White Bluffs - North

The trail follows the Columbia River northward through shrub steppe and sand dunes within the Hanford Reach National Monument. The landscape here looks unlike anywhere else in Washington: bright white cliffs of the Ringold Formation rise above the river while inland dunes shimmer with embedded granite crystals. The route passes through two major dune formations, each offering elevated views of the river corridor and surrounding desert.

The first dune at roughly 2 miles makes a natural turnaround for a shorter outing. More ambitious hikers continue another 1.5 miles to a second, larger dune. Beyond that, the trail fades into open desert. The terrain underfoot alternates between packed dirt and deep sand. Cryptobiotic soil crusts cover portions of the dune areas. These fragile biological formations take decades to regrow, so staying on established paths matters here.

This stretch of the Columbia runs free and undammed, one of the last such reaches in the river system. Eagles, osprey, and other raptors patrol the bluffs year-round. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 38 C with zero shade, making fall through spring the practical hiking season. Carry significantly more water than the distance suggests.