Washington Trails Association has many new trip reports. Here are some of the most recent wildflower mentions.
Cowiche Canyon — May 04, 2014 — Eastern Washington — Yakima
This was a wildflower hike with the Mountaineers and the Canyon did not disappoint. There was lots of flowers in bloom and some with seed heads from last year.
This is an easy hike. The trail is well-maintained and there are 9 foot bridges that cross through a creek that winds through the canyon.
This is an easy hike. The trail is well-maintained and there are 9 foot bridges that cross through a creek that winds through the canyon.
Hardy Canyon — May 04, 2014 — Eastern Washington — Yakima
We hiked up Hardy Canyon on Sunday. It was super windy, but within the canyon hardly any wind at all. Just really nice weather. Wildflowers are blooming and it smells so nice up there right now. We saw one rattlesnake, but he/she was on her way into the bushes, some blue birds, blue jays, lizards, chipmunks, and tons of butterflies.
Ancient Lakes — May 04, 2014 — Eastern Washington — Wenatchee
The wildflowers are blooming, especially on the hills above the lakes. On the lake we found a couple geese and about six goslings, but other than that no wildlife to report.
Black Canyon — May 03, 2014 — Eastern Washington — Yakima
The views at the top are breathtaking and the wildflowers are continuing to bloom all along the way
Camas Meadows — May 03, 2014 — Central Cascades — Blewett Pass
Flowers blooming. Unless you have four-wheel drive DO NOT follow the road past the trailhead.
East Rim Waterworks Canyon, Cleman Mountain — May 03, 2014 —Eastern Washington — Yakima
We enjoyed the wildflowers (which are at their peak right now) on the way to a false summit where we had lunch and happily watched several bighorn sheep frolicking on the slopes around us.
East Rim Waterworks Canyon — May 03, 2014 — Eastern Washington — Yakima
The overall wildflower display was very good. Not acres of yellow and blue but a wide variety of flowers and colors. White and pink phlox was seen in many places. Also penstemon and larkspur on the middle ridge. There were a number of small pink and lavender flowers whose name I can’t recall. As the ridge flattened the rock garden exploded with ground hugging color.
After a steeper start the upper ridge flattened and again we found some great color from low growing wildflowers. Near the top we even saw some yellowbells just beginning to bloom
They are not quite ready to bloom but we did see bitterroot flowers about to pop. In one spot I even noticed blooming wallflower. As had been the case most of the day, not profusion but great wildflower variety.
Back at the saddle we followed the very sketchy trail that drops down to the canyon bottom. Sketchy but far better than trying to drop down the steep and loose rock slope. Down at the creek bed I discovered the creek was dry. In places it was running but for the most part it is finished. There is a lot of greenery and wildflowers. I saw several flowers there that I did not see on the ridge. Among them were woodland stars, ballhead waterleaf, service berry, death camas, and more. The most interesting sighting was on a slope of balsamroot and lupine. One bunch of lupine was blue at the bottom and white on top. A most unusual flower.
56 photos and one short video to my website at:http://www.hikingnorthwest.com.
56 photos and one short video to my website at:http://www.hikingnorthwest.com.
Dog Mountain — May 03, 2014 South Cascades — Columbia Gorge
The balsam root are really starting to pop on the lower half of the flower fields but are still thin nearer the summit. Should be in their glory in one to two weeks, then we will see how long before they begin to fade.
The balsam root are really starting to pop on the lower half of the flower fields but are still thin nearer the summit. Should be in their glory in one to two weeks, then we will see how long before they begin to fade.
Saddle Mountain East — May 03, 2014 — Eastern Washington — Tri-Cities
There were plenty of balsam and cushion daisies (purple to white), although both were a bit past their peak.
There were plenty of balsam and cushion daisies (purple to white), although both were a bit past their peak.
See many more reports as well as more details on the one mentioned above at Washington Trails Association.
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