This afternoon we began our second hike in the canyon at the Weikel Road TH and walked to bridge 3 and beyond. There was less color here than at the East end of the trail. We knew that at at 88 and 86 we were not able to do the entire trail out and back as we have done in the past so after hiking from the East TH to the bridge washout bypass this AM, we returned after lunch to hike from the Weikel Road TH.

This AM we began our hike at the East TH and walked to the washed out bridge where we turned back to the TH. The aspen in the aspen grove were past their prime and had shed many of their leaves, but some of the trees were still dressed in their fall colors and there was color in the other bushes and plants. Most of the sumac had lost their leaves, but some "held on" so there was red added to the many yellow and gold colors. 

This was my first time hiking Cowiche Canyon, and it was such a treat for a Puget Sound gal trying to soak up every last bit of sun before the "big dark" arrives. The fall colors were vibrant and we were lucky enough to be there on a non-smoky day (the smoke was pretty bad the next day, though, so make sure to check the AQI layer on the Hike Finder map before you head out). 

I was spending the weekend in Yakima with a fun group of folks for a friend's birthday. To celebrate, we took the hike to Wilridge Winery on a sunny afternoon. The hike was just about a mile in and a mile out, and as a friend described, as soon as you start to get tired of climbing, you're there!

The trail is in great condition, with exception to one tree down acrosss the trail (pictured) within the first quarter mile or so. Once you begin to climb, there's some dry scree, so I recommend wearing shoes with traction. Trail runners were perfect for me to keep my grip and stay cool. 

Wilridge Winery provided a lovely setting for us to lounge and chat all afternoon. Our group sat on the lawn but there is plenty of seating on the porch and patio. We took a nice stroll around the vineyard and enjoyed the view of the mountains under clear skies. 

One more thing for geology enthusiasts: There is some very cool columnar jointing along the trail. Check it out! 

Fall colors are just starting. Morning and late afternoon/early evening are best. Bring a light jacket. Mid-day can still be a bit toasty.
No bugs to worry about. Just a few Caddis flies. Mid day you might have a few yellow jackets flying around. Keep an eye out for snakes. They like to warm up by laying on the trail.

I started out through the canyon. I took the winery trail and came back to the main trail. Then I took the Teton Andosite trail to the South Rim trail to the Historic Jeep trail and back down to make a big loop. The trail is slightly overgrown on the lesser used portions. I encountered about 15 hikers/trailrunners and a couple of bicyclists. Overall, it was great for peace and quiet.