Umtanum Creek Falls
Central WashingtonBest Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct
A hidden waterfall tucked into the Yakima canyon shrub-steppe, short enough for an afternoon and wild enough to feel like a discovery.
About This Trail
Umtanum Creek Falls sits in a quiet pocket of the Yakima River canyon country, the kind of place most people drive right past on their way to somewhere else. The trail drops gently through Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine along the creek drainage, arriving at a 40-foot waterfall with a pool at its base. It is short enough that you could knock it out on a lunch break if you live in Ellensburg, but interesting enough to justify the drive from further out.
The route does require a bit of attention around the 0.3-mile mark where the trail climbs up and over some rock ledges. Folks who wander right and try to cross the creek there end up bushwhacking. Stay on the rocks, follow the logs, and you will be fine. The creek crossings further along may get your feet wet in spring.
Birding is genuinely good here. Desert-parsley, bluebells, wax currant, and bitterbrush put on a solid wildflower display in spring. Bighorn sheep live in the canyon and you have a reasonable chance of spotting them on the rocky hillsides above. Late summer and fall bring quieter water, but the falls still flow. Just be aware that rattlesnakes are active in warmer months through this whole corridor.
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
Scorecard
Safety & Considerations
Today's Hazard
- Strong sun — sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses recommended
Persistent Hazards
- rattlesnakes in warm months
- route-finding confusion at 0.3-mile rock scramble
- creek crossings may be slippery in spring
Getting There
Small trailhead pullout at road's end. No restrooms. Discover Pass required. The last 5 miles of Umtanum Road are unpaved with washboard conditions. Passable in a sedan but not fun.
From Ellensburg, head west on Umtanum Road from Canyon Road for 10 miles. From Yakima, take Highway 12 west to Allan Road, then N Wenas Road for 24 miles. Both approaches end on rough gravel. At the 0.3-mile mark, the trail climbs straight up over rocks along logs. Do not turn right to cross the creek.
Any time of day works given the short distance. Morning light hits the falls nicely. Avoid midday in summer when the exposed drive and trailhead bake in the heat.
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