Rattlesnake Dance Ridge Trail
3 weeks ago
Dry with rocks and roots to avoid
1 this month · 15 reports
Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Backcountry
Central Washington
updated 5 months ago
Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Backcountry is currently experiencing peak wildflower bloom, with vibrant colors reported across the area. The trails are dry and in great shape, making it an excellent time for exploration. Hikers can expect to see a variety of flowers, including lupine, phlox, and goldenweed, particularly on the ridges and along Whiskey Dick Ridge road. While wildlife such as quail, hawks, marmots, wrens, and ravens have been spotted, bighorn sheep have been observed in larger numbers, sometimes obstructing trails, as reported on March 22. There are no reports of bugs or snakes, though tick repellent was used by one hiker on March 22.
Generated from 19 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Backcountry
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 5 months ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
No trip reports on this trail in 5 months, so everything below is at least that old.
The road between the interpretive center and the Rocky Coulee parking area was noted as pothole-ridden but manageable for a sedan as of April 12. Another report mentioned the road to the trailhead was about 0.5 miles down Recreation Road, appearing as an old jeep trail. There are no recent reports detailing specific road conditions beyond these general observations.
One report from April 21 indicated that the trails are not well marked. Hikers may need to rely on maps or other navigation aids to find their way. There are no conflicting reports on trail marking.
While the trails are generally dry and in great shape as of April 14, one hiker tripped over a break in barbed wire fencing near the trailhead on April 12. Hikers, especially those with dogs, should be cautious of this potential hazard. No other significant trail obstacles have been reported in the recent trip reports.
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Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Central Washington > Yakima
Trails not well marked. My trail head was about 0.5mile down Recreation Rd. Really just an old jeep trail that followed the draw and slowly climbed to the ridge overlooking the Columbia. Quiet walk,...
Central Washington > Yakima
This is a great time of year to visit this area. The flowers are blooming and we didn't see any bugs or snakes. The flowers were best on the ridge leading up to Sternberg Point. We also found some d...
Central Washington > Yakima
Speedwell and I did a 13 mile clockwise loop, see link. The flowers start slowly in Rocky Coulee, but there seems to be more lupine and showy phlox becoming established as you progress. The Pumphouse ...
Central Washington > Yakima
Huge thanks to Dan Hagberg for providing a trail map! Parked at the Rocky Coulee Recreation Area and got started ~11:30 AM. We passed two groups returning from their walks pretty early on, then saw no...
Central Washington > Yakima
Great driving conditions over Snoqualmie Pass today. Clear and dry. I parked in the lower lot near the vault toilet. Can’t report on conditions because I stopped at the rest area instead.My goal was t...
Central Washington > Yakima
Beautiful sunny day out at the Ginkgo State Park. The trailhead is a bit hard to find. We started the from the Rocky Coulee Recreation Area picnic area and went up the road until we got past the bar...
Central Washington > Yakima
Speedwell and I hiked along the Bluff trail and then out to an area that is thick with petrified wood (caltopo attached). An old 2-track leads to this area. At the end of the 2-track there are USGS ma...
Older10 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
We parked in the lower lot by the vault toilet. I can’t comment on the condition because we stopped at a rest area on the way there. I usually take the old jeep track by the gate, but this time we too...
Older10 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
I normally only hike Ginkgo Petrified Forest backcountry in April/May time frame and I usually see bighorn sheep. This was my first attempt at hiking late in the year.Driving toward Ginkgo, the sky wa...
Older17 months ago
Central Washington
Summary:Still lots of flower blooms and color all over the area! A great adventure. The wind was a force to be reckoned with!We started from the Pumphouse Rd entrance on Vantage Highway. Some of the r...