Rattlesnake Dance Ridge Trail
3 weeks ago
Dry with rocks and roots to avoid
1 this month · 15 reports
Snow Mountain Ranch and Cowiche Mountain
Central Washington
updated 5 months ago
Cowiche Mountain has numerous wildflowers, with balsamroot past its peak but still plentiful on the Wildflower trail and higher elevations as of April 23. Some flowering plants are fading in lower sections, while others are just beginning at higher elevations, as noted on April 19. The trails were generally dry and hardpacked in mid-April, though some less-used side trails might be slightly overgrown. Parking was ample on a Thursday in late April. Reports from April 7 and April 22 mention the presence of deer and rattlesnakes respectively, urging hikers to maintain distance and keep dogs leashed.
Generated from 17 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about Snow Mountain Ranch and Cowiche Mountain
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.
As of April 23, balsamroot is past peak but still plentiful on the Wildflower trail and higher up the ridge. While some flowers in the lower sections were fading by April 19, others at higher elevations were just starting to bloom. Wildflower intensity also changed with elevation, with more in full bloom at higher areas as of April 15.
The trails were generally dry and hardpacked in mid-April. However, some side trails that receive less use may be slightly overgrown. The timing of flowers is ahead of average this year, with some starting to fade while others are just beginning.
Parking appears to be ample. On a Thursday in late April, the lot was not even a third full, with only 5 cars. Earlier in April, around 11 am on a Tuesday, there were about 9 cars in the lot.
A rattlesnake was spotted on April 7, and hikers are advised to give them plenty of space and keep dogs leashed. Deer were also seen on April 7. Visitors are reminded to check themselves and pets for ticks after hiking, as they are likely present.
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Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Older5 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
What a beautiful alternative to crowded hikes such as Sage Hills, and fairly close to Seattle (2 hours and 15 mins). The balsamroot are just past peak but still plentiful on the Wildflower trail and h...
Older5 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
A thousand thanks to the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy for obtaining, protecting, and enhancing this area!! We, a group of 6 Mountaineers, got there just after the rains stopped, there was only a bit of ...
Older5 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
The trail was in good condition. slightly overgrown on some of the side trails that get less use. Many flowers mostly in the lower section. Balsom root, clover, phlox, lupine, Larkspur, shooting stars...
Older5 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
Trail was dry and hardpacked. Wildflowers were blooming but the intensity changed with elevation. The higher the elevation the more wildflowers in full bloom. We hiked the Cowiche West Trail connectin...
Older5 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
It was a gorgeous Tuesday. Pulled into the parking lot about 11 am with about 9 cars on the parking lot. Sanicans are in great condition- look like they have been recently dropped off. We went clo...
Older6 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
We got to the parking lot at 10am, finding a half-dozen other vehicles parked there. It was a little chilly and partially overcast at first, although as the day wore on the clouds burned away giving u...
Older6 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
On this mid-week hike we arrived at the trailhead around 10:00 after an early start from Olympia. About .2 mile from the parking lot, and where the official trailhead sign is, is a port-a-toilet that...
Older8 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
Snow Mountain via Rocky Top trailhead is garbage. Literally garbage: you spend the first 2 miles of the hike circling around a landfill. The sites and smells are constantly in your face.Trail closures...
Older13 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
It's late summer and has been very hot here in Central Washington. Early evening has been cooling off into the 80s, making the last hour or two of daylight tolerable for hiking. Trails are dusty, and ...
Older17 months ago
Central Washington
It was a perfect 73 degrees at the trailhead. The Wildflowers are at their absolute peak right now. Entire hillsides covered with purple and yellow. I hiked up the Wildflower Trail to the Bench Trail....