It was 27 dgrees here in the early AM but by the time we arrived around 11:30 AM it was in the 50's and perfect weather.   The red sumac is beautiful.  If you want to see the yellow rabbit brush, come soon as its starting to go to seed in many places. We saw a sign saying Bridge 8 would be closed for repairs Oct. 1 & 2 but by the time we got there, they had plywood over the bridge entrances and not a problem to get over.  This trail is beautiful in any season!

I took a walk in Cowiche Canyon on this sunny, warm afternoon.  I walked from the east end to bridge 7 and back.  The sumac was a brilliant red and the willows and water birch are starting to show some yellow.  Over the next few weeks it is just going to get nicer and nicer in here.

For the final stretch of my road trip vacation I stopped in Yakima to see some good friends. I've hiked Cowiche Canyon before, with these people even, but this warranted a trip report because we visited the Wilridge Winery at the top of the canyon and had a glass of wine during our hike; something I've always wanted to do! 

The trail to the winery is unmarked. If you're coming from the east trailhead parking area, it's probably a bit more than a mile from the trailhead, just past a small bridge over the creek running through the canyon. 

While the trail through Cowiche Canyon is quite wide and flat, the trail to the winery is steep and in places a little bit gravel-strewn. You'll want to watch your step on the way, especially if you partake in a little vino at the top. 

There was some very strong wind up top, and my friends who were in shorts and t-shirts were cold by the time we headed back to the car. Luckily, once you're in the canyon, things warm up (or at least, the breeze can't get to you quite as well) and it's a much more pleasant walk back. 

Views from the canyon rim included Mount Adams and the surrounding Yakima Valley. It was very pretty, and I'm thrilled we did this one!

I took a walk in Cowiche Canyon Fri afternoon.  I walked from the west end down to bridge 5 and back.  The sumac is really starting to turn red and there's a little more yellow than last week.  There are even a few wildflowers left:  tall desert buckwheat, hoary aster, and of course, rabbitbrush.

Then on Sat Ethan & I went up Cowiche Mtn at Snow Mtn Ranch.  We walked the Ditch Bank Trail around to the Cowiche Mtn Trail East and up to the summit.  Once on top we walked a ways west to our usual lunch spot where we can sit against some boulders and look out west all the way to the top of Mt Rainier.  After about an hour and a half we headed back down the Cowiche Mtn Trail West and the Wildflower Trail to the car.  The bunchgrasses were nice and golden and there was lots of nice rabbitbrush in bloom, especially on the Cowiche Mtn Trail West, and a few other wildflowers.  The day was partly sunny and mild.  We only saw 5 other hikers all day.

I took a mid-morning walk in Cowiche Canyon on this mostly sunny, warm day.  I walked from the west end down to bridge #5 and back.  The canyon is beginning to color up.  The rabbitbrush is in bloom, the sumac is starting to turn, the grasses are becoming golden, and there is hint of yellow in some of the shrubs.   It will just keep getting better, though it will be a month or so before it's really colorful.