Umtanum Creek Canyon — Sunday, Apr. 28, 2019

We did Umtanum on Sunday as a cooldown after summiting Baldy. It's a great, flat wander through the canyon if you're not in the mood for any elevation gain. At the trailhead, take the bridge across the Yakima river, then follow the "trail" signs which will lead you under the railroad, then along the railroad, then off to the right. At the information board, the trail splits--take the right fork for this trail. The trail is easy to follow for about a mile, then hits the creek. Wander along the creek until you find a good spot to cross--we chose to bring our creek shoes and wade across, and didn't see any dry crossings when we went. The trail picks back up again, and is easy to follow again for another mile, where you come to a dry creek crossing across a beaver dam. We stayed on the trail for another half mile after this and then turned back. It was super quiet and felt remote. The canyon walls are beautiful to watch in the late afternoon sun. You follow the creek the whole way, so there's plenty of chances to grab water for your dog (ours enjoyed it!). We didn't see any rattlesnakes but keep an eye out. The trail is overgrown in parts, so wear protective clothing or prepare to get a few thorns dug in.