{"id":960,"date":"2026-04-13T20:20:59","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T20:20:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visityakima.com\/blog\/?p=960"},"modified":"2026-04-14T19:54:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T19:54:31","slug":"locals-favorite-wildflower-hikes-in-the-yakima-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visityakima.com\/blog\/locals-favorite-wildflower-hikes-in-the-yakima-valley\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Favorite Wildflower Hikes in the Yakima Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Top Trails for Springtime Blooms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

by Shannon Mahre, Outdoor Adventure Guide – photos by Shannon Mahre<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shannon Mahre is a local expert, outdoor guide extraordinaire and passionate adventurer. Check out her year-round outdoor clinics, classes and retreats at Girls with Grit<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note:\nPlease take home only memories and photos. Remain on trail and refrain from\npicking the flowers, as tempting as it may seem.<\/em><\/strong>\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nView the Trailhead Map<\/a>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Imagine wildflowers lining your favorite hiking trail, and\nnot just a couple of them \u2014 picture the surrounding landscape covered with a\ncarpet of them in every hue \u2014 from bright yellows to shades of orange and coral\nand vibrant purples and greens that seem almost unnatural in their brightness.\nWhen I moved to the Yakima Valley from the west side of the mountains, I really\ndidn\u2019t know what to expect during my first spring season \u2014 but I\u2019ll tell you\nwhat, it most definitely was the most magnificent show of wildflowers I\u2019d ever\nseen. The best part is that these beauties aren\u2019t just on one trail or area. You\ncan find wildflowers all over the Valley at various times during the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Do the Wildflowers Bloom?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Depending on location and elevation of your explorations, they\u2019ll 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the best ways to try to figure out when the\nwildflowers will show their colors is keeping an eye on the temperatures during\nthe light and dark hours. Warmer temps mean earlier wildflowers. Cooler temps mean blooms start\noff a little more slowly. The first waves this year are in full bloom right now.\nExpect them to peak mid-May and last until June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s\nanother trick to plan your trip for peak wildflower season: Keep an eye on online\ntrip reports for whatever trail you wish to hike or explore. Often,\nfellow hikers hop on with real-time information and reviews describing what\u2019s\nblooming, as well as if they\u2019ve spotted any snakes or other wildlife on the\ntrail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cowiche<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Three of My Favorite Spots for Wildflowers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wondering where to head out on your wildflower adventures this year? These are a few of my favorite places for great wildflower hikes. Standout blooms may include the bright gold balsamroots, silky lupine, spreading phlox, wild violets and Indian\/meadow paintbrush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"Rocky<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

#1 Cowiche Canyon Conservancy (CCC) Trail Systems<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As of early April, all CCC trails are open for the season. Trail conditions, status, directions and maps can be found on their <\/em>trails page<\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wildflowers most likely present from the end of March and into May <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Snow Mountain Ranch<\/a><\/strong>: 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 I love it. This trail system is famous for its wildflowers \u2014 and there\u2019s good reason! You\u2019ll also find a variety of other native plants unique to the shrub-steppe landscape. The trail\u2019s name says a lot \u2014 yes, it\u2019s 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\u2019t 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\u2019ll find yourself at the top of Cowiche Mountain (you\u2019ll see a pretty giant pile of rocks at the top \u2014 it\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cowiche Canyon Uplands\/Scenic Trail System<\/a><\/strong>: 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\u2019d 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<\/strong>, which takes me back to my truck. It\u2019s fun, keeps me on my toes and always brings a smile to my face. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cowiche Canyon East to West Entrance<\/a><\/strong> 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\u2019s great for those looking for a mellow, creekside stroll that\u2019s also beautiful. You can reach the CCC Uplands\/Scenic trail systems from the lower Cowiche Canyon Trail, as well as neighboring wineries \u2014 just keep an eye out for signs directing you uphill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"Yakima<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

#2 Yakima Skyline Trail <\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of\nmy favorite year-round hikes (and runs) in the Yakima Valley is this absolute\ngem, which is located 20 minutes or so from the heart of downtown Yakima. This\ntrail has an upward trend from the parking area, giving you just under 1,500\nfeet of elevation gain in 2.2 miles. My recommendation is to bring your hiking\npoles if you have them, as we\u2019ve found they are especially useful for the\ndescent. With a dirt surface and rocks of varying sizes, this trail can get\nsoft and quite muddy after hard rains, but after a few days of sunshine, it\nusually springs back to life for all users: hikers, horseback riders and even\nmountain bikers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you hit it during wildflower season, you\u2019ll be welcomed by fields of balsamroot 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 breath 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! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve 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\u2019t any shade or water access on this trail, so make sure that you prepare for being in the elements \u2014 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 later in the season. Interested in checking out this trail? Click HERE<\/a> for directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"Tieton<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

#3 Tieton River Trail<\/a> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wildflowers most likely present\nfrom the end of April to middle of May<\/strong>\n<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Note: You may see signs of a summer 2024 wildfire on this trail. It is\ncurrently open and safe, but parts of the landscape do show evidence of fire\ndamage.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2014 a MUST SEE!). I recommend parking at the feeding station and crossing the street for your trail adventure \u2014 you\u2019ll need a Discover Pass<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you cross the foot\nbridge, you can either turn left or right. Left will take you on a shorter\nexcursion, whereas right, through the wildlife gate will give you more miles\nand more variety as far as terrain and wildflowers. Side note: This trail is\nalso home to the Royal Columns, a famous climbing area made up of insanely\nimpressive basalt columns and cliffs that will literally blow your mind (the first\ntime I saw them, I was speechless). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2014 but along the way, I guarantee you\u2019ll 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\u2019re truly hiking near Yakima. Add in the seemingly endless amounts of wildflowers and you have a trail that honestly is unforgettable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having lived in the Naches Valley for\nnearly 10 years now, I really can\u2019t tell you my favorite season \u2014 but I will\nsay this: Wildflower season may be at the top of my list. Enjoy, friends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n