The gravel parking lot is right off the side of the road, and I originally drove past it without…read morerealizing that was the lot. So, I had to turn around and drive back, which was slightly nerve-wracking as the highway has some twists and turns that make it difficult to tell if there is oncoming traffic. On the plus side, there seems to be plenty of room for parking, and we were the only ones there. There's a sign detailing the legend of the twin sisters, and then there's a short but steep trail to the base of the rocks. Great place to stretch your legs!

Beautiful site. Easy trail. A bit more difficult incline. Enjoyed it. Turning off the road was not…read moreas difficult as they say. Just prepare ahead of time warning drivers behind you. Several people did come flying in like bats out of hell but there is no need for that.

This hike happened by happenstance…read more A friend and I were supposed to go up to Horseshoe Prairie (http://www.yelp.com/biz/horseshoe-prairie-nordic-ski-area-pendleton) for snowshoeing, but unfortunately, I let my friend drive and he was a little too confident about his car's snowy-road-handling ability. After spinning tires a time or two, we canned our fun-in-the-snow plans, turned around, and slid down the hill to civilization. While picking up chocolates at Petite Noirs (http://www.yelp.com/biz/petits-noirs-milton-freewater), the owner mentioned a nearby hike. To not make the day a total loss, we were all ears, and went for it. Just off of main street in Milton Freewater, you take the turn off for Harris Park (as you're driving south out of town, it'll be the left BEFORE you take the hill up and out of town). You then drive about 10 miles up a canyon carved by the South Fork of the Walla Walla River. This canyon is part of the Blue Mountains, and it's amazing to see how quickly the landscape changes from the drabby flatness of Milton-Freewater to the alpine-y beauty of the Blues & Walla Walla river. Once you're in the area of the park, keep going until you approach the trailhead for the South Fork Walla Walla River trail. Here there are quite a few parking spots, a couple of restrooms and river bubbles within earshot. You are clearly outside of civilization and within an honest to goodness country landscape. The deep valley is beautiful and the trail looks inviting. For the most part the trail parallels the river. Sometimes it sidetracks and goes up the side of the valley wall, but the river is always within view. The trail is well-kept and nice (other than a few boggy/muddy spots). We went for about 2.5 miles on the trail before calling it a day. We enjoyed sightings of elk at one spot (we later saw herds of deer, turkey, and even a scooting coyote during our dusk drive out). I'm so glad I made it here. I can definitely see myself coming back to dip myself within the magic waters (à la Field of Dreams) and fly fishing the stream (à la A River Runs Through It). I've also heard that you can ride your mountain bike here too---I'd also be down for that! South Fork of the Walla Walla Trail. I will see you again---very, very soon.

This was a great hike with my dog. Very turn their was a beautiful view of the Walla walla River…read more Trail was in decent condition. Plenty of parking at the trailhead.

Gave this trail another try & thought it was worthy of an update. Instead of driving to the top of…read moreHorse Heaven, I parked at the "official trailhead" at the base of the "hill". Wanted to ride the trail here, but within tens of feet, I was sadly turned away....by gravity. Yeah, I had to get off and walk. I then made it to a point and saw where the trail ultimately went. Ummm...scary. The only way I could make it to the top was if there was a "mountain bike escalator"--until that happens, this trail is strictly for the big-quaded hikers! PLAN B I took the gravel road (for autos) to the top of Horse Heaven (and to the trailhead I parked at last time). It's a nice steady 2-mile climb. My legs were feeling it, and I was liking it. To your left are the beautiful Horse Heaven Hills and the sky; to your right, the towns of Kiona, Prosser, and wineries---all from a stellar birdseye viewpoint. I heard a gunshot at one point. This caused me to stop and scan the farms below, but I couldn't see anything. I continued up at a cautious cadence. I made it to the top trailhead, and continued along the ridge trail (the one I tried last year--see my original Yelp). A personal note---this time I didn't have to walk up the hill. I made it all the way up via pedal power (stopped once, cuz of a balance issue, but got back in the saddle and finished off the hill---rocks, burly wind, and all). The descent was definitely sexy. There's nothing like barreling down a hill like a mad demon. At only a 20min drive away, this is a decent option for getting a quick leg workout. UPGRADE TO 3.5 stars (rounding UP).

Walk, drive, ride. It's you rchoice. Do you remember that…read moresong which includes," kiss the sky"? here is your chance. It's a vast open sky and view of lots of sand.

Perfect cabin for me & my two adult daughters & my three 10-13 yr old granddaughters to spend a…read morecouple nights! Used the picnic table, the fire pit, the small refrigerator & the clean nearby shower house! Very pleasant & little noise from nearby interstate for restful nights.

We've been camping here at Emigrant Springs State Park for a couple year's now and have always…read moreenjoyed our time here. Always in the cabins. The cabins have a cozy vibe but they are pretty standard cabins. I heard they are about to take out all the mini fridges inside the cabins along with the gas oven / 3 burner stove top on the deck. That feature has been a staple for us. Not bringing our big @$$ cook stove was awesome but no more. That's fine. We'll be bringing our big @$$ stove.

Nestled within the elbow of the mighty Columbia as it makes its last dash Pacific-ward are the…read moreFinley Hills Trails. This area is known as the Wallula Gap & you are gifted with views of this natural wonder....after you ride through some sandy, desolate, and sweat-inducing trails (that can sometimes have a rattler or few). So, I have looked at this area from afar (by car when heading down to Walla Walla, or by train window when going to Portland), and have always loved the terrain. Here, the Columbia cuts through what must have once day been a mountain, and now we're left with a mini-canyon with high walls. I always assumed the views from atop these walls must be awesome, and they are. Getting here is a short jaunt from the Tri-Cities, and yes, you do drive through Finley (it's not that scary, actually). Most of the drive is paved save for the last mile. There's an area to park your car (it isn't marked, but the Yelp Map should give ya a good idea). Once parked, cross the road you were just on and make your way through the gate/fence. Then you're in. There's the main road/trail here. I heard there is atleast one single track you can also take here if you take an immediate left, but it wasn't illuminated to me (grasses overtook it methinks). At any rate, just follow the road. The riding is decent, but it does get sandy in parts. If it's windy (which is frequently on the menu at the Wallula Gap), you will wish you had a mask like Darth Vader. I rode a few miles and saw no other bikers, but did see people on horseback. I was frequently on the lookout for rattlesnakes. It was a hot day, and my friend mentioned they also like this area (I never came across a single one). After a tough arduous workout, I spied some sort of Tower (probably cellular) and made my way toward it. Here is reward for all the pain and suffering. This is a perch with the views to make memories. Here you can see Mr. Columbia's elbow. You're going to be high up along cliff's so don't be too daring. It's a bit rocky here, too, so mind your knees and don't do the falling thing. This is what made it all worth it. Great views, great views, great views. Next time, I'd probably try this during a less windy and earlier in the season (to avoid the dryness factor). But all in all, a new local biking option has been found.

The terrain here is unique to ride. The ancient riverbed makes for a course feel to the sand. Mixed…read morewith the various plants, very manageable, even on a smaller motorcycle. The open bowl areas have deeper sand. Not too many huge razorbacks that could be hazardous. Good spot right after a light rain.

Yes, I came close to murdering my dogs on this hike, and I had visions of cool watery mirages while…read morethinking I could easily suffer from dehydration and forever lose myself within the maze of dunes ad nauseum, but I still have to give this place 5-stars! --I can't blame Juniper Dunes for MY being ill-prepared. --I can't blame Juniper Dunes for a wonderful spring day (first 80+degF day of the year) which gave me a sunburn. --I can't blame Juniper Dunes for my packing one measly bottle of water to be shared amongst the three of us animals (my two dogs & I). --And I can't blame Juniper Dunes for being so cool as to make you want to keep hiking & hiking & hiking & hiking Juniper Dunes Wilderness is such a cool desert-y treasure, and it's less than an hours drive from the Tri-Cities. I don't know the whole political backstory of the area, but I do know it's been a bit elusive. The land is a protected Federal wilderness area. However, it's virtually surrounded by private land--this makes access a bit touchy. All the trips I've made here have been via the northern trailhead. The best way to get here from the Tri-Cities is to take the Pasco-Kahlotus Highway east (check out the google map on here). The drive out is through farmlands. During my recent drive I saw Asparagus was being harvested (mmm!), an old single-room school, and also several of the biggest mailboxes I've ever seen (musta been a farm thing--I should have snapped a photo of 'em). You take a gravel road as your almost near the trailhead, and then approach a nice Welcome sign for the area (see attached). The trailhead is near paddock for cows, so the moo-moo's will definitely check you out as you approach. You will also see a nice sign with rules about the Wilderness (for those using this access point)---the main thing to note is that this entrance is only open from March - May. Since this is a protected area (it's fenced all-around), a really good thing is that you won't see any of those pesky off-road vehicles in here--none of their scarring tracks or piercing howls. Within about 5-10min of hiking one will quickly escape the drudgery of farmlands, cows and tractors and be enveloped by silent sandy beauty. There is quite a bit of vegetation, but the sand dunes are clearly evident. The sand workout you get will slap you upside the face quick. You will also begin to see your first Junipers (this area is known for having the northernmost grove of Juniper pines). This is a rough hike, but it's so worth it. Now if you were more prepared, you'd have a really good time. For me, I spent half the time worrying about rationing our water pathetic single bottle of water. My furry friends were too furry and thirsty to make a trudge like this. I felt like such a bad poppa as they were struggling toward the end of the hike. But yeah, it's a really cool hike. You are surrounded by farmland, but as you dip up and down sand dunes you quickly forget civilization in the silence. In April there were many types of wildflowers in bloom--think of pinks, bright purples, & golden yellows. There was also something which emitted the sweetest aroma---I wish I could bottle it! All in all a great hike! * BRING WATER * PUT ON SUN TAN LOTION * BE PREPARED FOR A SANDY WORKOUT * MAYBE LEAVE DOGGIES HOME * YOU ONLY HAVE FROM MARCH - MAY **** And most importantly: HAVE FUN OUT THERE! ****

Badger Mountain has the best trails in the tri-cities area, with multiple trails around Badger…read moreMountain for beautiful views of eastern Washington. Anyone who likes hiking would be a fool to not hike around Badger Mountain while in the area. We had an awesome time here! My partner and I visited Badger Mountain for some hiking and and followed Google Maps to the trailhead that took us through an affluent part of the neighborhood of Richland that's high up in the mountains. Unlike in the Seattle area of popular trails, there was parking to be found during a Sunday afternoon in the lot. At the lot, there was a map of various trails, dog poop bags and off to the side was a small playground area with bathrooms and a water fountain. My partner and I hiked the Canyon Trail with our dog, which gets you to the top of Badger Mountain. Friends of Badger Mountain, which maintains the trails did a fantastic job with creating trails and there are even stairs in the beginning part of the hike to climb. The hike was easy for those who are used to hiking, but provides a good workout as it's not a stroll in the park. At the top of Badger Mountain is a bench and you can see beautiful views of the city and eastern and central Washington. And since there are multiple trails that connect to one another, I recommend taking one trail up and the descending on another trail for more views. Just remember that there is no shade coverage here, so be prepared. Great hike!

The playground area is a perfect age entire while the littles wait for others to hike the mountain!…read more It is clean and green!

This really is a great place to hike. I like to take one of the trails all the way around the lake…read moreand depending on which trail I take, the hike can be from 3.5 to 5 miles. There are three parking areas. My favorite parking spot is the middle lot, not way out at the gate and not up close to the lake, or rather reservoir. This gives me several options for hiking. If I go around the lake clockwise from this parking lot, I'll be leaving the hill to climb at the end of the hike. If I go counterclockwise around the reservoir, I'll be doing the hilly part first and then the slow climb out at the end of the hike. The hubby prefers to hilly part first; I prefer the hilly part last. I find the long steady climb out becomes monotonous. We try to mix it up. Rarely do we shortcut the hike and walk across the top of the dam on the south end, as the back side is way more fun. Depending on what the weather has been up to, some of the trails can be quite muddy, and of course, in the spring and summer months, there are ticks. I usually encounter only one or two other walkers/hikers/dogs on a trip around the reservoir. Only once have I had to yield to horses. This really is a great place for some fresh air and exercise.

This morning the weather was perfect, in the mid 30s, so my wife and I decided to walk around the…read morelake. Great fun. We shared the lake with a few dogs, a few walkers and a few scouts.

These trails aren't just for winter sports. I've made it here during the summer to take my…read moremountain bike for a ride. I parked at the Sno-Park Parking lot where one would go during the winter months. Here you have a couple of dirt roads to choose from for off-road options. I decided to do some climbing and went for NFD Rd 64--to get to this road from the parking lot, ride your bike further up the valley a few hundred yards (their's a trail), and then take right. This road is fairly nice. There are lots of rock on it, but no potholes. It is a fairly uphill jaunt from the get-go. As I was approaching the top of the valley, I eyed a side road. The sign on it said (6400 500), so I don't know which is the name of the road, but I decided to take it, because it looked tiny and way less traveled (in fact it was closed to motorized vehicles). Nice. Yeah, this trail ended up being the high-point of the day. It wasn't single track, but it was close. I must admit I had the willies when I saw a half-eaten deer leg within the first minute of climbing (the rest of the ride I kept thinking of the cougar, bear, or zombie which was eyeing me from the bushes as I rode by). I love to climb. I love burning my quads like Hades. It felt good to be riding. Unfortunately, this side road only lasted a little bit before I made it up to the top of the ridge/mountain. Here this trail ties back up with one of the major dirt roads again. There are some decent views here. I then took the little road downhill. Man, I'm must be a total old fogie, because wow---I think I rode the breaks the entire way down! The road was steep, and I hit some high speeds within seconds. There were also rocks to watch out for as well. In other words, I rode it like an old person (which I am I suppose). But it was fun. It's the kind of fun, where you just have to yell with abandon (I think I did a few times--with a smile). These trails are definitely good for snow activities, and I'd say they are decent for bike riding. I don't know if I'd come here to do some straight-up hiking though. I'd save the Cascades for that. NOTE: Be careful on this road in the winter. This is the infamous scene of where my truck and my crew rolled down a mountain just over a year ago!

Super scenic view once at the top. Elevation isn't crazy but definitely a good gradual climb. The…read moreview in late spring early summer must be amazing. Check it out and there is another trail just across the street!

Since the pandemic I have been hiking and running this trail. If you hit the trails at the right…read moretime in the morning it's not too bad at all. You gotta watch out for the people who don't leash their dogs and you dang near trip and fall over them if they get spooked and run into you.