Sawtooth Ridge — Sunday, Sep. 6, 2009

Eastern Washington > Palouse and Blue Mountains

Few trip reports ever come from the Blue Mtns, especially in late summer. Western Washington and the Cascades were deep in rain on Sept 6, so we went to the Blue Mtns behind Bluewood Ski area, and found a long trail on the Umatilla National Forest map (14 miles long, winding up intersecting the Wenaha River Trail in Oregon). It was the beginning of bow season for deer, but since it was late morning by the time we got there, all the hunters were in camp or on the road. Trailhead easy to find, just down 1/4 mile on a dirt path from the skyline road. The Sawtooth Ridge trail is relatively flat-- you start at the top and just follow the ridge line into the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness. After about 5 miles the trail starts its decline to the river bottom. Watch out for the side trail to Lady Springs on Burnt Flat, about 2 miles from the trailhead-- the side trail is all we saw, and wound up hiking down Beaver Ridge instead of Sawtooth Ridge. Not sure it made any difference in the hiking, but that trail isn't as long. No water on the trail, but still had wildflowers, and absolutely no other hikers or hunters. Some blowdown, especially past the 2 mile point. Lots of wildlife sign, including bear. Would be especially beautiful in early summer right after the snow is gone and the wildflowers are at a peak. Also not bad for backcountry X-country skiing-- ski up the forest service road that passes Bluewood. Better snow (colder and deeper) than the Cascades get!