Day Hike - White Bluffs, Hanford Reach & South Slope

This area is described in Best Desert Hikes Washington by Bauer and Nelson as “White Bluffs North” and "White Bluffs South" in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River. As a Naturalists hike, we will spend a fair amount of time observing both plants and birds. We will first do the "White Bluffs North" hike as described above. This is a relatively easy hike of 5 miles+- roundtrip and scenic. I expect wildflowers to be excellent owing to heavy rains this winter/spring in Eastern Washington.

Moving on, excellent birding can be found at the trailhead for "White Bluffs North". We will spend perhaps 1-1/2 hours birding.  

The next part of the hike after lunch is roughly as described in Bauer and Nelson's book as "White Bluffs South" but with a few twists involving some cross country travel. Anyone uncomfortable with this XC travel will find it reasonable to wander in easy terrain. This trail, path and XC hike will take us through very scenic country and is mostly on game trails and is perhaps six miles in length. There is no brush as the terrain is grassy. This part of the hike will take us to a great viewpoint overlooking the Hanford Reach where endemic flowers will be found. It will then take us down to the river and climb past bluffs where Cliff Swallows nest. If it is windy, the Swallows put on a great display in late afternoon. The return to the car is very easy.

Meet at Ravenna P&R underneath I-5 at 65th north at 6:30 AM. Be visible about two aisles north of 65th and opposite the expresso stand in the portion of the P&R north of 65th.