Discover Cowiche Canyon

By Sara Bristol

Enjoying the great outdoors as a family doesn’t always mean loading up the ice chest, marshmallows and tent poles into the SUV and driving for hours in search of a nice, quiet place.

Nature, it turns out, is right here in our backyard.

Just a few miles west of Yakima, the Cowiche Canyon Trail is a great place for little legs to get some trail time. Built on the bed of an abandoned railroad line, the 2.9-mile trail is flat and wide; a sturdy jogging stroller should be able to handle the gravel trail bed. On foot, the walk is definitely more of a stroll than a hike – especially with dawdling preschoolers.

“I think it’s a great place for kids,” says David Hagen, a board member of the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy, the non-profit group that owns and manages the trail. “Being an old railroad bed, the trail is so flat and wide that it’s really safe. It’s a great place for kids to be out in nature.”

In July, six families with young children joined Hagen for a guided tour of the Canyon Trail, which features nine trestle bridges over Cowiche Creek. Our bunch, the most intrepid, made it to bridge No. 6 before stopping for a snack and turning back.

Be sure to use sunscreen, bring plenty of water and plan your walk during the cooler hours of the day. The trail is especially sun-blasted in summer when the sun is high. When the sun is lower on the horizon, the canyon walls may provide some shade.

Spring and fall are the best seasons to visit the canyon, recommends Hagen. “Spring has all the flowers, so it’s prettier and it’s green,” he says, adding that the trees’ fall colors are lovely, too, beginning in mid-September.

The canyon’s towering cliffs are mostly Columbia River basalt, a volcanic rock that spewed up from the earth’s surface up to 17 million years ago. Swirly formations along the top of the canyon’s north side are a different type of volcanic rock called andesite.

Want some more rockin’ trivia? This is the longest known flow of andesite in the world. (Hey, I knew you’d like that.)

Along the trail, a lush border of trees and shrubs line Cowiche Creek, but the trail’s overall topography is more representative of our region’s arid shrub-steppe environment. It’s not a desert, Hagen says.

Rather, “steppe” is a word that refers to vast treeless grasslands. In areas such as the Yakima Valley, where the dominant vegetation is shrubs, the term “shrub-steppe” applies.

Plants in Cowiche Canyon include lupine, purple sage, tall buckwheat and the Western White Clematis. On our visit, we spied several small birds and two hawks.

“If you’re lucky, in the spring or fall, when it’s not too cold or too hot, you might see a Yellow-bellied Marmot,” Hagen says, referring to a native ground squirrel that weighs up to 11 pounds. “They live in the rocks and they have a kind of shrill whistle.”

Just for kicks, keep your eyes peeled for coyote. However, Hagen notes, “You’d probably have to be pretty lucky to see a coyote.”

Lizards and toads are more likely. But cautious parents should also be on the lookout for rattlesnakes.

“Usually, if they’re out there, they’re going to be right out on the trail in the sun,” Hagen says. “They hear you coming and slither away. They’re shy and they want to get away from you.”

What to do if you see one?

“Stop,” Hagen says, “and stomp your feet. They respond to vibration.”

Overall, the trail is safe for little explorers, Hagen advises. Just use common sense: It’s OK for kids to pick a sprig or two from the plants, but avoid plucking leaves by the handful.

It’s also OK to let kids climb a bit on the rocks, or toss a few stones in the creek. “Kids like to climb on rocks,” Hagen says.

The hiker’s rule of thumb is to leave things as they were. Pack out your trash and try not to disturb the plants or wildlife.

“It is a nature preserve,” Hagen says. “We have this tension between preserving (the land) and wanting it to be used.

“We want kids to have a hands-on experience. They don’t have to walk down the middle of the trail with their hands in their pockets. We want them to enjoy themselves.”

When they grow up, Hagen hopes, our children will spread the Conservancy’s message to their own children.

GETTING THERE
From Yakima, drive west on Summitview Avenue to Wiekel Road, about 5 miles west of 72nd Avenue. Turn right onto Wiekel Road, then follow the signs to the parking lot.

LEARN MORE
www.cowichecanyon.org

Tips for Hiking with Children

Enjoying the great outdoors with children can be very rewarding. Here are a few tips to help ensure a positive experience for the whole family.

• Dress for success. Dress in lightweight layers to accommodate weather changes and make certain everyone wears sturdy comfortable shoes.
• Be prepared! Slather on the sunscreen (at least SPF 40) and bring the bottle along with you. It’s also a good idea to carry a small first aid kit including moleskin for blisters, Band-Aids, Benadryl and an Epipen if your child is allergic.
• Fuel up. Bring plenty of water and high-protein snacks and stop frequently along the trail to help energize little bodies.
• Let your child be your guide. Remember it takes little legs extra steps to keep up with you. Slow down and enjoy nature. Encourage discovery, sing songs and talk about what you are seeing. Consider bringing a magnifying glass or binoculars for further investigation and take lots of pictures. Be creative and enjoy this special time with your children.

— Heather Caro

Hike Umptanum Creek Falls

By Heather Caro

With gas prices soaring, many families are canceling their vacation plans this year and opting instead to stay a little closer to home. Now is the perfect time to explore our Valley’s backyard with a “staycation” and a visit to Umptanum Creek Falls. This scenic two-mile round-trip hike is loaded with kid-friendly discoveries, such as animal life, creek crossings, and of course, the Falls themselves.

The well-traveled pathway follows Umptanum Creek, which is fairly easily negotiated but does include two crossings and a couple of steeper grades. However, our 6-year-old Madeline had no difficulty with the adventure and 2-year-old Teague enjoyed it as well, with a little help from Dad’s shoulders from time to time.

The trail ends at the top of a stunning panorama of the falls’ 40-foot drop into a basalt bowl. Though there are several paths down to the bottom of the falls where the views are more spectacular, less experienced hikers may wish to turn around here after enjoying the scenery.

• Heather Caro is an ICU nurse at Yakima Regional Hospital and a freelance journalist. With their two children, Heather and husband Chris recently moved back to the Yakima Valley after an extended leave.

How to Get There

From Selah: Head out of town on North Wenas Road and follow to the end of the pavement. From there, the well-marked trailhead and parking lot is an additional 8.5 miles on the right. The road is dirt and at times bumpy but should be no problem for the average car. Allow about 25 minutes for the drive.

From Naches: From Highway 12, turn north on Allan Road to the Naches-Wenas Road. Turn left on Longmire Lane. Turn left again on North Wenas Road. Follow above directions.