Swakane Canyon

Swakane Canyon follows an abandoned road up through open shrub-steppe hillsides north of Wenatchee, climbing toward views of the Columbia River valley that stretch from Badger Mountain to the town itself. This is not a trail that wins you over with shade or lush forest. It wins you over with space, solitude, and spring wildflowers that carpet the hillsides when the timing is right.

The route switchbacks steadily uphill with only a handful of scattered pines for company. Evidence of fires in 2010 and 2013 is still visible at higher elevations, which means the views are even more open than they once were. The best wildflower display happens in the 1.9 to 2.6 mile stretch, making that a natural turnaround point if you want the flowers without the full distance. Ambitious hikers can continue to the pass at 3,850 feet, and cross-country scramblers can tag Swakane Peak at 4,297 feet from there.

Wildlife is a genuine draw. Deer, coyotes, marmots, grouse, lizards, hawks, and rattlesnakes all call this canyon home. The Columbia River shows up as a silver ribbon in the gaps between ridges. Come in April or early May for the best of it. Summer is brutally hot with almost no shade, and by fall everything has gone brown and dormant. The access road is rough and potholed, so plan your vehicle accordingly.