This is a very clean, very quiet, and very beautiful State Park. The views of the Columbia River…read moreare stunning! The bathrooms and showers are always clean. And the staff are so nice and helpful. The only thing I'd warn newcomers about is the wind. It gets very VERY WINDY!!! I mean nearly every night! So if you're tent camping be sure you bring extra stakes. If your camper camping pull in your awnings before the dying goes down or you'll wish you had. But other than that, which isn't a bad thing if you expect it, this is the perfect camping spot.

* Summer Flashback * When I think of state parks and forests…read morein Washington, I always assume they'll consist of lush green foliage. However, Eastern Washington takes on a totally different landscape! The Gingko forest was dry like a desert and I immediately felt like I was transported to a different state. The park is split into two main areas which both require the Discover Pass or $10 for admission. The first area is home to the gift shop, interpretive center and stumps of petrified wood outside on display. This was my first time seeing any remains of petrified wood which are actually considered stone. The wood was smoothed over and some of the surfaces had developed shiny deposits! There are some plaques to read around the exhibit which describe the history of the land and provide more information on the petrified artifacts. It's an amazing realization that we were standing in an area that was once overtaken by lava flows. We could actually see lava remains on the grounds as well! From behind the interpretive center, you can get an expansive view of the Columbia River and Vantage Bridge. Inside, you'll find various types of petrified wood clearly labeled in glass displays which are definitely worth taking a moment to browse. A friendly park guide was also happy to answer any questions. About two miles up the road is a trail which apparently leads to petrified logs. Unfortunately, due to high fire risk (dry summer weather), this area was closed. Somewhere, you can see petroglyphs as well which we also missed this time around. While driving to and from this area, we spotted a herd of antelope! They were in the middle of the road and we caught a glimpse of them as they crossed right in front of us. What a sight! Overall, this is a park that everyone can enjoy, even those who cannot walk a far distance. The petrified wood and interpretive center at the first location is within a very short distance of the parking lot. While not exactly what I expected of a state park, it was still a fascinating visit. I couldn't help but marvel at all of the artifacts that originated from thousands of years ago. Stop by and touch a piece of history!

Driving north on Washington State Route 821 (also called Canyon Road) on Monday the 29th of June…read more2020 I noticed a hawk soaring above the trees in front of the basalt cliffs at Umtanum Recreation Site. I had been debating about whether to stop or not and the hawk sealed the deal and I decided to stop and do some exploring. A sign marks the site's entrance along the highway and a gravel road leads to a few parking lots. I followed the road all the way to its end at the parking lot by the bridge across the Yakima River. Umtanum Recreation Site is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) managed land. Day use and overnight use fees are payable at the site. Discovery Passes so not work here. Day use permits are good all day at BLM managed lands. I had paid the day use fee and got my permit earlier in the day at the BLM managed Roza Recreation Site, and used that permit here as well. After putting the permit on my dashboard I did some exploring around the site. Restroom buildings are located at the far parking lot by the bridge and do not have running water. The campsites are spread out by the parking lot and near the main gravel road. Just past the far parking lot I walked a trail to a viewing area with benches looking out over the Yakima River. The area had a sign with some of the area's wildlife described. A nice elevated place to watch the river flow and look for wildlife. Making my way to the bridge across the river I noticed a ramp into the water. Along this ramp there are tips for floating the river and some fishing rules. No vehicles are allowed on the bridge crossing the river. The water moves fast here and the bridge creaked as I walked across it, making a harmonious collection of sounds as I crossed to the other side of the river. On the other side of the bridge is the Umtanum Creek Trail that some call the Umtanum Creek Recreation Area. There are rattlesnakes in this area so I kept my exploring closer to the water. The grass is tall immediately after the bridge, so I made my way to the river bank. Too freaked out by the thought of snakes falling out of the trees on my head or darting out at me from the grass I decided to make my way back across the bridge and towards the entrance. I walked the gravel road back to the entrance to take in the beautiful basalt cliffs on display at this area. On my walk I encountered a deer grazing in the grass and shrubbery. It startled as a car came along the road, maybe it had seen a rattlesnake, and crossed the road and left the recreation site. After looking around and exploring this stretch a little I made my way back to my car and noticed the moon out over the basalt cliffs. Time for my evening drive home.

My wife and I drove down canyon road, exploring the terrain that runs along the Yakima River in…read moresearch of potential bank fishing spots. We never found any promising fishing spots, but it was a beautiful and worthwhile drive for the river and canyon views. Driving into the canyon, the tree line stops before transitioning to prairie grasses. This was impressive to see since we had been living in dense mountain trees. While we didn't find any good bank fishing, there were quite a few river fishing boats floating in the water. I imagine that most of them had a guide manning the oars while the client tossed a fly in the water. There were too many of these boats in the water for this section of the stream not to be good for fishing. In fact, on the drive back, we did see someone reeling in a trout from one of these boats. In addition to fishing boats, there are a lot of tubers coasting downriver. This was clearly a very popular section of the Yakima River for water enthusiasts. It was as popular for fishing and tubing as the Wenatchee River was for rafting. During the drive down Canyon Road, we were just as likely to see vehicles pulling fishing boats and tubs as we were to see normal cars. Umtanum Creek was only one of multiple river access points. In addition to the drop in point, busy with multiple people attempting to drop in or take out their river craft, Umtanum also has a large bridge leading to trails on the other side. It did not seem tempting on the hot, sunny day that we were there, but it would certainly be unique to hike in the canyon prairie grasses since most other trails in the area are in the forest.

The sandy trails and beach area south of Frenchman coulee have historically supported nude…read morerecreation since the early 2000s to May of 2025 when a nudity ban was implemented by Grant County PUD. Because it has had such a loyal consistent following over the years and holds many advantages over crowded shaded Portland area nude beaches, it's a popular spring and early summer destination for sun bathers looking to get away from the clouds and rain of Seattle/Portland etc. It's breath taking desert backdrop and unparalled scenic beauty rival any other beach along the Columbia River. It's also close to rock climbing, the Sage Cliff Restaurant at Quincy and ample free camping and hiking available in the nearby bluffs on the way down to the beach from I 90. There are well maintained vault toilets and endless swimming along the Columbia River which is clean and toxin free here, as it is upstream away from the Hanford Nuclear Site closer to Richland to the south. Personally, despite occasional patrol, I think people are still going to discreetly get naked here. I would recommend a bathing suit or at least a G string or thong for people feeling adventurous. No need to get cited or trespassed. It's such a magical place and you could practically live there outside in a Van or tent from April to late October. Highly recommend. I car camp in my SUV and it's superb. Wonderful atmosphere. Take lots of food and water if you stay a few days. It gets well over 100 degrees in June July and August.

Rainy in Seattle, so heading to this sunny and warm destination. Not only the rocks but also the…read more'desert'. You can also touch the Columbia River at the end of the road. Lot's of fun except the trails. Such a impressive one-day road trip.

Once upon a time these cliffs and the surrounding rocks were barren of life. Volcanoes spewed lava…read moreforth over the landscape. As the lava cooled to match the temperature of the atmosphere structures developed within the lava flows. These structures are on full display in the Selah Cliffs. Millions of years later life is thriving here, and one species known as the Basalt Daisy is in high abundance here. Conservation efforts to protect and preserve both the natural landscape and native wildlife has resulted in the Selah Cliffs Natural Area Preserve. Just North of Selah driving North on Washington State Route 821 the adventure begins just past the 'Entering Yakima River Canyon' sign on the right hand side of the road. A short gravel road branching off at the truck turnaround leads to a looped gravel road with a parking lot on the side of the loop nearest the Preserve. A Discover Pass is needed to park here or incur a $99 fine. Interpretive signs along the trail throughout the Preserve aid in thinking about the natural significance and history of this area and how that connects to later human activity in the area. Millions of years from now these cliffs and the plains of the valley may be part of a lush jungle boasting life such as Saber-toothed Tigers, Jaguars, and Ocelots. Go Jaguars, nature's powerhouses of South and Central America! The creek may become a river and this once barren landscape may evolve into a green oasis similar to, though not the same as, the barren volcanic islands of Hawai'i later fostering diverse plant life once the volcanoes that form each island stop erupting. Nature can change in drastic ways. Embrace the passing of time and the changes in life it brings.

Played the course on a windy day, it's an awesome course, very well laid out, no holes that seem…read moreoverly punishing. Very well maintained, the tee boxes, fairways and greens are excellent, the greens are fast and consistent. The rough consists of sagebrush and is reasonably open. The pace of play was good, my wife and I played in under 4 hours on Ladies Day. Would have liked to of played under better weather conditions, but that's part of the game...The rates are very reasonable for the quality of the facility. If you're in the area, I would highly recommend playing this course.

Visited the driving range here over the weekend - some notes:…read moreBeautiful course, well maintained Most people dressed golfy, not sure about dress code. Golf carts appear to be required, no walkers Driving range operates using tokens, buy tokens in pro shop, dispenser to the left of driving range mats Pro shop actually stocks womens golf shoes, a rarity Friendly staff, resident golf pro It was very busy on this summer Sunday Nice practice putting green with well maintained areas to practice your short game (sand trap too!) And last but not least, pro shop sells WSU Cougar ball markers for $2.95, the golf pro accurately pointed out that the UW ones were 'somewhat toxic', not a big seller here. :) Looking forward to playing a round here.

Ellensburg Water Fitness, Memorial Pool…read more Having just turned 60, I decided to replace my existing strenuous exercise of "NONE" with three evening classes of water fitness a week. The teacher, Kim Grant, is the Real Deal. She is a Force of Nature. Her class is serious exercise expertly designed for the water. Call it "water aerobics" at your own peril: Kim's approach uses the resistance of water to build strength, endurance, and fitness. It's also part movement, muscle toning, exercise philosophy -- and music appreciation! With over 20+ years of experience Kim has developed hundreds of completely original and highly inventive methods of teaching water fitness that take full advantage of what the pool environment has to offer. When I say "hundreds" I'm not kidding: in the 20 classes since I began, there hasn't been one class that is a "repeat." Sure, there are a handful of basic routines that I'm only now getting somewhat proficient at, but each class integrates the familiar with novel moves that will leave you surprised you still have muscles that (apparently) have never been exercised. Often, the class has a "theme". For example, one recent class focused on lower body. Another was a "deep water" class, where we used water weights and the exercises required that our feet did not touch the bottom of the pool. The goal of one class was to not get any water on our face or hair -- we needed to keep our core tight and controlled. For many evening classes, the overhead lights are turned off, leaving the underwater lights to suffused the pool with a calming glow. Every class is a fresh experience -- NEVER boring! Every class has a new soundtrack. Kim teaches 4 daytime classes and 3 evening classes each week, and every one has a different playlist, usually crafted that day. I'm told she hasn't repeated a playlist in 20 years. Her taste in music is broad and encyclopedic, and I frequently discover new artists or remarkable covers of songs and request her playlist, which she is happy to provide. Every class ends with around 7 minutes of warm-down exercises and stretches that feel SO GOOD after going full tilt for 50+ minutes. The class is approximately 90% women and many of these ladies are older than me and have seriously toned muscles. Several have been in this class for 10+ years! All appear to be in excellent aerobic shape and easily outpace me -- I can barely keep up with them! Kim is a teacher with deep concern for her students. She somehow manages to guide not only the inexperienced students (like ME) but also the students with 10+ years that need a refresher on technique. Kim works hardest of all, always pushing her own limits and asking her students to challenge themselves and consider "what they need" from a particular exercise and "what they want to get out of each class." Above all, Kim genuinely has FUN teaching, and her attitude is infectious. If you have always thought about improving your health and (likely) extending your life, this is a great way to do that. Just come expecting to work!

Just reopened - great place to spend 2 hours on a Saturday afternoon. Free swim was from 1pm-3, not…read moretoo crowded. Diving board in the deep end (12' at its deepest) and 2 lanes for lap swimming. The free swim area is fun for kids and grown ups, and there's a separate 2'6" kiddie pool. They close the hot tub on Saturday for cleaning, so that's a bummer.

Christina and His brother are great people and are very friendly. Loved the horseback ride this…read morewinter with amazing views of frozen lakes around their ranch.

My wife and I felt adventurous and called up Kinship trail rides. It was amazing. Christina took us…read moreon an intermediate trail ride (first time on a horse for me) off Watt canyon road. Her horses where beautiful and very responsive. We will be calling her every time we come up to Suncadia. Thanks again Christina!

Nice climbing gym in the Yakima area. It is fairly spacious, and has a good bouldering area. There…read moreis too rope as well.