Umtanum Canyon is a desert oasis in more ways than one. Until July 15, the trail is closed after 3.25 miles to protect the sensitive ecosystem, so it doesn't offer much if you are a mileage hound or a peak bagger. But if you are interested in exploring the floor of a rich desert canyon enlivened by Umtanum Creek, you may love this hike. Go now while the rattlesnakes still sleep! Go early for the best chance of spotting wildlife. Go anytime if you want to avoid crowds...though the parking lot was full of people launching rafts and kayaks into the Yakima River, I ran into only a handful of people, most with big scopes for the abundant and varied bird watching to be found in the canyon. On the trail expect to be intoxicated with the scent of sage and wild rose (still blooming, but not for much longer), Lewis's Mock Orange and what smelled to me like wild chamomile. The creek meanders along the floor of the canyon punctuated periodically by beaver dams and quiet pools. The sun was bright but tempered today by high clouds. I sat for a while at the edge of the creek and no sooner was I settled when a doe tiptoed out of the high grass and passed within 6 feet of me. Rumor has it that a herd of big horned sheep live in the canyon, but I did not have the priveledge of seeing them today. To get there head east on I90 to the Canyon Road exit in Ellensburg. Drive south on the Canyon Road following the Yakima River. Turn into the Umtanum Recreation Area parking lot just past milepost 17. Pay $5 to park. Bring sunscreen and lots of water and bug stuff. Have fun crossing the suspension bridge to get to the trail.

We had hiked this trail 2 1/8 miles from the TH a few weeks ago and had seen several Lewis's woodpeckers flying around an area with many snags. While I baby sat our 2 young grandsons at Big Pines CG, Bob and our youngest son returned today to view them again. They were feeding their young and fun to watch. They also saw goldfinch, Lazuli Buntings, and yellow-breasted chats. As an added note we had been camping at Big Pines since Friday AM and while there saw nighthawks each day in the late afternoon and evening. They are great fun to watch and listen to!

We hiked about 1/8 mile beyond the campsite at 2 miles (after second creek crossing) to a group of snags where there were 3 Lewis's Woodpeckers flying around!--Very cool and fun to watch! We guessed they were courting! The fruit trees, quince and lilacs were blooming near the old homestead. Many flowers added to the beauty of the area. Most people we passed had seen rattlesnakes along the trail,but we saw only one small one.

Lovely day to hike Umtanum Canyon, with the temperature just nosing 70 degrees and a soft breeze blowing fluffy white clouds along. This was the first time I've hiked the canyon trail, I've always taken the left-hand trail to ascend the ridge (which my friends always refer to tongue-in-cheek as the "gentle f-ing ridge hike" because we think it's like what they say about childbirth - you forget the pain and only remember how beautiful it is). Anyway, the canyon. Aside from the earlier reports I wanted to report that flowers are still blooming, we didn't see any wildlife but we heard some snakes slithering off the trail ahead of us. Not being familiar with the trail, I will say that where there is a left fork down the bank to a creek crossing and nice camp, just beyond that the main trail is losing the battle with the creek. There's a really sketchy area where you have to watch your footing so you don't slip down 10 feet to the creek; and beyond that it's clear that a lot less people have traveled because it's extremely brushy, so we turned around. It took us about an hour to hike in that far at a good pace, so I would say that's between two and three miles. If anyone knows please comment and correct me. The trail definitely could use some WTA love beyond that point.

I took a walk in Umtanum Canyon today in preparation for an interpretive walk that I am leading for the Get Intimate with Shrub-Steppe event in the canyon on Saturday. I hiked the trail up the first sidecanyon to the left as far as the watering trough. After lunch I went back to the main canyon & hiked as far as the creek crossing. The trees are leafing out & there is nice balsamroot, phlox, serviceberry, golden currant, & oregon grape in bloom. There were also hillsides of balsamroot &/or phlox in bloom in the Yakima Canyon. The day was partly cloudy & mild. A nice walk.