Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area Spring Hike

We drove out to the Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area in Central Washington to go hiking today. This is Washington State land located between Kittitas and Vantage on the north side of I-90.  Between Feb 1 - April 30th, the roads are closed to motor vehicles to protect the wintering elk.  We parked at the first parking area to hike along the dirt roads. The way was blocked by barbed wire. There was a small opening on right side to duck through. We hiked for 11 miles with an overall gain of 1,500 ft  up and down the rolling hills

rThe road was a mixture of hard packed dirt, soft mud and dry mud.

 

Early on in the hike, we saw a herd of elk running over the hills.









Looking to the east, and hills we would hike up over and around.

About 1/2 through the hike we came to a fork in the road and choose to go to the right on the south side of these hills.

 More hills….

and another one…

There were interesting rocks with bright colored lichen,

 and petrified wood in the road,

 

 more petrified wood,

















and more petrified wood.














We stopped walking along the road and followed an animal track up to the top of one of the hills. The Columbia River flowing past Vantage to the east.

 We found a large cairn on the hill top. Great spot to enjoy a lunch break and the views.

Pano to the east

 Pano to the west.

 To the far northwest, we saw the north Cascades,

 to the far southwest, snowcapped Goat Rocks.

 View of our trail back to the beginning.

Some of the wildflowers and plants we saw on our hike today: