Umtanum Creek Canyon — Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020

I stopped at Umtanum Canyon on my way home from my hike up Rattlesnake Dance Ridge to see if the bridge across the river was open yet.  It was, and so I hiked up the canyon about 1/2 mile just to see what it looked like.  Most of the shrubs were burned, but many of the trees appear to have survived.  Many of these had brown leaves, but the trunks did not appear to be burned much.  I suspect that the heat from the fire dried the leaves out.  And already the grasses & some of the shrubs are starting to regenerate.  Also of note were signs stating that the Umtanum Recreation Area (parking area & bridge) will be closed from 10/26/20 to 5/14/21 so that the area can be upgraded.  No public access will be allowed.  It looks like they are going to basically rebuild the bridge and pave the access road and parking area.