Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve

I drove down to Mima Mounds Natural Preserve near Littlerock, WA to walk all the trails there. This was about 4 miles. The wildflowers seem a little on the late side, they were all early wildflowers. There was more budding camas that in bloom. It was beautiful and peaceful.

The mounds were smaller than I had imagined.

There weren't very many people on the trails today.

Camas and buttercups were the most proficient blooms in the prairie.

The buttercups colored the mounds yellow.

Shooting stars were scattered throughout the area.

There were lots of giant blue eyed Marys.

So glad I came here this morning.

This salamander was right next to the trail.

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today:

  

 

  

  

 

Ginko Petrified Forest State Park Backcountry Trail

We drove out to Ginko State Park to hike the backcountry. There are several connecting roads/trails. We hiked towards the north and continued through the park and into the Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area for a short ways. Our overall hike was 9.25 miles with 1,350 ft gain. We did not see any other people on the trail today.

This was a relaxing hike with a gentle grade in rolling hills. Arrowleaf balsamroot was in bloom in the lower elevation, we saw Hooker's balsamroot in bloom further up the trail.

View looking back along the closed road towards Vantage and the Columbia River.

We would have views of the Columbia River off and on along the way.

We enjoyed the wildflowers scattered along the hillsides.

There was lots of phlox in bloom.

Another view towards the Columbia River

scattered wildflowers on the hillside

lupine

Larkspur

leaving Ginko Petrified State Park and entering Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area

Lovely views of the Columbia River

petrified wood

view at our turn around spot looking northeast

views of the Columbia as we return to the trailhead

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today: