Tieton River Nature Trail — Monday, Nov. 10, 2025

One of my favorite fall hikes in Washington, I seem to always come here at the tail end of the color. My first time hiking here since the Retreat Fire in 2024 and the Yakama tribe’ channel restoration in February 2025. The first mile or so is the same as I remembered, sagebrush flats with a few garry oak and cottonwoods along the river. Lots of great views and fall colors. Past the suspension bridge (if hiking upriver from the wildlife feeding station) damage from the fire becomes more evident, lots of charred trees but also signs of new life. Some parts of the trail are overgrown and difficult to follow as the Yakama Nation’s channel restoration project has changed the floodplain. Will be interesting to see how this landscape evolves as the river flows through its new channel and the forest recovers after the wildfire.