Endless Switchbacks - Beacon Rock

Do you like switchbacks? This trail has 52 of them, according to the Washington State Parks. I only counted 51 on the way down, but what do I know?

I discovered this hike when I was driving back from Portland along I-84. I looked across the river and saw a lonely, rocky spire. I had to check it out!

Beacon Rock State Park is along the Columbia River gorge, just west of Bonneville Dam. It's a gorgeous area even though across the river is currently scarred from last year's Eagle Creek fire. This hike is short, just a mile to the top, but there's lots of other hikes in the park to choose from to extend your stay.

Beacon Rock
Washington State Parks
Parking permit: Discover pass ($10/day or $30/year)
Distance: 2 miles round-trip
Elevation gain: 600'

Parking is in the state park in a turn-off right off Highway 14. There's a decent privy at the trailhead. Follow the signs to the hiking trail; the other trails you see lead to the technical climbing route.

(Fair warning: if you access it from I-84, the Bridge of the Gods is a $2 toll each way. I did not know this until I got there. They accept plastic, but on my return trip their computer was down so I had to pay with a $20 bill and got all my change in $1s.)

As you climb, you'll zig-zag back and forth along the literally dozens of switchbacks, with amazing views the whole way. There's a commemorative stamp at the summit; I brought nothing to stamp so I used my arm but if you want a souvenir bring a notebook or something. There are a lot of switchbacks. And I mean a lot of switchbacks. It's enough to make you a little...crazy.

In fact, instead of my usual blog writing, I'm just going to give you screenshots of my Facebook feed and let them speak for themselves. Enjoy.

Honestly, this was a really easy hike. Despite the climb, the trail is fairly even. Kids could do this hike. Combine it with other hikes in the park and make a full day trip out of it!

Sketchy Bridges - Tieton Nature Trail

I've hiked this trail in two different sections. There are three different creek crossings you may choose from. Two of them are scary, one is not. No matter where you cross, you'll get to enjoy a mix of shade from conifer trees and open shrub-steppe grasslands

Tieton Nature Trail
Washington State DNR
Pass: Discover Pass ($10/day or $30/year)
Distance: ~6 miles round-trip
Elevation gain: negligible

From Yakima, head west on Highway 12. At the junction with Highway 410, turn left to stay on 12. The best place for parking is at the Oak Creek Wildlife Center about half a mile from the junction, on the eastern-most end of the trail. There's a nice metal bridge across the street from the wildlife center you can start at that's very solid with sturdy railing.

Alternatively you can go about 1.5 miles past the wildlife center to a Quonset hut and a suspension bridge; this is where I have parked however the holes in the metal plates required me to carry my dog across as they were too big for his paws.

Be warned that this suspension bridge has a lot of slack in it. And while it looks like there's a handrail there, that's the top cable and you'll have to be tall enough to reach it if you were hoping to hold onto it (on the shore ends, I generally can't reach it with my 5'7" height and have to grab the vertical support bars, but for the bulk of the span I can reach the cable). If you have a group of people I would cross one at a time because of the sway.

If you really don't want to pay for a permit (at $30/year, it's a steal if you're really into hiking, but I digress), there's a limited amount of free parking about 3 miles past the wildlife center, across the street from a slow vehicle turnout. Park across the street; don't park in the turnout! There you'll find a narrow footbridge. It's about two and a half feet wide and there are no handrails which makes it a bit of an unnerving option, but unlike the suspension bridge it's solid underfoot.

Really though, the bridge across the wildlife center is the best. I don't have a photo of it at the moment unfortunately, but it truly is a good solid bridge. If you get nervous around bridges, that's the crossing you definitely want.

Starting from the wildlife center, you'll cross the bridge and immediately head right and go through the wildlife gate. For the first three miles, you'll wander across lots of open steppe. Bring plenty of water in warm weather; you'll need it here.

The trail is mercifully flat, so it's a great hike for a newbie.

You'll pass beneath the Royal Columns, towering basalt cliffs that are a popular spot for rock climbers. Keep in mind there are seasonal closures to protect nesting eagles, however the trail passes just outside the closure area so you're safe for hiking.

From the suspension bridge to the footbridge, you'll encounter more tree cover interspersed with grassy meadow. The trees are not many, but when you're in the thick of it you can almost, almost feel like you're in a real forest. For this native west-sider, it was a breath of fresh air.

The trail will also gain a few slight hills here. In the early spring, I found some mud from recent snow melt, but it was easily navigable.

Beyond the footbridge the trail continues for approximately another mile, though I did not venture out that far.

This trail is best in the spring or fall. In the winter it is snow-covered and snowshoes are a must. In the summer, beware of the high heat. For the shoulder seasons, though, this is a perfect hike that offers a lot of variety in a relatively short distance.