If you’re looking for wide open spaces, bluish, cloudy skies, long strides on miles of mix n match trails to choose from, the Cowiche Canyon Conservatory is the place. Since it was a clear day in the valley, and probably temporarily (due to active Schneider Creek fire and visible smoke billows toward Naches | Highway 410 | Chinook Pass), I headed up to enjoy the unique lands of the shrub steppe. Thank you for those who work and maintain and care of these precious conservatory lands. It shows. And it’s appreciated.
I chose the South Rim | Radio Flyer | Old Jeep Road combo for about a 6 mile trek and it felt great stretching the legs after alpine lake hiking for most of the summer. As usual there is an abundance of wild sage and fall colors are peaking through on the winding, rocky trails. I chose not to head up to the winery trails today but knew the gorgeous fruit is ripe and being harvested from afar for the next several weeks.
Tip: This could be a very cool all day adventure for out-of-towners. Mix n match hikes, trekking up to a winery, then a nice steak dinner with local wine in downtown Yakima at Cowiche Canyon Restaurant. Ample Yakima hops micro brews, too. Can’t beat it!
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