I followed this trail almost to the end of the canyon and the crossing of Durr Rd. It does require some pushing through the brush, but the trail becomes quite clear again in places and you can't get lost. I stopped at the last talus as the trail disappeared, but I would have kept going if I had time. The canyon gets progressively more amazing the farther in you go. There are campsites at the very end that are amazing. Also the water flow looks much cleaner. I camped a mile or so in near the old concrete foundation for a house with the date 1933 on it. Very pleasant dry weather when raining in Seattle.

A little fog at the trail head was just a challenge and incentive to go higher. So off we went on a cold winter morning heading up the south ridge of the Umtanum Canyon. Soon the fog thinned and became a blanket below us covering the Yakima River and parts of the surrounding hills. The trail was frozen but we make good time until we hit a "warm spot" where the ice had thawed into a thin layer of mud. This required some fancy footwork in the steeper areas but soon enough we were back on frozen trail. The view opened up to include Mt Stuart and the Enchantments area. Arriving at the summit there was 360 degrees of wonderful views including Mt Rainier and Adams. Frost on the sagebrush and grass added a special effect. Winter brings out surprising color and beauty to this shrub-steppe landscape. A light snack and it was time to head down. We "stepped lightly" in the areas where the trail was muddy. A perfect winter morning hike in the Yakima Canyon.

Trail head was in good condition and easily accessed. The trail was in good condition and was pretty much as described. There were a lot of little offshoots, but it was basically impossible to get lost because you're in a canyon and following a creek--one way in and one way out. We did encounter the skeleton of what may have been a coyote--our children were quite impressed. We didn't make it all the way to the end of the trail. But the area was beautiful. Well worth the trip. There are some places where you need to cross the creek, so be prepared for that. We saw some deer up on the hill, but this time of year the wildlife sightings are understandably sparse. Good little hike. Good for kids and adults. Would recommend.

Ethan, Brenda, Jonah, & I took at hike at Umtanum Canyon on this sunny, mild day. We climbed the road the goes up the left hand sidecanyon at the mouth of Umtanum Canyon. When we got to the grove of aspens we went to the right & climbed up to Pt 2125, then traversed the hillside around the head of the next major sidecanyon. When we reached the ridgetop we followed the ridge down towards the main canyon to Pt 2045 where we had lunch in the sun. When it was time to go we decided to drop straight down into Umtanum Canyon rather than retrace our steps. It was a steep descent, with a couple of narrow chutes for some added adventure. Once down on the canyon bottom we found an easy way across the creek and up to the main trail. Then it was an easy walk back to the car. We saw lots of other people, both on the ridges above the canyon and in the canyon itself. Where they were in the sun, the game trails we followed were a bit muddy. Except for a couple of bald eagles on a tree in the Yakima Canyon, we didn't see any wildlife, but the views up & down Umtanum Canyon were magnificent.

I love this hike. It shows off the beauty of the desert quite well. It is also easily accessible from the Yakima area that I live in. It is also a nice easy trail if you do not have a lot of time to hike. It also has some camping sites too so that if you want you can stay a few days.