Top Trails for Springtime Blooms

We’ve been on wildflower watch! As Yakima Valley landscapes wake from winter, we have it on good authority from the folks at Cowiche Canyon Conservancy that the season’s wildflowers are popping up all over their trail systems. Blooms often begin to emerge on trails around the Yakima Valley as early as late March and that’s definitely the case with the recent round of warm weather this spring. That means it’s time to take a hike or a ride!

 From now to late May or even June, find trails winding through dense carpets of flowers in every color, from bright yellows and shades of orange to vibrant white and a multitude of purples and pinks. Most common wildflowers around the valley include abundant fields of arrowleaf balsamroot, lupine, larkspur, purple bitterroot, clover, phlox, goldstar, violets and more.

Check out this guide to favorite wildflower trails from Shannon Mahre, local expert and outdoor adventure guide extraordinaire. 

Note: Please take home only memories and photos. Remain on trail and refrain from picking the flowers, as tempting as it may seem.

Top Wildflower Trail Picks

by Shannon Mahre, Outdoor Adventure Guide – photos by Shannon Mahre

Imagine wildflowers lining your favorite hiking trail, and not just a couple of them — picture the surrounding landscape covered with a carpet of them in every hue — from bright yellows to shades of orange and coral and vibrant purples and greens that seem almost unnatural in their brightness. When I moved to the Yakima Valley from the west side of the mountains, I really didn’t know what to expect during my first spring season — but I’ll tell you what, it most definitely was the most magnificent show of wildflowers I’d ever seen. The best part is that these beauties aren’t just on one trail or area. You can find wildflowers all over the Valley at various times during the season.

When do they bloom?

Depending on location and elevation of your explorations, they’ll pop up over the span of about two months. Most years in Yakima, some wildflowers will slowly begin to bloom at the end of March, while other species in surrounding areas will blossom anywhere between April and mid-May and last through the end of the month into June.

One of the best ways to try to figure out when the wildflowers will show their colors is keeping an eye on the temperatures during the light and dark hours. Warmer temps mean earlier wildflowers. Cooler temps this year mean blooms started off a little more slowly. The first waves are in bloom now. Expect them to peak mid-May and last until June.

Another trick to plan your trip for peak wildflower season? Keep an eye on trip reports for whatever trail you wish to hike or explore. Often, fellow hikers hop on with real-time information and reviews describing what’s blooming, as well as if they’ve spotted any snakes or other wildlife on the trail. Side Note: Snakes come out earlier than most people think. If the sun is out and you’re comfortable hiking in a t-shirt, there’s a probability that you may run into one. Early morning jaunts and excursions on cooler days are your best bet for avoiding them altogether. Of course, they wish to avoid you as much as you wish to avoid them. Just give them a bit of space if you do spot one and they’re unlikely to trouble you.

Where to find the wildflowers

Here’s my scoop on where to when to head out on your wildflower adventures this year. These are a few of my favorites. Standout blooms may include the bright gold balsamroots, slily lupine, spreading phlox, wild violets and Indian/meadow paintbrush.

Cowiche Canyon Conservancy (CCC) Trail Systems: Trail conditions, status, directions and maps can be found on their trails page. No trail pass is needed.

Wildflowers most likely present from the end of March to the beginning of May

Cowiche Canyon Conservancy (CCC) Trail Systems

Trail conditions, status, directions and maps can be found on their trails page.

Snow Mountain Ranch: This trail system is famous for its wildflowers — and there’s good reason! You’ll also find a variety of other native plants unique to the shrub-steppe landscape. Snow Mountain is one of my favorite areas for spring adventures in The Yakima Valley, and every year I take another lucky group of ladies out there to find out just why. The name says a lot — yes, it’s a mountain (and in the winter, it most likely has snow on it). There are a few trails that lead to the top, as well as trails down below that are mostly flat if elevation isn’t your thing. One of the routes I enjoy most will take you up Cowiche Mountain Trail East. Once you reach the top, hang a left onto the Snow Mountain Ranch to Rocky Top Connector Trail. After a quick jaunt, you’ll find yourself at the top of Cowiche Mountain (you’ll see a pretty giant pile of rocks at the top — it’s impossible to miss). Continue past the pile onto the Rocky Top trail system or head back the way you came. When you get back to the trail crossing, stay straight onto the Cowiche Mountain Trail West. This will lead you all of the way back down the mountain toward the parking lot. Between the views of the valley and volcanic peaks in the distance, as well as the gorgeous flowers, this trail is truly hard to beat.

Cowiche Canyon Uplands/Scenic Trail System: Home to a plethora of trails for your adventures, these trails are a great place to take your family and friends for an outing as long or as short as you’d like. Most of these trails are rolling, under wide open skies as far as the eye can see. My favorite loop to jog or ride my mountain bike on is East Uplands Trail to South Rim Trail to Radio Flyer to the Historic Jeep Trail, which takes me back to my truck. It’s fun, keeps me on my toes and always brings a smile to my face.

Cowiche Canyon East to West Entrance is a point-to-point trail located in Cowiche Canyon, approximately 3.13 miles in length from end to end. Built on an old railroad bed, the trail runs along Cowiche Creek. This trail is very beginner-friendly and has little to no grade so it’s great for those looking for a mellow, creekside stroll that’s also beautiful. You can reach the CCC Uplands/Scenic trail systems from the lower Cowiche Canyon Trail, as well as neighboring wineries — just keep an eye out for signs directing you uphill.

Yakima Skyline Trail

One of my favorite year-round hikes (and runs) in the Yakima Valley is this absolute gem, which is located 20 minutes or so from the heart of downtown Yakima. This trail has an upward trend from the parking area, giving you just under 1,500 feet of elevation gain in 2.2 miles. My recommendation is to bring your hiking poles if you have them, as we’ve found they are especially useful for the descent. With a dirt surface and rocks of varying sizes, this trail can get soft and quite muddy after hard rains, but after a few days of sunshine, it usually springs back to life for all users: hikers, horseback riders and even mountain bikers.

If you hit it during wildflower season, you’ll be welcomed by fields of balsam root blooms, lupine and other local varieties. This, coupled with the stunning views of the Yakima River Canyon, Selah and Yakima Valleys, and Cleman Mountain will absolutely take your breathe away. I personally have been using this trail for over a decade and to this day, I still cannot believe the natural beauty that it delivers every single time I visit. You may even see some deer, elk or bighorn sheep during your adventure!

Once you’ve made it to the top of the ridge, have a rest and a snack on a rock near the old hitching post and enjoy the views that surround you. From here, you can either head back down the way you came (making it about a 4.4-mile journey round trip), or you can continue on the trail that weaves along the ridge line. Keep in mind that there isn’t any shade or water access on this trail, so make sure that you prepare for being in the elements — it does get quite windy at the top on some days. And as always when hiking in desert-type environments, keep an eye out for rattlesnakes as the temps heat up. Interested in checking out this trail? Click HERE for directions.

Wildflowers most likely present from the end of April to middle of May

Tieton River Trail

*Note: You may see signs of a summer 2024 wildfire on this trail. It is currently open and safe, but parts of the landscape do show evidence of fire damage.

This trail is located just a few miles outside the town of Naches on Highway 12, across the street from the famous elk feeding station. (You can come here in the winter to get up close and personal with elk as they get fed by our local Fish + Wildlife during cooler months — a MUST SEE!). I recommend parking at the feeding station and crossing the street for your trail adventure — you’ll need a Discover Pass.

Once you cross the foot bridge, you can either turn left or right. Left will take you on a shorter excursion, whereas right, through the wildlife gate will give you more miles and more variety as far as terrain and wildflowers. Side note: This trail is also home to the Royal Columns, a famous climbing area made up of insanely impressive basalt columns and cliffs that will literally blow your mind (the first time I saw them, I was speechless).

If you head right, through the gate, you can hike or bike for almost five miles before the trail ends at an impressive viewpoint and you have to turn back — but along the way, I guarantee that you will be impressed with the never-ending beauty. This trail follows along the Tieton River, winding through fields of tall grass that make you feel like you are in the African tundra, as well as past Oak trees ancient apple trees and forested sections that will make you question whether you’re truly hiking near Yakima. Add in the seemingly endless amount of wildflowers and you have a trail that honestly is unforgettable.

Having lived in the Naches Valley for nearly 10 years now, I really can’t tell you my favorite season — but I will say this: Wildflower season may be at the top of my list. Enjoy, friends!

Thank you to our guest contributor for her guide to fabulous wildflower hikes. Shannon Mahre is a local outdoor guide extraordinaire and passionate adventurer. Check out her year-round outdoor adventure clinics, classes and retreats with Girls with Grit.

Categorized in: Outdoor Recreation