Snow Mountain Ranch

We drove out to the Snow Mountain Ranch Trailhead of the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy (west of Yakima WA) to see the wildflowers in bloom. We did a 6.3 mile loop out of several trails with 1,150 ft of overall gain. We took the entry trail up to the Wildflower Trail, continuing on up the Cowiche Mountain Trail West, then down the Cowiche Mountain Trail east and the Ditch Bank Trail to the Balanced Rock Trail, then back partway on the Ditch Bank Trail and returned to the trailhead. View from the parking area

Views along the trail

zoom of Mt Rainier and Mt Adams seen over the hills to the west

Along the Balanced Rock Trail

zoom of Balanced Rock from the Balance Rock Trail, then the Ditch Back trail below

some of the wildflowers we saw along the trail today:

Snow Mountain Ranch

Drove east of Yakima to hike a loop trail at Snow Mountain Ranch. I did 6 miles with 1,140 ft of elevation gain. Although the balsamroot has barely begun to bloom there were many other wildflowers in bloom.  I only saw 2 other hikers and 1 coyote on the trail.

Looking over to Cowiche mountain near the begging of the trail.

I took the Wildflower Trail up. Hooker's balsamroot in bloom

These violets were profuse along most of the trail.

The lupine was also plentiful.

Phlox was also in abundance along the trail.

Continued up Cowiche Mountain West Trail. From the ridge, I could see a mostly cloud covered Mt Adams to the southwest in the distance.

This bird was singing loudly

Wildflowers in bloom on Cowiche Mountain

In the far distance I could see Mt Rainier to the west (on the far left of photo)

From up on Cowiche Mountain, I took the Cowiche Mountain Trail East down. More phlox and a balsamroot in bloom

I then took the Riparian Trail East back to the trailhead. Some interesting basalt rocks across the meadow.

Blossoming trees along the Riparian Trail

some of the wildflowers in bloom seen along the trail today: