UMTANUM CREEK RECREATION AREA, YAKIMA, WA :: This weekend I joined Jake, Jayson and Jessica for our first backpacking trip of the year. We hiked deep into Umtanum Canyon, hoping to reach Durr Road. After about two miles, the maintained trail petered out into a faint path that required plenty of bushwhacking and several creek crossings. At about the four mile point, we lost the trail and found a nice grassy area with a fire pit to setup camp. It was situated alongside a beaver dam, which we were pretty sure was abandoned. We saw no tracks, no recent cut downs, and no beavers. The dam wasn’t holding back any water, so we figured the beaver had moved along.
The only wildlife we encountered were a few rattlesnakes, scores of interesting birds, and plenty of ticks. Twice along the main trail (about a mile from the parking lot), coming and going, we were surprised by the unmistakable sound of a rattler in a bush. Another was seen as I explored the northern ridge above our camp. I froze when I heard its rattler, and when I looked to see where it was, I caught it’s tail moving under a rock. I desperately wanted a photo, but I figured rattlesnakes wouldn’t enjoy being bothered by a camera, so I moved along. We heard some interesting bird calls when we climbed part way up the southern ridge. They seemed to come from all around us, from the ground, but I couldn’t actually see any of them. When we got back to camp, Jayson found several ticks crawling all over him. Yeck. Fortunately, the ticks didn’t seem to like the taste of me.
This area is gorgeous and highly recommended. The deeper we hiked into the canyon, the more narrow it became. There were many interesting rock formations and striations in the canyon walls. The canyon floor was dense with alder/aspen/birch (I never can tell them apart) and the last of the wildflower blooms filled the canyon with spots of color. Despite the crowds near the parking lot, our campsite was undisturbed. We never made it to Durr Road, but up on the ridge we spotted it about a half mile further up the creek. The canyon seemed to continue at least another three miles beyond it.
If you’re looking for adventure, it’s easy to find in Umtanum Canyon.
The only wildlife we encountered were a few rattlesnakes, scores of interesting birds, and plenty of ticks. Twice along the main trail (about a mile from the parking lot), coming and going, we were surprised by the unmistakable sound of a rattler in a bush. Another was seen as I explored the northern ridge above our camp. I froze when I heard its rattler, and when I looked to see where it was, I caught it’s tail moving under a rock. I desperately wanted a photo, but I figured rattlesnakes wouldn’t enjoy being bothered by a camera, so I moved along. We heard some interesting bird calls when we climbed part way up the southern ridge. They seemed to come from all around us, from the ground, but I couldn’t actually see any of them. When we got back to camp, Jayson found several ticks crawling all over him. Yeck. Fortunately, the ticks didn’t seem to like the taste of me.
This area is gorgeous and highly recommended. The deeper we hiked into the canyon, the more narrow it became. There were many interesting rock formations and striations in the canyon walls. The canyon floor was dense with alder/aspen/birch (I never can tell them apart) and the last of the wildflower blooms filled the canyon with spots of color. Despite the crowds near the parking lot, our campsite was undisturbed. We never made it to Durr Road, but up on the ridge we spotted it about a half mile further up the creek. The canyon seemed to continue at least another three miles beyond it.
If you’re looking for adventure, it’s easy to find in Umtanum Canyon.
Olá
Pra dizer a verdade, não sei bem o que comentar, pois não entendo o inglês, mas acredito que estejam a falar sobre o Grand Canion, sei que é muito bonito e tenho planos para visitá-los, assim que puder!
Obrigado
I found your blog while searching for info on Umtanum. Most the photos and trip reports I have found led me to believe is was a drab landscape. But your photos prove that if you can hit it at the right time it is beautiful. I am considering the canyon as a backpacking trip right before Memorial Day and crossing my fingers that the wildflowers will still be in abundance. Seems like a lot of people choose this as the first hike of the year since the mountains are still snowed over. But they make the mistake of going in March or early April when it’s still brown and barren.
I’m looking for a short and flat springtime trip that I can take my young children on to introduce them to backpacking. So far Umtanum is at the top of the list. Do you happen to have any other suggestions?
You’ve taken some really fantastic photos of your outdoor adventures. Thanks for sharing your experiences.