I took a short 2.5 mile RT stroll up Umtanum creek after finishing my hike up Rattlesnake Dance Ridge (6 miles up the road). The hike starts on an impressive suspension bridge that crosses the Yakima river. Maddy would have no part of that bridge so back to the car for her. There are trails on both sides of the Umtanum river so a loop can be made. At 1.2 miles there is a side canyon to the north where you can ascend a ridge line a few hundred feet to get a nice view of Umtanum canyon. Lots of beaver dams on the creek. This is a great little desert oasis. It started raining as I got back to my car at 2pm. I love that smell of the desert when it rains. The area was very dry so I hope gets a good soaking.

Encountered 3 rattlesnakes on the trail. Other than that it was a very pleasant hike. Lots of brush on the trail at different points. Weather was sunny with 65-70, plenty of cloud cover.

The trail is closed a 3.7 miles for wildlife habitat protection until Sep(?). It is also closed to camping. The trail is beautiful and follows the flowing creek. There are a number of nice picnic areas on small sandbars. Wild flowers are in bloom I was there on a Sunday but saw only two small groups of family hikers (8 people).

After setting up camp at Big Pines CG in Yakima Canyon, we hiked about 2 miles into Umtanum Canyon turning around about 1/4 mile after the second creek crossing. The first creek was a dry crossing, but one needs to be careful when crossing the logs at the second crossing. We began our hike about 4 PM and saw and heard very few birds. Flowers seen were popcorn flowers, phlox, lupine, balsamrooot, puccoon, brodiaea, death camas, and larkspur. Apple trees and quince were blooming at the old homestead site.

Beautiful trail. The wildflowers are out in full force. The trail is dry. I love the point on the trail where there is a small grove of gnarly old Ponderosa Pines I saw a few couple garter and bullbsnakesb when I meandered through the grassy areas Beware of the bumble bees! I made the awful mistake of bringing a red backpack...very f foolish of me. They are rather aggressive e even without the bright colors. This is a marvelously beautiful canyon thriving with biodiversity in varying types of microclimates.