You cross the Yakima River on a swinging footbridge to reach this central Washington fall walk
Most hikes start with a trailhead sign. This one starts with a bridge that sways a little under your boots. Umtanum Creek Recreation Area, south of Ellensburg, puts a historic suspension footbridge between your car and the canyon, and it’s the best first five minutes of any fall hike in central Washington.
The bridge is the gateway to the Umtanum Creek Canyon trail, a creek-side walk that gets its color from the streamside trees in autumn. Want a quiet October day that feels a world away from I-90? Keep reading.
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The drive in
The recreation area sits at milepost 16 on State Route 821, which follows the Yakima River through the Yakima River Canyon for about 25 miles between Ellensburg and Selah. Plan to drive it slowly. The river and the railroad run alongside the road, and the canyon walls do the rest of the work.
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Crossing the bridge
From the gravel parking lot, you cross the Yakima River on the suspension footbridge, then walk under the railroad bridge to find the trail. Local reporting on the crossing says it was likely built by the railroad around the turn of the 20th century, and that it was rebuilt for pedestrians in the 1980s.
The canyon walk
Expect about 6 miles round trip with roughly 500 to 700 feet of climbing, depending on which guide you read. That’s a moderate day, and the trail follows the creek so the scenery changes as you go. Dogs are allowed on leash.
The trail crosses the creek more than once and has several side trails, so pay attention on the way back. It also narrows and gets rougher toward the end, and the turnaround is yours to choose. Check with the Bureau of Land Management for current conditions before you go.
My pick: go in autumn, when the streamside trees add gold to a shrub-steppe landscape that’s mostly tan. If you want more canyon walking in the same area afterward, the Cowiche Canyon trails near Yakima are another fall-color option.
Parking, fees, and camping
The BLM-owned lot has a self-service fee station, and day use costs $5 per car. The paved day-use lot has 60 spaces, three of them accessible, plus a vault toilet near the entrance.
Want to stay? The Umtanum campground costs $15 a night, with no drinking water or hookups, and the sites are first come, first served from October 1 through April 30. Bring everything you need, because cell coverage is spotty.
So would you cross the bridge for the creek canyon, or just walk out to the middle and soak in the river? Tell us in the comments!
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.
Rules and fees change, so always confirm current requirements before you go.
