Swakane Canyon — Saturday, Apr. 30, 2011

Central Washington > Wenatchee

Road to trailhead in great shape from Highway 97, this is not a rough road and is a standard issue dirt/gravel with zero potholes or tire obstacles. May have been graded from previous posts but our Volvo slept through the short 2 mile drive. 2 other cars at trailhead however we only passed one couple on trail so our journey was nice and lonely. Trail is a road off limits to vehicles so travel is easy, so easy we forgot to stop walking at the 3 mile mark I had informed my wife about and lost track of time continuing to the top of the saddle making a 6 mile hike more like 11 and 2500 ft elevation gain. It was worth it. We were welcomed at the top by a large doe curiously flicking her white tail at us along with a view of the valley below. A fire in 2010 swept through the area so most trees on top are blackened and dead providing a sense of the constant changed that happens in these hills. Some intermittent snow on trail in the shade areas after mile 4 near the ridge top. Flowers are just starting to bloom. Recommend going past the 6 miles described in the “Best Desert Hikes: Washington” as views near the top are just as good as the East and Southern perspectives particularly the exposed rock and high point jutting out from the West.