Yakima River Canyon

From the NPS: The gentle Yakima River winds through rolling desert hills and basalt cliffs, some rising more than 2,000 feet, for 27 miles between Ellensburg and Yakima, Washington. The canyon offers excellent wildlife watching, fishing for Blue Ribbon trout, family-friendly rafting, and camping. The canyon's crevices and cliffs make a perfect home for the densest concentration of nesting hawks, eagles, and falcons in the state. The BLM manages over 9,000 acres in the Yakima River Canyon area, and the Yakima River State Scenic Byway provides access to BLM's five developed river access sites including Bighorn, Umtanum, Lmuma Creek, Big Pines, and Roza. Know Before You Go Open season: Yakima River Canyon Recreation Sites are open year-round. Four campground and day-use sites available, including Roza, Big Pines, Lmuma Creek, and Umtanum. Fees: $15 overnight, $5 day-use. Campsite reservations: May 1 to September 30; first come, first serve October 1 to April 30. No drinking water or hookups available. Cellular phone coverage is limited in many areas of the Yakima River Canyon. Point of Interest Located just south of Ellensburg, the non-motorized trails at Ringer Road Trailhead offer visitors glimpses of the wildlife and birds that inhabit the riparian areas next to the Yakima River.

On documented breadth and access, Yakima River Canyon ranks 18th of 21 National Park Service units we score in Washington.