Yakima Canyon Skyline Trail 5/15/2011 Trip Report
Before you go:
- You can buy passes at Ellensburg Fred Meyers. Ask for the Fish & Wildlife Vehicle pass.
- You can get a map emailed to your smart phone from the BLM office Region 3, Yakima. Phone 509-457-9305
My Dad, sister, and I head up to the Yakima Canyon Skyline trail on May 5th, 2011 for some snow free sunny hiking. Ranger districts across the area were reporting the snow level at 2500′ so this was one of the few snow free hikes appropriate for a two night backpack. We only saw one other group the entire time we were hiking.
Cliff Notes: Trail was in good shape, lots of beautiful wild flower (lupines!). We saw three snakes, including a big one by the abandon school has, but found no ticks. The Twin Springs has stagnate, unappealing water, so the only water source we used was the river. We found ice on our tent one morning.
We turned this into a relaxing two days backpack. With my 65 years old, that it was a perfect duration.
We just had one car and we started at the south trail head.
We camped high on the ridge above the Roza Dam on a flat sheltered spot because it was really windy and it gave us a nice view. You could also camp at Roza creek (there’s no water in the creek so crossing is easy), but it wouldn’t be as pretty and you’re right across the river from the road. The second day we hiked with day packs along the Umtamnum ridge and returned to the same camp site. You can only get water from the river near the Roza creek crossing.
The elevation gain from the south trail head to the ridge isn’t much, but the downhill and uphill to and from the river is pretty significant.
Posted to WTA as well. http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2011-05-15.5395966998
quinnsanity 