Day Hike - Umtanum Ridge

10am, Umtanum Creek Recreation Area parking lot

7 miles, 2300ft. gain

The second of my Yakima Canyon Wildflower Hike Series. We will begin at the Umtanum Creek Recreation Area parking lot in the Yakima Canyon. This will be a loop hike. We will hike up a steep and rugged path up the nose of a ridge to the top of the canyon rim, then continue uphill on faint game paths and sometimes perhaps cross-country to the top of Umtanum Ridge. Then we will follow a road at the top west to a 3650ft. summit, and then hike down on the main trail. Or we may do the route in reverse; not sure yet. Lupine and Balsalmroot are the main flowers of the canyon but there are lots of other smaller species too. Great views of the Yakima Canyon, Stuart Range, Mt Rainier, Adams, and even Hood! There will be a trail running race here on the same day, so we will have to expect a lot of traffic on the main trail and yield to the racers.

I am leading a hike up Yakima Skyline Ridge at the south end of the canyon the day before, Saturday 4/18. I am thinking of camping Saturday night at one of the nice campgrounds in the Yakima Canyon and perhaps do some sort of cookout.

Yakima Skyline Ridge hike: https://www.mountaineers.org/explore/activities/day-hike-yakima-skyline-ridge