Hiking Beautiful Cowiche Canyon in Yakima, Washington

Looking for more hikes east of Snoqualmie Pass?
Check out the Iron Bear Trail to Teanaway Ridge, or take a loop hike around Lake Easton.

WE HIKED IT

October, 2021, around 4 hours at a slow pace

CURRENT INFO

Good information and trip reviews for Cowiche Canyon are available on the WTA (Washington Trails Association) website. Visit the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy website for information about additional hiking opportunities. The Cowiche Canyon trail is also included in the excellent guidebook Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington by Susan Elderkin.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Parking is free at Cowiche Canyon. There are two small gravel parking lots, one at the east trailhead and the other at the west trailhead. We parked at the east trailhead, hiked the full length of the canyon, then detoured to take the side trail to Wilridge Winery on our return. The turnoff for the winery trail is about a mile from the east trailhead. From the main trail, it’s another 0.8 miles to reach the winery and about 400 feet of elevation gain.
• Wilridge Winery is a beautiful spot to take a break after your hike, and serves a wide range of wines, as well as a few nonalcoholic drinks and snacks. On weekend afternoons, check for food trucks and live music. Wilridge has an expansive lawn with outdoor tables. Children and leashed dogs are welcome, and there are even a few swings hanging from the crabapple tree. If your group is tired, you might be able to convince one person to hike back to the trailhead and drive up to meet you at the winery.
• There is a port-a-potty at the east trailhead, but none at the west.
• Pets on leash are welcome.
• Bikes and horses are allowed on the main trail through the canyon, which is wide, flat, and well-graveled. We saw only three bikes during our visit, an no horses, although there was ample evidence that some had been there recently. Watch out for occasional horse poop along the trail!
• Trail maps are posted at both trailheads. If you only plan to hike through the canyon and visit the winery, you don’t need a map, but you may want to snap a photo if you plan to try some of the other trails.
• Fall is an ideal time to hike Cowiche Canyon. The trail is alive with color as the leaves turn, and the weather tends to be mild.
• The trail is mostly exposed, and can be scorching in the summer. Winter can bring snow, so check the trail conditions before you go. No matter the temperature, be sure to bring shade hats and sunscreen on sunny days, as well as plenty of water.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

Having hiked Cowiche Canyon in the fall, I can’t imagine a better time to visit. The main trail winds through the base of the canyon, frequently crossing the burbling Cowiche Creek. Leafy trees and flowering bushes line the creek, creating a colorful contrast to the rocky cliffs. In mild weather, it’s a pleasant ramble with ever-changing scenery as you traverse the canyon. When ascending the winery trail, new vistas open up with the rise in elevation. And how many hikes include a stop at a winery? Not enough, right? Take advantage of this rare opportunity and kick back at Wilridge Winery to cap off your hike.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

In my opinion, Cowiche Canyon is a great hike for kids. The gravel path is spacious, giving them room to run, and there are so many interesting shapes to discover in the rock walls of the canyon. Don’t miss the Easter Island faces! My five-year-old was the first one to spot them. The many creek crossings also make the trip fun.

Now, my kids might beg to differ, as they were pretty tired and not particularly in the mood for a hike. While it wasn’t too hot, they were acclimated to the damp, cool weather of Seattle in the fall, and this sunny trail sometimes felt too exposed. The climb up to Wilridge Winery was a challenge for the five-year-old, but he did an admirable job. By the time we neared the winery, both kids were ready for a break, and enjoyed playing and relaxing in the grass and picking out their own nonalcoholic drink. It was a happy ending to the hike for all.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

There are many good trails to explore in the Yakima area. For something a little different, try the Yakima Greenway, a paved multi-use trail that follows the Yakima and Naches Rivers, connecting parks, picnic areas, and boat landings. It’s great for bikes, too. If all this hiking and biking works up your appetite, stop by Miner’s Drive-In Restaurant, which offers a vast array of burgers and other fast food treats. The milkshakes are excellent, and there’s a spacious lawn with picnic tables for outdoor eating. Sizes are ample (and that’s putting it mildly), so order with care. Prices are a bit higher than a typical fast food chain, but the quality of the food is a step up as well. Enjoy!

Early October is a great time for a quick trip to Eastern Washington. It had been years since we’d visited this part of the state, and to be honest, we had never really spent much time here. Now, with the opportunity to crash overnight at a friend’s place in Yakima, we finally took the time to explore a little of Washington’s dry side.

Together, we picked an easy hike that’s close to town: Cowiche Canyon. I’d noticed this trail before when researching hikes, and thought it sounded perfect for fall. Sure enough, the weather was pleasantly warm and the skies were blindingly blue when we arrived at the trailhead in the late morning. We applied sunscreen, and headed off on the gravel path.

A few houses dotted the canyon floor at the start of the hike, but soon we left them behind. Above us, columns of basalt and Tieton andesite flanked the trail, creating a stark, sometimes otherworldly landscape. It was a striking contrast with the lush plant life that sprang up around Cowiche Creek. Before long, we came to a bridge, marking the first of many creek crossings along the trail. We also passed a sign pointing toward Wilridge Winery, but didn’t follow the narrow dirt path up the hill. That would come later.

Cowiche Canyon was indeed dressed to impress in its autumn colors. More than 200 plants have been identified in the canyon, and a number of these were now showing off an array of changing colors, from brilliant yellow to golden, mauve, and scarlet. Blossoms of silky soft white tassels glowed under the midday sun.

I’m no botanist, but have a passing familiarity with some of the common plants found west of the Cascades. Here on the eastern side of the mountains, everything was a novelty. Luckily, I managed to track down the name of one of these beauties, the flaming yellow rubber rabbitbrush.

Aside from the fall flowers, the rocky canyon walls also drew my attention. Millions of years ago, massive lava flows created the basalt columns that can still be seen today. Subsequent lava flows left behind a layer of Tieton andesite. As time passed, Cowiche Creek steadily carved its way through the layers of rock, forming the present day canyon. Signs along the trail explain the geology and nature of Cowiche Canyon in greater detail for the curious hiker.

One rock formation in particular stood out. Five-year-old T spotted it first.

“Mommy, look! Doesn’t it look like a face in the rock? Those are the eyes, the nose…” T eagerly pointed toward the giant head that stood right next to the trail. It may not be as impressive as the sculptures on Easter Island, but it was still an exciting find.

Throughout the hike, Michael and our friend, Dustin, together with Buddy the dog, took the lead. The kids were tired after a couple of late nights, so we finally stopped along one of the narrowest sections of the trail for a shady break. When it was time to start walking again, I was momentarily startled by a curving shape in the middle of the trail by a small pile of rocks.

“It’s a rattlesnake!” I called to the boys. The snake was small, and also very still, its head hidden under a rock. It was obvious that this poor snake had met a rather brutal end, and posed no threat. The boys were shocked that someone could have killed it, but it gave us the opportunity to examine a rattlesnake at close range with no fear.

The trail widened, and we passed a sign pointing out “12 Things to Look For in Cowiche Canyon”. I had a feeling that the west trailhead was not far off. Soon, we passed a map with a handy “you are here” marker, proving we were almost to the end. The kids were still feeling beat, and 10-year-old J had an injured toe that was starting to act up. I offered to let them wait near the final bridge, then headed quickly to the west trailhead, where Michael and Dustin were waiting.

The boys rejoined us as we hiked back through the canyon. The chance to rest had done J good. T was also in good spirits, although that didn’t exactly translate into speed. J and I stopped frequently to give him a chance to catch up.

At last, we reached the sign for Wilridge Winery. This time, we turned onto the uphill path, each step taking us higher above Cowiche Canyon. The trail here is mostly loose dirt, so proceed carefully. As is often the case, T insisted that he could not possibly do it — all while trudging dutifully up the trail, one step at a time. As we crested the ridge, we took a moment to enjoy the expansive view behind us, where we could now see the tip of Mount Rainier peeking over the rolling plains.

On the other side of the ridge, a new view awaited us: vineyards! We were almost there! I doubt the kids have ever been so enthusiastic to visit a winery, but they were thrilled that we were nearly at our destination. As we approached the vineyards, I was uncertain which way to turn, then spotted a helpful sign. We headed for the tasting rooms, where Michael and Dustin had already claimed a shady table for our group.

The adults enjoyed a bottle of Sangiovese, the kids had gatorade, and all was well with the world. Dustin even agreed to head back to the east trailhead on his own, then drive up to Wilridge to pick us up. The kids were more than happy to stay longer at the winery. Playing in the grass and on the swings is, after all, far less work than hiking. As for us adults, it was the perfect ending to a beautiful hike, and a wonderful weekend in Eastern Washington.