Umtanum Ridge

Spent a sunshine filled day of wild flowers and expansive views on the Umtanum Ridge trail with the Mountaineers Naturalists.

Got to the trailhead around 9:30am. Spent some time on the trail running along the creek identifying wildflowers, trees, shrubs, and birds. Then we returned to the crest trail and started up.

This trail gets progressively harder the further up the trail you go. The last 1/2 mile before the dirt road on the ridge is especially steep. But each of us went at our own pace and made it to the top. Once there, the wind kicked up, the sun went behind a cloud, and we were soon cold. A quick lunch and then the descent back down warmed us back up.

We saw lots and lots of wildflowers. The carey's and hooker's balsamroot are at their peak. We also saw prairie lupine, long-leaf and showy phlox, dark-throat shooting star, stiff sage, big sage, desert-parsley, and penstemon among others.

There is paved parking and pit toilets at the trailhead. Bring toilet paper.