Hit the slopes at Crystal Mountain

If you love to hit the slopes, Crystal Mountain is a great place to hit them.

The Pierce County ski resort east of Enumclaw offers views of Mount Rainier in places as you course your way down.

You can certainly see it from the top of the Crystal Mountain gondola ride, which lures visitors for its view year round.

The now 60 year old resort itself sits at the end of a valley on a dead end spur road off of Highway 410.  Rather than continuing over Chinook Pass, exit left at the Crystal Mountain Road signs before you get to the top.

Crystal Mountain Resort runs free shuttle trailers from the parking lots up to the base of the slopes, or, if you are going on a weekend or holiday, you can even catch a free bus ride all the way from the Enumclaw Expo Center.

The Enumclaw bus starts running Monday,  Dec. 26 this year with reservations recommended.

Reservations are required for parking, however, at a price of $30 on Saturdays and holidays and $20 on Sundays.  It is free to those with a valid season pass or those in carpools of four or more.

Unless you are over the age of 80 and can ski for free on slopes for all skill levels, it also costs for the lift tickets.  You can buy them online ahead of time and save under Crystal Mountain's dynamic pricing system.

The cost for daily lift tickets is $139-$189 for adults, or $55-$75 for senior citizens under the age of 80.

Prices also run $55-$75 for children ages 5-12 and $124-$169 for ages 13-22.

You can also save by purchasing one of several season passes available, or a three-day Wild Card pass for $299 for adults that is good weekdays only through March 13.

Season pass holders can get friends and family in for 25 percent off regular lift ticket prices this winter.

The highest slope originates above the tree line at 7,000 feet in elevation, with the vertical rise set at 2,612 feet.

Snowshoe trails are offered for those who want to enjoy the views and resort participating in a different sport.

Ski and snowboard lessons are available.

For more information on the Crystal Mountain Resort, call (833) 279-7895 or check online at the crystalmountainresort.com site.

How to get there:

The address for Crystal Mountain Resort is 33914 Crystal Mountain Blvd., Enumclaw, Wash.

Take Highway 410 off Highway 167 near Sumner, or join it from somewhere else including in Buckley or in Enumclaw at the foot of the Cascade Mountains.

Head toward Chinook Pass, which is closed during the winter and most of the spring, and veer off at Crystal Mountain Road.  The road winds its way up the valley to the resort, which boasts three hotels, two on-mountain restaurants and a day lodge with a cafeteria, an espresso stand and two restaurants with bars.  Equipment rental is offered, including being reserved and paid for online.

Night skiing is available on weekends and holidays.

You can also get there on Highway 410 out of Yakima in the summer months to enjoy the gondola, but you have to go around on Snoqualmie and White Pass during the winter for the shortest distance.

Text and photo by Tim Clinton.

There's a lot to do at Flaming Geyser

There is plenty to see and do at Flaming Geyser State Park, even if there isn't much of a flaming geyser.

There is a flame flickering about six inches tall, coming up out of a pile of small rocks and fed by natural gas pockets some 1,000 feet below the surface.

But there are no water eruptions in the Yellowstone sense of the word.

Now I had always been told by older generations of residents that there once was a water geyser here that flamed if you threw a match into it.

But, the story goes, the owner tried to make it bigger by blasting it and killed the water show instead.

Now the internet says that what existed was an eight-foot flame when lit, but it was capped at its current height for safety.

But what the 503-acre park lacks in the way of the geyser it more than makes up for with three miles of freshwater front on the true centerpiece -- the Green River.

The tree-lined river cuts and meanders throughout the property, providing raft, kayak and inner tube opportunities when safety precautions such as life jackets are observed.

It also provides photo and riverside picnic opportunities galore, or you can pick out a spot to simply sit on a log, rock or bank and take in the view and the sound of rushing water over rocks, or to fish from if you are licensed and so desire.

Across the developed park area from the river is a hillside with 4.3 miles of hiking trails.  One mile's worth of trails in the park are even open for horseback riding.

A playground is offered as well as ample fields to participate in badminton, volleyball, Frisbee, softball or catch.

You can find fire pits here, and restrooms including for ADA are available.

Wildlife and bird watching exists for the observant.

How to get there:

The address of Flaming Geyser State Park is 23700 SE Flaming Geyser Rd., Auburn, WA 98092.

From Auburn and Highway 18, go up the Green Valley Road and wind through the farmlands for about 15 miles until you come to the sign for Flaming Geyser State Park to your right.

You go down a short road until you cross the Green River into a field where the road comes to the automated pay station.  Here you can get a $30 annual Discover Pass or a $10 day use pass.

The road continues to cross the field -- where you can fly model airplanes -- until you come to the Green River, which it then follows until its conclusion with a parking lot and recreational fields with picnic shelters.

To get to the Flaming Geyser itself, take a short trail up from the end of the road and parking area past the old resort until you come to a rock lined pit.  In the middle is a flickering flame coming out of a pile of smaller rocks.

Beyond this point you cross a creek and the trail either takes you down to a scenic spot on the Green River or up a hillside into the trees.

Call (253) 735-8839 for more information on the park, which is open year round from 8 a.m. until dusk.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

Take the pass less travelled

 

At 5,575 feet in elevation, it ranks as the highest paved pass in the state of Washington.

Yet Sherman Pass, tucked away in the Okanogan Mountains in the Northeast corner of the state, is one of the least known and least travelled.

But you can't say it isn't pretty, and it has a picnic area, campground and viewpoint near the top from which to enjoy it.

From Sherman Overlook at the 5,220-foot mark you can look up and to the south at 6,998-foot Sherman Peak, which is tree covered and often snow covered before other places in the state get a taste of it.

At least that's the way it was when viewed on a September trip over the pass in 2017.

Fresh snow clung to the side of the road, and blanketed the slopes above it.

To the north, on the other hand, you could see the dry grass and trees typical of the mountains of Eastern Washington.

You can also look down the valley and the road that winds toward the distant town of Republic.

The campground located here has nine tent/trailer sites with bathrooms available.

Sherman Pass also features the Canyon Creek Campground located to the east above Kettle Falls, and a snow park -- also to the east of the top.

The Canyon Creek Campground is open from Memorial Day weekend through Oct. 27 each year, while the Sherman Overlook Campground is open from Memorial Day weekend through Sept. 30.

The snow park is a rather difficult non-motorized trail for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. A Washington state Sno-Park Permit is required from Dec. 1 through March 31, which is the peak season.

How to get there:

Sherman Pass can be found on Highway 20, which runs east and west between Kettle Falls and Republic on what is a 35-mile stretch of the road.

The address of the Sherman Overlook Campground is Kettle Falls, WA 99141.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

Smith Rock jumps out of a hole

Smith Rock has an odd look to it when you first see it across the Central Oregon desert.

The feature looms above the scene located near Redmond and Terrebone north of Bend, but appears to be coming up out of a huge hole.

When you get to the rim and look down you see that what is actually a series of gigantic rocks starts below and is even taller from bottom to top than it initially appeared.

The Crooked River snakes its way through the landscape around and in front of the rocks.

All of the rocks are part of what is left of an ancient volcano.

The hole they come up out of was formed when the magma chamber below was emptied and collapsed in on itself to create the Crooked River Caldera.

Subsequent activity resulted in the rocks, which are composed of volcanic tuff.

The tops of the rocks stand at roughly 3,200 feet above sea level.  They offer the goal of thousands of possible climbing routes available in Smith Rock State Park.

The 641-acre park is crisscrossed by 15 major trails for other uses such as hiking, trail running, mountain biking and horseback riding.  They range from several easy trails to difficult paths with names such as the Misery Ridge Trail.

Slack lining is another available activity in the park.

Those with less time and/or energy can walk a short ways down from the parking lot and take in the scene at a lookout next to one of the gnarly juniper trees.

The day use area is open all year from dawn to dusk, with tent camping only offered to those who want to stay.

How to get there:

Smith Rock State Park has an address of Smith Rock State Park, Terrebone, OR. 97760 and can be reached by calling (800) 551-6949 or (541) 548-7501.

Follow the signs from nearby Highway 97, which runs north and south across all of Central Oregon and Washington.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

Grand Coulee light show returns

It's back.

The nightly "One River, Many Voices" laser light show has returned on the spillway of the Grand Coulee Dam after the COVID pandemic took it away.

It came back to the gigantic Eastern Washington structure May 28 of this year and is still running through Sept. 30 starting at 8:30 p.m.

Right before each show more Columbia River water is allowed over, providing a white screen for a backdrop.

Only a comparative trickle flows during the day.

No admission is charged for onlookers for a feature that covers the building of the dam and its benefits as well as what it has done to the environment and the Native American side of the story.

The dam itself is so huge that it boasts 12 million cubic yards of concrete and stands at 550 feet high.

It has enough concrete to form a sidewalk four feet wide and four inches deep all the way around the equator twice -- or 50,000 miles long.

It took from 1933 to 1942 to build it, and it irrigates 600,000 acres.

For more information, contact the Grand Coulee Visitor Center at (509) 633-9265.

How to get there:

The Grand Coulee Visitor Center is located at WA-155, Coulee Dam, WA 99116.

Take Highway 17 north from I-90 and Moses Lake, turning right onto Highway 2 and taking a left off of it at Highway 155.  Head north along Banks Lake in the scenic Grand Coulee until you come to the dam after a narrow strip of land.

Text and photo by Tim Clinton.

Overlook has Heavenly view

There is nothing diabolical about the Diablo Lake Overlook.

In fact, the view from the North Cascades Highway turnout can be downright Heavenly.

The turquoise lake below winds its way around snow capped peaks as you look in multiple directions from a vista that boasts ample parking for onlookers.

And even though the overlook and Diablo Lake itself are technically not in North Cascades National Park, you can certainly see it from there.

The jagged glaciated pinnacles of the park stand out to both the north and south of the highway and waterway through the Ross Lake National Recreation Area.

The lake is a reservoir behind the Diablo Dam that can be seen in the distance to the northwest and is located between Ross Lake and Gorge Lake on the Skagit River.

Diablo Lake has a surface elevation of 1,201 feet and covers an area of 1.422 square miles.

It gets its stunning color from glacial flour, or fine rocks particles, suspended in the water that enter the lake through glacial streams.

It is best viewed on sunny days in July, August and September, when most seasonal glacial melt occurs.

And the temperature of Diablo Lake is anything but hot, and is in fact said to be downright cold.

The water is the home of Bull, Cutthroat, Rainbow and Brook Trout that can be pursued by those with a valid Washington fishing license.

Camping can be found in the area, including right on Diablo Lake,

The north shore of the lake also boasts the 3.8 mile long Diablo Lake Trail.

But the best place to take it all in is the overlook.

How to get there:

The Diablo Lake Overlook is located at mile post 131.7 on State Route 20, otherwise known as the North Cascades Highway.

The quickest way to get there from Western Washington and Oregon is to take the State Route 20 exit off Interstate 5 and head east, but the most scenic way to go is from east to west.

Take Highway 2 from Snohomish in the west or from Spokane and dozens of small communities in the east and turn north on Highway 97 or 97A north of Wenatchee.  Turn northwest on Highway 153 in Pateros and follow it until you reach State Route 20 and turn left.

Photos and text by Tim Clinton.

Steamboat Rock stands out

Steamboat Rock sticks out like a sore thumb.

You can see it for miles away mostly out your front window as you traverse Central Washington's lengthy Grand Coulee from south to north, or mostly out the back window from north to south.

The basaltic butte stands out so much that it has been used as a navigational reference point for everything from covered wagons to modern fighter jets.

It is also pretty enough as it towers above Banks Lake to warrant its own state park.

It is situated on a peninsula jutting out into the 25-mile long lake created by water from the Grand Coulee Dam, with the connecting piece of land south of the rock offering ample parking, camping, boating, restrooms, showers and other facilities.

Steamboat Rock can be viewed up close from there, or from pullouts across the water on Highway 155 to the east.

The 5,043-acre state park has 50,000 feet of freshwater shoreline, with the 800-foot tall rock itself covering 600 acres.

Hiking and biking is available on 13.1 miles of trails including onto the top of the rock, where wildflowers abound in favorable months.  There are 10 miles of horse trails.

Individual campsites can be reserved for use from April 1 to Oct. 31 and are first-come, first-served from Nov. 1 to March 31.  There are 26 standard campsites and 164 full hookup sites plus three cabins.

Discover passes are required for use of the park at $30 per year good for all Washington state parks.  One day passes are also available at $10 per vehicle.

How to get there:

Turn north onto Highway 155 off of Highway 2 just east of Coulee City and the Dry Falls Dam and drive until you come to the state park to your left.

You can also get there from Highway 174 and the Grand Coulee Dam area to the north by heading south on Highway 155.

From Interstate 90 and Moses Lake, head north on Highway 17 until you come to Highway 2, taking a right and heading east before taking a left onto Highway 155 after Coulee City.

A short cut is available heading east on Interstate 90 before Moses Lake, turning northeast onto Highway 283 until it joins Highway 17 at Soap Lake, where you take a left.

The Steamboat Rock State Park address is 51052 WA-155, Electric City, WA 99123.

Call (509) 633-1304 for more information on the state park, or (888) 226-7688 for camping.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

Sunrise shines in the morning

Morning is the best time to visit Sunrise, whether that is your destination or you are on your way around Mount Rainier.

Since it is located on the northeast side of the mountain the sun hits there first in the summer, plus if you are early enough you can beat the crowd.

Cars were lined up into the distance waiting to get in before midday on a Saturday, July 9 visit, after you were able to enter with no wait by 10 a.m.

Also helping with the crowd would be an arrival in the middle of the week, especially after school starts and before it is closed by snow.

This year snow remains a factor even in July.

It has been cleared from the roads, but patches remain everywhere around the lodge and gift shop, adding to the view but blocking many trails.

The views of Mount Rainier are outstanding, particularly of the steep Emmons Glacier coming down from the crater on Columbia Crest. Other features like Steamboat Prow and Liberty Cap stand out to the right.

But not to be overlooked are the features to the left on the other side of the White River Valley across from Sunrise.

Jagged peaks stick up into the sky including that of Little Tahoma right next to Mount Rainier, or Mount Tahoma as it was known to the Native Americans.

Little Tahoma ranks among the tallest peaks in the state of Washington at 11,138 feet, but is dwarfed by the 14,410 feet of Mount Rainier.

Sunrise Day Lodge is open from July through the end of September and is located at 6,400 feet -- or 1,000 feet higher than the 5,400 feet of Paradise Inn on the south side of Mount Rainier.

How to get there:

Take Highway 410 out of Sumner, Highway 164 out of Auburn or Highway 169 from Renton and Maple Valley into Enumclaw where the three highways converge.

Follow Highway 410 east toward Chinook Pass, but veer right before you get there into the White River Entrance of Mount Rainier National Park.

From Yakima and the east, take 410 west over Chinook Pass and take a sharp left shortly thereafter into the White River Entrance.

The road to Sunrise switches back and forth up from the entrance and includes one wide parking lot and lookout at the point of the last switchback.  From there it's a short jaunt to Sunrise.

Thursday, Aug. 4 will be free admittance day for Mount Rainier and all other national parks in the United States.  The next free day after that will be Saturday, Sept. 24.

Private vehicle passes good for seven days are normally $30, while seven day motorcycle passes are $25.  The per person walk-up or bicycle fee is $15.

Annual Mount Rainier passes for a car, driver and passengers are $55.

Discover Passes are for state lands only and do not include national parks.

Call (360) 569-2211 for more information on Mount Rainier National Park.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

Step back into the Old West

You can almost feel like you are stepping back in time to the Old West when you visit Winthrop.

False fronts and wood paneling highlight the buildings downtown, giving them a late 1800s look.

The hillsides above the town in Central Washington's Methow Valley are even mostly barren with desert scrub brush straight out of a Western movie.

The only giveaways are that the streets are paved instead of dirt or gravel, and the wagons and horses have been replaced with automobiles that go by on Highway 20.

Of course the motif was designed to lure in North Cascades travelers and get them to stop and shop, or to stay and make the town a center of operations for outdoor adventures.

After all, Methow Trails maintains 120 miles of trails for cross country skiing in the winter or for hiking and mountain biking in the summer and early fall.

Most of the trails are snow free from early May through November, except for the higher elevation paths that are open from July through early October.

Heliskiing is also offered in the nearby mountains for the most adventurous.

Winthrop is only the permanent home of 340 people according to the 2020 census, but what the town lacks in size it makes up for in big events.

The biggest event of the slate is the July 15-17 Rhythm and Blues Festival that attracts musicians and visitors annually from all over the Northwest.

It is so big that onsite camping is allowed with portable showers provided for those unable to get standard accomodations in the area.

Winthrop also hosts tournaments during the winter on its outdoor National Hockey League-sized rink as well as up to eight teams for the Winthrop Snowshoe Softball Tournament taking place every President's Day weekend in February.

Scheduled for Nov. 25-26 of this year is the annual Christmas At The End of the Road celebration that also ranks among the bigger of many scheduled local events.

While much of the North Cascades Highway 20 to the west is closed for the winter and early spring, Winthrop and the Methow Valley can be approached from the east all year.

For more information on year round recreational opportunities, contact Methow Trails at (509) 996-3287.

How to get there:

From late spring through early fall the most direct route to Winthrop from Western Washington and Oregon is to head to Burlington on Interstate 5 and take the Highway 20 exit heading east.

A short cut from the south is to take the Highway 530 exit near Arlington and go northeast until the road joins Highway 20 in Rockport, where you take a right.

But the more scenic and year round route is from east to west on Highway 20.

You can get to it from Highway 2 (Stevens Pass for Western Washingtonians) from the west or east and turn north on Highway 97 or 97A, which reunite in Chelan and head further north.  Take a left on Highway 153 in Pateros and another left when you come to Highway 20 near Twisp.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

Ring in the Fourth at Liberty Bell

 

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase Liberty Bell?

This time of year especially the chances are you think of a cracked patriotic bell in Philadelphia.

But in Washington State it takes on a different meaning as a jagged mountain on the North Cascades Highway.

The northern portion of the Liberty Bell Massif series of peaks is bell shaped with a giant crack in it and thus earns the name Liberty Bell Mountain.

The massif as a whole resembles a cathedral or castle, and it towers above Washington Pass on Highway 20, with the best place to view it being the Washington Pass Overlook.

It is part way up the massif but out a ways, presenting a view of the east side of the mostly north-south running ridgeline.

Liberty Bell is the tallest point on the right as viewed from the overlook, standing at 7,720 feet above sea level.

The Early Winters Spires South stands out like a lookout tower on the left side, with the Concord Buttress in between.

The Liberty Bell Massif can be seen from miles away at the head of the Methow Valley, with the overlook also offering a view down toward Mazama and Winthrop.

It can also be seen from the west including from places in the Skagit Valley, but the best way to see it -- and all of the North Cascades for that matter -- is from the east going west.

The Washington Pass Overlook is at the end of a short pull off road and features a wide parking area and a short walk through alpine firs to the viewpoint.

The granite massif also stands like a lure for adventurous climbers, with the top of the Liberty Bell portion not reached until 1946.

How to get there:

Liberty Bell and Washington Pass are located just east of North Cascades National Park on Highway 20.

They can be accessed from the east from the Methow Valley.  To get to Highway 20 and the valley take Highway 2 from Snohomish and Monroe just north of Seattle and head east, or take Highway 2 heading west out of Spokane.

Turn north on Highway 97 or 97A at Wenatchee until they converge in Chelan and keep going north to Highway 153, turning left onto it near Pateros.  This cutoff takes you to Highway 20 at Twisp, where you turn left to head west.

There are two more options from west to east off I-5.  You can take Highway 530 near Arlington and join Highway 20 in Rockport, where you take a right.

You can also hop directly onto Highway 20 further north at the Burlington exit, turning right.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

You can get married at Rocky Reach

The assignment seemed simple enough:  Take a picture of yourself in front of a dry Central Washington hill to prove you were over there.

But finding an interesting one is hard, and then it has to be in a place you can stop.

You can find both at Rocky Reach Dam Park just north of Wenatchee.

Huge basaltic rocks stick out among the dry grass on the hills overlooking the park that also features green grass, trees, Columbia River beachfront and the dam itself.

You can even get married under the wedding pergola if you so desire, but you have to bring your own minister or Justice of the Peace.

Use of the 17-acre park, and even the pergola, is free.

You can get out and visit the Rocky Reach Dam Discovery Center museum, and stroll onto the dam -- or into it on a tour.

If you are there at the right time fish can be observed working their way up the ladder that accompanies the dam run by the Chelan County Public Utility District, which also owns and operates the park.

Restrooms are available as are two picnic shelters with barbecue grills, a playground and horseshoe pits.

Rocky Reach Dam Park is open from March 1 through October 31 and has normal operating hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the Discovery Center is open year round the same hours but only from Tuesday through Sunday.

Picnic shelter reservations are accepted beginning the first Monday of January each year by calling (509) 663-7522.

And what about the wedding pergola?

Reservations are accepted year round at (509) 661-4960.

How to get there:

Rocky Reach Dam Park is located seven miles north of Wenatchee on Highway 97A.

The address is 6151 SR97A (Mile post 203.71), Wenatchee, WA 98801.

The exit for Highway 97A off of U.S. Highway 2 is located just west of the Columbia River in the northern part of Wenatchee.  It is just before the Frances Farmer Bridge going east and just after it going west.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

Wallowa Lake has Swiss look

They don't call the Wallowa Lake area the Switzerland of the United States for nothing.

Mountains tower above and drop steeply into the large Northeast Oregon tarn, looking much like the Alps in the scenic European nation.

Wallowa Lake is hemmed in on three sides by the Wallowa Mountains, with the fourth side to the north of the glacial cirque valley dammed up by an ancient moraine of epic proportions.

The formation created by rocks and dirt falling off the end of a Pleistocene Age glacier stands at 1,210 feet high from the bottom of the lake to the top above it.

A small human made dam from 1917 helped increase the maximum depth of the lake some 30 feet to its current 299 feet with the average depth set at 161 feet.

The elongated 2.347 square mile lake boasts a length of 3.48 miles and it is 5,280 feet wide.

It is made up of almost pristine fresh and clear water, with some locals still drinking directly from it.

Recreational opportunities abound in the setting, with the easiest being a quick stop at Wallowa Lake County Park on the north end one mile south of the town of Joseph, which was named after the famed Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe.

From here you can look across to the mountains, with the grassy and rocky moraine standing out to the left.

The park is for day use only and includes a few picnic tables and a boat ramp, from which anglers can set out in pursuit of sockeye salmon, Rainbow Trout, bull trout and lake trout.

Wallowa Lake County Park is also the launching point for a large annual fireworks show on the Fourth of July.

Among the mountains at the southern end of the lake that has a surface elevation of 4,372 feet is Wallowa Lake State Park.

Aside from a view looking back toward the north end of the lake and up at the mountains, this park has 121 full hookup camp sites and 88 tent sites from which you can get an even grander view at night.

Because of its elevation and its great distance from any light producing large cities, the sky is extra dark and brings out a countless array of the Milky Way Galaxy's stars as well as the visible planets of our solar system and other astronomical features.

Also available at the state park are a marina, a beach, two yurts to stay in, three group tent areas, hiker/biker camping, hot showers, toilets and a play area.

It also has picnic tables, including two group areas that can be reserved with one covered.

The state park runs one mile up the Wallowa River to the Little Alps day use area with one more group picnic setting nestled between the Wallowa's east and west forks.

Hikes into the Wallowa Mountains of the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area abound.

The state park is open all year, including for day use and camping.

In between the state and county parks on the east side of the lake you can find the start of a tram ride to the top of 8,150 foot Mount Howard with a stunning view well worth the extra time it takes -- plus a restaurant.

How to get there:

Take Highway 82 off of Interstate 84 in La Grande and head east on what is also known as the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway to the town of Joseph.  Take a right and head south on the Wallowa Lake Highway to the county park and on to the tramway base and the state park.

Call (800) 551-6949 for information on the state park with reservations available at (800) 452-5687.

For tram information, call (541) 432-5331 or look up info@wallowalaketramway.com.

The tram address is 59919 Wallowa Lake Highway, Joseph, OR 97846.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

Hells Canyon better than its name

What is the deepest canyon in North America?

Most people would say the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but actually it is Hells Canyon on the border between Oregon and Idaho -- by almost 2,000 feet.

Hells Canyon boasts a maximum depth of 7,913 feet to the maximum depth of 6,093 feet for the Grand Canyon.

Yet it is the Grand Canyon that is well traveled and in a national park, while Hells Canyon is little known, seldom visited and remote.

Grand Canyon is wider at 18 miles to the 10-mile width of Hells Canyon, and longer at a whopping 278 miles to the 125 miles of Hells Canyon.

But give Hells Canyon its due.

The Hells Canyon National Recreation Area has plenty of boating and rafting opportunities on the Snake River below, plus hiking and outstanding views from such places as the Hells Canyon Overlook on the Oregon side.

Hells Canyon is more tree and grass covered with rolling hills as viewed from the top, while the Grand Canyon has more exposed rock and a more dramatic drop.

How to get there:

The Hells Canyon Overlook can best be accessed on the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, a group of roads in northeast Oregon that form a loop that can be made in less than a day.  Or, if you prefer, the loop can be broken up by either camping or staying in one of the small towns along the way.

Both ends of the loop start on Interstate 84 going southeast bound out of the Portland area (and Interstate 82 from Washington) or northwest bound out of Idaho.

Highway 82 starting in La Grande, Ore. makes up the northern portion of the loop and Highway 86 from just above Baker City, Ore. makes up the southern portion.

Follow the signs for the Hells Canyon Overlook off of Forest Service roads 39 and 3365 near Hells Canyon to make the connection between the two portions.

The closest sizeable towns are Enterprise, Ore. at 52 miles away in the north and Halfway, Ore. at 33 miles away in the south.

The address is NF-490, Imnaha, OR 97842.

The entire loop is 218.4 miles long.

Boat trips are accessed out of Lewiston, Idaho.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

Johnston Ridge offers point blank view

Point blank.

Up close and personal.

Unobstructed.

Those are the words and phrases that come to mind when it comes to the view of Mount St. Helens from Johnston Ridge.

There is nothing between you and the crater and lava dome on the exploded north side of the Washington volcano as you look across from next to the Johnston Ridge Observatory.

All that is below is the landslide zone from what set off the infamous May 18, 1980 blast, including a deep canyon carved out in only the 42 years since that would look to be much older.

You can pay $8.00 to go inside the observatory and take a look at the mountain through the window and at presentations and films about its eruptions, or walk along the outside and take in the view and snap pictures.

Also impressive on Johnston Ridge besides the view of the volcano is the mixture of barrenness and dead fallen trees and stumps along with new life.

Grass, bushes and small trees have poked their way into the scene along with flowering vegetation such as flaming red Indian Paintbrush and white Everlasting Flowers.  Even an occasional chipmunk makes an appearance.

Highway 504 to Johnston Ridge is well paved the whole way, and you can look down on the Toutle River and the mud flow that came crashing down the valley after the 1980 landslide and blast.

You can also look up and see the west side of the mountain and part of the crater to the left.

From there the road winds down to the shores of Coldwater Lake, which was also created in 1980, then back up again as you get closer and closer to Johnston Ridge -- and the mountain itself.

The road ends in a wide parking lot, and from the southeast side of the lot is a trail that takes you uphill to the observatory and viewpoint.

Johnston Ridge is named after David A. Johnston, the volcanologist stationed on the ridge who announced to his Vancouver headquarters and the world that "This is it" about the May 18 eruption right before his death in the blast.

How to get there:

To get to Johnston Ridge, take the I-5 exit onto Highway 504 at Castle Rock and stay on it to its end 52 miles to the east.  You can also take the Highway 505 exit until it goes through Toledo and joins 504, where you take a left.

The Johnston Ridge Observatory address is 24000 Spirit Lake Highway, Toutle, WA 98649.

For more information, call (360) 274-2140.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

Lighthouse shines on Puget Sound

It's so close and yet so far.

Point Robinson Lighthouse shines its bright Fresnel lens a short distance across Puget Sound from Federal Way to Des Moines and Three Tree Point, but requires a good deal of driving, a ferry boat ride and more driving to get to it.

A ferry can only be accessed from West Seattle to the north, Tacoma's Point Defiance to the south and from Southworth on the Kitsap Peninsula side to the west.

From any of those directions you must then drive to the middle of lengthy Vashon Island and across Maury Island to eventually get to Point Robinson on the northeast corner of Maury.

From there you park in a small lot on top of a tree covered bluff and wander down the hill to the park lawn and driftwood strewn beach.

You can sit on a log and take in the close-up views of Federal Way, Redondo Beach, Des Moines and Normandy Park and any ships that pass in between, or walk to the lighthouse and its accompanying residence.

The lighthouse was first built in 1914 and opened in 1915,  and is a 38 foot tall structure made of concrete.  It was automated in 1978.

The whole site was featured in a children's Christmas story written by Berkeley Breathed by the name of "The Red Ranger Came Calling."

The park covers a total of 10 acres of beach front property and marks the halfway point between Seattle and Tacoma.

Lighthouse tours are not currently available because of Covid, so it would be best to save any visit until after that scare is sufficiently over to allow them to resume.

For more information on the Point Robinson Lighthouse park, you can contact the Vashon Park District at info@vashonparks.org or (206) 463-9602.

How to get there:

The Point Robinson Lighthouse is located at 3705 S.W. Point Robinson Road in Vashon, Washington.

Take one of the aforementioned ferries to first get to Vashon Island, landing on the northern tip from Southworth or from Fauntleroy in West Seattle -- or on the southern shore at Tahlequah if coming from Point Defiance in Tacoma.

From either the north or south, drive up the hill and stay on Vashon Highway S.W. until you come to S.W. Quartermaster Drive and turn east into Portage.  Turn right onto the narrow connection between Vashon and Maury islands and stay on it as it becomes S.W. Point Robinson Road.

Otherwise you could take a small private vessel from Des Moines or Redondo Beach to Point Robinson on a nice day.  The park is only a two mile trip across the East Passage of Puget Sound from Des Moines.

Just follow that flashing light.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

 

This farm grows a new kind of crop

 

Weird white things have sprouted up in the desert between Ellensburg and Vantage in recent years.

They're gigantic, yet sleek, with slowly spinning propeller blades.

They're everywhere, dominating a landscape that once boasted little more than sage brush.

They are the windmills of the Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility owned by Puget Sound Energy.

They can be seen all over the hillsides from I-90, or up close and personal -- and even from the inside -- at the Renewable Energy Center located above the old Vantage Highway that parallels I-90 to the north.

The purpose of this wind "farm" is to produce inexpensive renewable electrical power to help supply the over 1,000,000 customers of Puget Sound Energy who are spread out over 11 Washington counties.

Nestled next to the Renewable Energy Center are solar panels that further boost electrical production.

Visitors to the center can learn about both energy sources through displays set up in partnership with nearby Central Washington University in Ellensburg as well as about the area's human and natural history.

Not only can they see the displays, windmills and solar panels at the center, on a clear day they can take in views of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams and even the top of Oregon's Mount Hood in the distance.

They can also see the Columbia Basin to the east in the direction of Moses Lake from this lofty point.

Visitors can go inside the center from 9 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. daily from April through November, weather permitting.

Free tours with no reservation needed depart daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. as weather allows.

Other options are available as well.

You can call ahead and schedule a separate group tour, or fill out a permit and wander around the ridges and valleys and see the windmills on your own.

A look inside the massive windmills is only available with a tour, however.

In order to go inside and see the inner workings you must wear closed toed shoes as well as the hard hats and safety goggles that are provided.

You can also schedule a conference at the center.  It has a meeting room that accommodates 48 people along with a kitchen and catering facilities.

To schedule a tour or a conference, call (509) 964-7815.

It's a breeze.

How to get there:

From the Puget Sound area and the west, travel eastbound I-90 to Ellensburg exit 106.  Follow the exit around and across an overpass to a four-way stop.  Continue on University Way until it becomes Vantage Highway and follow that for 16.5 miles.

From Spokane and the east, travel west on I-90 to Vantage exit 136, take a left onto Vantage Highway and follow it for 10.5 miles.    

From Yakima and the south, go north on I-82 and merge onto eastbound I-90.  Take exit 115 into Kittitas.  Turn right at a "T" onto Patrick Ave., turn left at 81 road then right at Vantage Highway for 10.5 miles.

For all routes, enter through the Wild Horse main gate and continue for three more miles.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

 

Dry Falls were mightiest ever

There was a time when Dry Falls was the wettest and biggest falls around.

During the last ice age the Central Washington cliffs roared with a waterfall two and a half times higher and five times wider than Niagara Falls.

In fact they ranked as the mightiest waterfall in the history of the planet at a towering 400 feet high and three and a half miles wide.

The question is where did enough water to form a waterfall this big come from, since even the mighty Columbia River in wetter times would not pack enough punch to power them and carve out the Grand Coulee above.

Scientists agree that it was all done in a matter of weeks and not eons of time as well, although whatever happened may have been repeated several times.

To find the answer, they point to glacial evidence at the site of the present day Grand Coulee Dam, which backs up the Columbia and diverts some of it to form Banks Lake inside the Grand Coulee.  Banks Lake is stopped from flowing over Dry Falls by the Dry Falls Dam.

Then, strangely enough, are the lines on the hillsides above distant Missoula, Mont. that look like ancient shorelines at various levels.

Putting the facts together, it is theorized that a glacier came down and blocked the river at the site of the dam and was much bigger than it, backing up the water all the way to Missoula to form a giant lake.

The pressure eventually broke the ice dam, sending all of that water rushing down the coulee.

It quickly carved out the walls of the coulee and spilled over the site of Dry Falls, turning it into a massive waterfall that dropped into what is now lake basins below.

From there it flowed on down the coulee, over the current Sun Lakes and out into the channeled scab lands by Moses Lake and the Potholes Reservoir and down to the present day Columbia River Gorge and out to the Pacific Ocean.

Backed up water from most of Western North America poured through here at the time, or times.

The Dry Falls Visitor Interpretive Center now stands off to the side of where the falls once thundered, offering a view of the cliffs and the lakes below.

Inside the center visitors can see a video presentation and an artist's interpretation of what the giant falls looked like at their peak.

The daily hours at the center vary throughout the year, and information can be obtained by calling (509) 632-5214.

Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park lies below, from which you can look up at the falls.

You can drive through the area, get out, and walk over eight miles of trails.

The lakes boast fishing, with anglers finding rainbow, brown and tiger trout in Dry Falls Lake at the base of the falls.

Swimming, boating and even golfing are available in the state park, which has 152 standard campsites and 40 RV sites.  It also has an amphitheater and climbing walls.

How to get there:

Dry Falls is located off Highway 2, which crosses the Dry Falls Dam above.  Turn south onto Highway 17 to get to the visitors center and head on down to the state park.  The road goes past more of the Sun Lakes and on to join I-90 near Moses Lake.

You can also go north onto Highway 17 from Highway 28, which can be reached from I-90 by Highway 283 near George.

Call (509) 632-5583 for more information on the 3,774-acre state park, which is located at 34875 Park Rd. NE, Coulee City, WA 99115.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

It's tulip time in Skagit Valley

It's time to tiptoe through the tulips at the annual Skagit Valley festival.

Well, walk through them. Or at least drive through them on the roads between the fields.

The flowers stretch into the distance in places, offering a splash of color for the eyes each April.

There are reds, yellows, oranges, pinks and purples.

On a clear day snow capped Mount Baker and the Cascades loom over the scene, which also features rustic barns and sheds as well as stately trees.

Three fourths of the commercial tulips in the United States are grown in the Skagit Valley, which has some 1,000 acres dedicated to tulips and daffodils.

Most are in a 15-mile triangle bordered by Highway 20, the Skagit River and the Swinomish River Channel.

Mount Vernon serves as the headquarters and turning point off Interstate 5 and it is located 60 miles north of Seattle.

Two farms are open for the public to tour for a price in RoozenGaarde and Tulip Town, with tickets in advance online including parking.

RoozenGaarde features 25 acres of tulips and 20 acres of daffodils, plus a five acre display garden.

Tulip Town has three acres of flowers plus a kite flying field, a trolley to ride included in the price of admission (if weather permits) and a cafe.

The price of admission at RoozenGaarde is $15.00 per person with children age 2 and under admitted for free.

Tulip Town costs $16.29 per person age 12 and over, but it is only $7.60 for ages 6-11 and free for ages 5 and under.

There is now no mask mandate at either location.  Pets and drones are not permitted.

The daffodils have been out for some time, while the tulips are starting to bloom already and should reach their peak in the middle of April.

How to get there:

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival runs an office in Mount Vernon open 9-5 daily in April.  It is located at 311 W. Kincaid Street, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 with a phone number of (360) 428-5959.

RoozenGaarde is located at 15867 Beaver Marsh Road in Mount Vernon and Tulip Town also has a Mount Vernon address of 15002 Bradshaw Road.

Or you can take Mount Vernon exit 225 or 226 and follow the Tulip Festival signs out to the roads among the fields to the west of town.

Text and top photo by Tim Clinton, bottom photo by Jeff Clinton.

 

Waters run deep at Lake Crescent

There is plenty of fun to be had on the surface of Lake Crescent.

You can go paddling and fishing on the water, swimming and hiking along the shore -- or sit on a park bench or a rock and take it all in.

But these waters definitely run deep.

Just how deep depends on whose survey you believe.

The United States Navy couldn't find the bottom with their instruments in the early 1960s.

A 1970 survey by Peninsula College students recorded 624 feet.

When power cable was laid in the 1980s, on the other hand, the readings came out in excess of 1,000 feet.

But the thorough Lake Crescent Bathymetric Survey in 2013 and 2014 found the maximum depth to be 596 feet.

Whichever the actual case may be, it is deep, as attested to by the surrounding Olympic Mountains plunging almost straight down into the water.

Fallen trees with huge bases can be found going off into the depths with the tops not visible.

Another fact to ponder is that the surface elevation is 580 feet above sea level, meaning the bottom of the lake is below sea level.

While the lake is definitely deep, it is also long on surface area at 11.81 miles in length covering an area of 8.011 square miles. 

The bathymetric survey found the lake to contain 0.5 cubic miles of fresh water, with Barnes Creek, Smith Creek, Aurora Creek and Eagle Creek providing the primary inflow and the Lyre River the outflow.

Paddle boats are available on the beach at the Lake Crescent Lodge, which was built in 1915 and ranks as a three star hotel at an average cost of $192 per night.  There is also dock space, and benches to sit on.

The lake contains a wide variety of fish, with Beardslee trout, Lake Crescent cutthroat trout, Coastal cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and sockeye salmon.

But if you go out onto the water, wear a life jacket.  It's a long ways to the bottom.

How to get there:

Lake Crescent can be found 17 miles west of Port Angeles along U.S. Highway 101.

Lake Crescent Lodge is located at 416 Lake Crescent Rd., Port Angles, WA 98363 with a phone number of (855) 584-5293 .

The lake is entirely contained within Olympic National Park, which can be reached at (360) 565-3130, but no entrance fee is charged since it is on a major highway.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

Short hike leads to Sol Duc Falls

A quick stroll through a scenic woods will bring you to a spectacular waterfall.

Sol Duc Falls inside Washington's Olympic National Park is at its best in the spring as the runoff from winter turns the falls into a raging torrent.

It's a short one mile hike to the falls on a well-maintained trail with a gradual 200-foot elevation gain.

Several bridges along the way allow for great photo opportunities.  Then there is a bridge over the falls that is another great place to get epic photos of yourself and friends.

The Sol Duc River splits into as many as four small channels at the top of the falls before plunging 48 feet into a thin and rocky canyon.

If you are lucky, the sun shimmering down through a narrow opening in the woods onto the moisture rising up from the falls will even cause a rainbow to arch its way across the scene.

No, there won't be any pot of gold at either end, but the presence of the bow itself is a treasure.

How to get there:

The turn for Sol Duc Falls can be found 29 miles west of Port Angeles off U.S. Highway 101 on the northern Olympic Peninsula.

Turn on Sol Duc Road and drive 14 miles to the parking lot at its end, which is past the Sol Duc Hot Springs and Resort.

The price of entry into Olympic National Park is $25 for seven consecutive days or $50 for an annual pass.

Camping is available in the area with a permit, including 82 sites near the trailhead.  Quotas and reservations are in effect May 1 through Sept. 30 for the Sol Duc-Seven Lakes Basin area.

Call (360) 565-3130 for more information on Olympic National Park, the falls and camping or (855) 584-5293 for the resort and its cabins and pools.

Text and photos by Jeff Clinton.  Tim Clinton also contributed to this report.

 

Lighthouse awaits at the end of this hike

A hot summer day with a cool breeze blowing off the water is the perfect time to hike out to the New Dungeness Lighthouse.

It's an 11-mile round trip hike that is easiest when the tide is lowest.

Starting your hike around an hour before lowest tide will provide the best walking conditions.  The entire hike is on sand and the further out the tide, the firmer the sand will be for walking.

The Dungeness Spit is the longest natural spit in the world and at its end is the New Dungeness Lighthouse.

There are plenty of birds to see along the way, and there is a good chance you will see eagles.

In fact, your hike must be taken on the Strait of Juan de Fuca outward side of the spit because the inner side toward Dungeness Bay and the Olympic Mountains is a wildlife sanctuary.

More than 250 species of birds and 41 species of land animals call the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge home.

The lighthouse has tours available.

The 63-foot tall lighthouse made of brick, stucco and sandstone first opened in 1857 and was automated in 1976.  It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 30, 1993.

There is a beautiful green lawn at the lighthouse that provides a perfect place to rest after the long hike.  There are also a few picnic tables and a clean restroom available, plus a drinking fountain fed by an artesian well.

Allow a little over four hours to complete the round trip on top of whatever stops you make.

The spit itself grows an average of 15 feet in length per year and is fed by landslides on the lengthy bluff west of it, which is a glacial moraine left over from the last ice age.

New Dungeness was named by British explorer George Vancouver in 1792 because of its resemblance to the Dungeness headland on the British Channel in England.

How to get there:

From US Highway 101 west of Sequim, Washington turn north on Kitchen-Dick Road.

Continue three miles on Kitchen-Dick Road to the Dungeness Recreation Area.

You go through the recreation area to the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge parking lot.

The hike starts off going through a forested area on a bluff overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  You pay a $3 entrance fee at the trailhead.

Call (360) 683-6638 for more information.

Text and photos by Jeff Clinton.  Tim Clinton also contributed to this report. 

Wildlife Safari offers options

You have wonderful options when you visit Wildlife Safari near Roseburg, Ore.

You can wander around Safari Village on foot among the flamingos and under the palm trees, view exotic ducks up close, visit small zoo animals, and go into the shop.

You could also wander around in your vehicle on the Wildlife Safari Drive if you have time, through free roaming wildlife from around the world, including Africa.

Or you can do both.

A total of 600 animals roam a 610-acre park, giving them over one acre apiece.

The drive through safari is divided into four areas, with Asia getting the first section you come to, the Americas the second, wetlands the third and Africa saved for last.

Plus there are extras thrown in, such as the Australian emu.

The Asia section includes the Tibetan Yak, Sika Deer, Nilgai and Asian Elephant and the Americas have the Llama, American Bison, Brown Bear and North American Black Bear.  The wetlands include restrooms and a sheltered picnic area, and the Africa section contains the African Elephant, Hippopotamus, Rhino, Zebra and Giraffe.

The carnivores lurk in a separate area, such as the African Lion and Cheetah.

All of these can be seen from the safety of your own car on a trip that you should allow an hour and a half to complete.

The Wildlife Safari Drive costs $23.95 per adult, $17.95 for children and $20.95 for senior adults.

But don't bring your own animals to either the Safari Village or on the Wildlife Safari Drive.  A free unsupervised kennel area is available, with locks sold for $5.00.

Both areas are open year round except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The hours for November to March are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both for the Safari Village and with the last car admitted onto Wildlife Safari Drive.  The hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for March after Daylight Savings Time through September and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in October.

How to get there:

Take exit 120 off Interstate-5 going south or north and drive west on Highway 42, which is a right turn going south and a left turn going north.

The exit is located just south of Roseburg and Green.

Take a short drive to near the town of Winston, and follow the signs for Wildlife Safari, taking a right turn.

Wildlife Safari is located at 1790 Safari Road, Winston, OR 97496.

Call (541) 679-6761 for more information.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

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Oregon Trail celebrated at Center

You can really feel like you are stepping back in time at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City in northeast Oregon.

Wagons are circled on top of a lonesome hill surrounded by sage brush and wild flowers, and even the modern museum is full of lifelike scenes of being on the trail heading west in the 1800s.

A short distance away from it all across the desert you can see the actual ruts left over from the wagons, and you can step in display ruts inside the museum.

The 500 acre site also boasts remnants of the Flagstaff Gold Mine complete with a sluice box, plus a blacksmith shop, stamp mill, native plant garden, a picnic area and an outdoor amphitheater.

Four miles of trails loop around the site.  Plan on a two hour walk to the ruts and back from the Interpretive Center museum, but remember that the historic trail is fragile and take care not to damage it.

The trail was used from the 1840s to the 1880s and ran 2,170 miles starting in Independence, Missouri. 

The 23,000 square foot Center museum and restrooms are normally open year round but are temporarily closed for building renovations.  You can still plan your visit for this spring, summer or fall, or see the outside portions even this winter although the trails are not cleared of ice and snow.

It is well worth the side trip off Interstate 84 heading either southeast to Boise, Idaho or northeast to LaGrande, Pendleton, the Portland area or the state of Washington.

How to get there:

Take the Highway 86 exit (No. 302) off Interstate 84 just north of Baker City, Oregon and head east a few miles across the desert until you come to the signs for the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.

When you are done you can either return to Interstate 84 and be on your way, or continue east on Highway 86 for the start of the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway and spend at least a day on that.

The Center's address is 22267 OR-86, Baker City, Ore. 97814.

Call (541) 523-1843 for more information or find oregontrail.blm.gov on the web.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

 

Chuckanut Drive winds its way into your heart

Chuckanut this and Chuckanut that.

There's a lot of places called Chuckanut in the area just south of Bellingham in northwest Washington.

There's Chuckanut Bay, Chuckanut Creek, Chuckanut Falls, the Chuckanut Mountains and the geologic Chuckanut Formation, not to mention Chuckanut Village, Chuckanut Manor, Chuckanut Brewery, Chuckanut Bakery, Chuckanut Bay Foods, Chuckanut Valley Veterinary Clinic and the Chuckanut Community Baptist Church -- just to name a few.

But the one to take is Chuckanut Drive, the scenic alternative to I-5.

It winds its way between the Salish Sea and the Chuckanut Mountains on tree-lined sandstone cliffs, offering views of the San Juan Islands and some even of the Olympic Mountains beyond.

Large ships ply the waters offshore.

The designated scenic byway known as Highway 11 runs 24 miles between Bellingham and Burlington to the south, with the last few miles north of Burlington cutting straight through Skagit Valley farmlands.

It was originally built in 1909 and opened in 1916 on land purchased as a right of way for the Great Northern Railway in 1892.  The railway was later discontinued.

And the word Chuckanut has nothing to do with throwing nuts at people.

It is said to mean in the languages of the local Nooksack and Lummi tribes "long beach far from a narrow entrance."

If you drive south the turnouts for views are more accessible on the right side of the road, but the drive north on the other side is equally stunning and much easier to get to.

Either way, Chuckanut Drive where the mountains meet the sea is sure to find a place in your heart.

How to get there:

Going north on I-5 toward Bellingham and Vancouver, B.C., take exit 231 in Burlington and turn left on Highway 11 once you get off.

From Bellingham going south, take exit 250 from I-5 and go right on Old Fairhaven Parkway, which eventually turns into Donovan Avenue.  Turn left on 12th Street. Go across Connell Creek and take the left fork onto Chuckanut Drive as opposed to going right on Hawthorn Road.

As you go south you come to another fork, staying right on Chuckanut Drive instead of veering left on the Old Samish Highway.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.