The Yakima is still high and fast, and so is Umtanum Creek. We got a couple of miles into the canyon by crossing the railroad tracks and taking the trail to the right, keeping the creek on the left (south). This allowed us to skip #1 of the usual 4-5 creek crossings. However, this northern trail is rougher and makes you watch your feet instead of looking around, so on the return we decided to ford the creek to reach the better trail on the south side. The current was strong and boots got wet, but the crossing is shallow and easy. The second creek crossing, 2 miles in, was deeper and faster, possible for someone with more motivation, but instead we climbed up the canyon wall for lunch. Flowers: still early in the canyon. Serviceberry in peak bloom, thousands of tiny yellow flowers on the hillsides (what are these?), and the balsamroot is just getting started. However, the swaths of new green of maples, aspens, and cottonwoods are breathtaking. Birds: ospreys on the nest near Canyon Road. Harrier, kestrel, spectacular views of a low-flying redtail. Yellow-rumped warblers, violet-green swallows, turkey vultures, and ravens (including one feeding on a deer/elk carcass along the freeway), and the constant calling of canyon wrens. No bighorn sheep, but a half dozen female mule deer on the hillside along Canyon Road. Two gopher snakes, no rattlers. Splendid day, hope to get back before it gets too snaky, ticky, and overgrown. Although spring is late there, summer will come fast.

Bring trek poles and shoes for fording Umtanum Creek -- twice. After you cross under the railroad tracks, travel south parallel to the tracks, then veer right at the trail marker. After passing through some currant and white rhododendron, you'll come to a large signboard. In front of that sign board is what looks like your flooded out trail. It's not. Pass the signboard, take an immediate right, and look for the actual trail a few yards on. The trail is brushy and difficult to follow at times. As you approach 0.9 miles, look for the trail to turn north toward the creek for the first ford. There is trail that ascends the talus slope, but this isn't what you want. Veer north and settle on your crossing spot. After you ford the creek, keep your wet shoes on because you'll be crossing the creek again in less than a mile. Water was about calf-height at both crossings. At about the 3.25 total distance, the trail is officially closed for seasonal wildlife movement--and frankly, it gets very brushy. All in all, an enjoyable hike with not much climb or difficulty. We did have to route find a couple of times. If you really want wildflowers, skip this trail and do the Umtanum Ridge Crest instead. Wildflowers here were limited to balsamroot, buttercup, wax currant, yellow currant, and white rhododendron. The aspen trees were particularly lovely to hike through. We saw no big-horn sheep and elk have moved on; there were many birds overhead though.

Umtanum Creek is a gentle trail which heads up the colorful canyon but unfortunately crosses the creek twice in the 3.25 miles that the trail is open. The first crossing on this sunny day at .75 miles was at mid-calf height and the second about a mile later seemed a bit dicey. Many people did not attempt the first crossing, but we crossed just upstream from the large beaver dam that we stepped over. We also headed up the ridge on the trail which branches off to the left just after the sign at the beginning of the trail (after crossing the railroad tracks) to get some better views and more mileage. Several waterfalls are flowing down the canyon walls. Wildflowers just starting to bloom. Buttercups dotted the creek banks, and phlox and a few balsamroots opening up on the canyon slopes. Probably at least 2-3 more weeks for more prolific blooms. Several hawks swooping overhead and saw a few jays. Also saw what we thought was a trout heading upstream at the first crossing.

The hike description to get up the canyon is confusing. The trail on the left of the creek is very hard to follow, with no clear crossing place. On our return leg we found a better route, which may even be the intended route (it did pass walnut and apple trees and an old homestead!) BETTER DESCRIPTION: Walking away from the parking lot, head over the suspension bridge and under the railroad tracks. Turn, and cross over the rail way tracks so that the creek is on your left and head away from the parking lot. After about a couple of miles the trail forks, heading down to the creek on the left fork. If you go straight ahead instead of the left, the trail peters out and just becomes a primitive animal trail. We didn't cross the creek and can't speak to the trails on the left bank in that spot, but a trail was not visible. There are several nice camp sites all along the trail.

The last several trip reports for this hike describe the Umtanum Ridge Crest hike or the social trail up the north canyon ridge, not the Umtanum Creek trail. Crossing the bridge and going under the railroad tracks, the trail will bear right to follow the creek back into the canyon. The trail is brushy, braided, and overgrown in spots, almost down to a game trail in places. About .8 miles in I came to the first stream crossing, which was about 15' across and 2-3' at the deepest. This may or may not be the proper location, but it didn't seem any easier a few hundred feet up or down the creek bank. I wasn't in the mood to get wet and pushed about 1/4 mile further on the south side hoping to reconnect but the brush became unpassable. There was a cool little side canyon with a waterfall and some bones, as well as a view of the trail on the other side of the creek. Would like to come back sometime and sort out the proper place to cross, or just sack up and get wet.