Cowiche Canyon Preserve
2 weeks ago
Fall colors are beautiful on the hillsides
2 this month · 41 reports
Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area
Central Washington
updated 6 months ago
Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area is experiencing the tail end of its wildflower season, with blooms best observed at higher elevations. Reports from April 26 and April 20 indicate a variety of flowers are still visible, though some balsamroot may be fading. The landscape is a mix of green hillsides that will soon turn brown, with wind turbines a prominent feature. Birdsong is common, and bluebirds have been spotted near nesting boxes. Trail conditions are generally good, with most access roads being wide jeep roads. One report from March 22 mentioned early wildflowers like sagebrush violet and buttercup are emerging.
Generated from 19 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 6 months ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
No trip reports on this trail in 6 months, so everything below is at least that old.
Wildflowers are currently blooming, with the best displays reported at higher elevations as of April 18. While some balsamroot may be fading, many other varieties are showing their colors, including desert yellow fleabane and narrowleaf goldenweed. Columbia plateau cacti blooms were just starting as of April 18 and are expected to continue for a couple of weeks.
Parking availability varies by access point. Some lots can fill up, with one noted as having parking for about fifteen cars as of April 26. Several reports mention Discover Pass is required. Access gates may be closed to motor vehicles during spring, as seen at the Quilomene Unit on April 20, though Whiskey Dick Unit itself had no closed gate.
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Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Older6 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
A bluebird day but we saw no bluebirds. We did see and hear many horned larks, and on the way back we heard meadowlarks. I saw bluebird boxes towards the parking lot. A variety of flowers were out and...
Older6 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
There are different places to access the trails in the Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area. I parked in the lot that is a few miles past the Quilomene Unit (going east). Past trip reports and online resources ...
Older6 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
Today we visited the Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area for a wildflower hike! Quick summary: The wildflowers are pretty much at their peak, but not as showy as last year (I think it has been too dry). They a...
Older6 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
The 3rd thru 6th miles of the attached route has beautiful and thick fields of flowers (photos 1 & 2, the 2nd link is the trailhead, Discover Pass required). It's my favorite flower phase on one of my...
Older7 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
Walked the (closed) green dot roads up to a high point on Whiskey Dick Ridge from the corral trailhead. Tread is mostly dry with a few large but navigable muddy puddles. Windy as always.Early weency w...
Older14 months ago
Central Washington > Yakima
I started at the Pumphouse Rd entrance for the wildlife area and found the gate open. I parked at another wire gate about 1/4 mile ahead where the main road swings east and hiked up toward an old fire...
Older18 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...
Older18 months ago
Central Washington
Our group saw 44 plants in bloom, see the list below, thanks Paul for the list! The wildflower progression is in the second half. The thickest period (Hooker’s and Carey’s balsamroot, rock lupine, and...
Older18 months ago
Central Washington
This was our first time visiting the Wild Horse Wind Farm. A very impressive facility, but of course the main reason we went was for the wildflowers and they did not disappoint. The Bitterroot Trail, ...
Older18 months ago
Central Washington
We started at 10 AM from the Quilomene parking lot (the first one past Wild Horse windfarm) and hiked out-and-back along Whiskey Dick Ridge Road to slightly past the junction with Whiskey Dick Creek R...