Cowiche Canyon and Uplands Trails

 We drove out to Yakima to hike the Cowiche Canyon and Uplands Trails. We did 8 miles with an overall elevation gain of 785 ft. We parked at the West Trailhead and hiked up Lone Pine Trail to the South Rim Trail and down the East Uplands Trail to the Canyon Trail.

When we arrived it was 29 degrees F and most of the canyon was in the shade.

So we hiked up the Lone Pine Trail to warm up and get into the sunshine.

Occasionally, we would have views down into the canyon. Most of the trail was up in the shrub steppe area with the canyon hidden from view. The trail was very winding.

View down towards the east end of the canyon.

View from the same spot looking west up the canyon.

We found some rocks to sit on near the trail to enjoy this canyon view and took a lunch break.

We decided to hike a ways towards the east trailhead, before retuning to the west end through the canyon. Looking up at the basalt columns.

We hiked down to the aspen grove before turning back to hike up the canyon.

colorful trees reflecting in Cowiche Creek at one of the bridge crossings 

ponderosa pine trees

most of the color was along Cowiche Creek

looking up to the Uplands on the south side, which we hiked across earlier.

We enjoyed this leisurely 3 mile section along the canyon floor.

There were many interesting rock formations.

More photos of fall color along the Cowiche Canyon Trail:

Naches Peak Loop to Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap

Drove up Highway 410 to Chinook Pass to combine the Naches Peak Loop Trail with the Trail to Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap and back (10.5 miles with 1,750' overall gain). On the way through Mt Rainier National Park, I stopped to take this photo of Mt Rainier just before sunrise. 

I parked at Tipsoo Lake Trailhead to begin my hike within Mt Rainier National Park. Naches Peak across from a mostly frozen Tipsoo Lake.

Hiked around Tipsoo Lake for this photo of Mt Rainier partially reflecting in Tipsoo Lake.

On my way to the Naches Peak Loop trail, I took a short detour to Upper Tipsoo Lake.

I decided to do the Naches Peak Loop counterclockwise so I would see the views of Mt Rainer in the early morning light. Some fall color along the trail.

A distant view of Mt Adams to the south

A tarn along the west side side of the loop trail and Mt Rainier

Last good view of Mt Rainier along the Naches Loop Trail.

View looking down at Dewey Lake to the east. Shortly after this view area, the trail leaves Mt Rainier National Park and joins the PCT north bound.

Seymour and Dewey Peaks

A frozen waterfall along the trail. About 50% of the Naches Peak Loop Trail was covered in snow/ice. There were several places on the east side where I wore micro spikes because those sections were very icy and slippery.

Tarn on the east side of the Naches Peak Loop Trail. In the distance: Yakima Peak, Chinook Peak and Sourdough Gap.

After crossing the bridge above Highway 410 on the east side of Chinook Pass, I left the Naches Peak Loop Trail and continued on the PCT northbound. As the trail continues above the highway on the way to Sheep Lake, I looked back at this view of Naches Peak. The trail to Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap was maybe 1% covered in snow/ice.

Sheep Lake, Sourdough Gap above.

Chinook Peak across Sheep Lake, from further along the trail.

Some fall color remains along the trail as I head up the switchbacks to Sourdough Gap.

Nearing Sourdough Gap, I saw the top of Mt Rainier to the right of Chinook Peak.

From Sourdough Gap looking southeast: Sheep Lake below, in the far distance, Mt Adams, Mt Hood and Mt St Helens

zoom of Mt Adams and the Goat Rocks

zoom of Chinook Peak with a hazy Mt St Helens to the left

Sourdough Gap lookin west

view to the northwest from Sourdough Gap

As I was hiking down from Sourdough Gap, I saw a mountain goat up on Chinook Peak, here a fuzzy zoom photo

some fall color and Yakima Peak as I hike back to Chinook Pass