parked at the gate. No one in sight, I was solo.
Hiked the road up into the head of canyon. Serious ""tank barrier"" WDFW digs with backhoe to thwart the most determined 4x4 or ATV. This is a berm of rocks piled 3 ft. high, on the other side a pit 4+ feet deep, 3ft wide in the shape of a double sided ""T"", backed by another berm on far side. Continuing along the foot path / abandoned road interesting stands of birch and cottonwood line creek bottom. Spooked a few Chukar hiding in the shrub, which abruptly fluttered off before the lens cap came off. Lots of other birds seen or heard (woodpeckers). Old gutted log cabin at about a mile in. At ~3 miles miles accended ridgeline to intercept a few elk. Again, they are far more nimble than my hand to lenscap reaction:( Lunched under a lone pine and viewed the distant rain squawl across Wenas Valley up Hardy Canyon. Trip back to TH was via the rolling ridgecrest cross country for a total dayhike of about 6 miles.
No bugs, no ticks, no snakes, no sunburn (yet..its only April)
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