Viewing Guides and Maps
Yakima Area Wildlife Viewing Guide Sites for Access Viewing and Birding
Bighorn ram George Vlahakis photo
The
Yakima area is great for viewing wildlife. Why? The Cascade
Mountains to the west cause a rain shadow. Many habitats occur,
from near-desert conditions in the low elevation shrub-steppe
upwards through dry Ponderosa Pine and Douglas-fir woodlands,
then wetter forests similar to those of the “wetside,”
and finally glacier-mantled peaks astride the Cascade crest.
Sample the great variety of wildlife of the Yakima region
by visiting the following numbered sites or select the specific
region.
Icons
suggest the best seasons for a visit to each site.
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
All
Yakima
Town and Surrounding Area
Yakima
Area Greenway and the Yakima Area Arboretum are
great places to spot birds and stretch your legs. This
paved pathway straddles a 9-mile stretch of the Yakima
River between Selah and Union Gaps. Expect Great Blue
Heron, Canada Goose, Common Merganser, Downy Woodpecker,
Northern Flicker, Bewick’s Wren, Black-capped
Chickadee, and Song Sparrow at any season. Summer visitors
include flycatchers, swallows, warblers, and orioles.
In winter, Bald Eagles hunt for fish from their cottonwood
perches, while Common Goldeneyes float the river. There
are three accesses from I-82:
Yakima
Town Area
Bald eagle George Vlahakis photo
Great blue heron Denny Granstrand photo
Wood duck Denny Granstrand photo
Yellow-breasted chat Denny Granstrand photo
1
Sarg
Hubbard Park
From
Exit 33. East on Terrace Heights Boulevard 0.3 mile to
18th Street. Right to the entrance. Walk either north
or south from here. South takes you to a marsh and then
past Buchanan Lake to Sherman Park.
2
Sherman
Park
From
Exit 34. East 0.2 mile, then left. Walk either north or
south. The Yakima Area Arboretum interpretive center is
a short distance past the Sherman Park parking lot. Hawthorn
plantings are attractive to waxwings, robins, and Varied
Thrushes in winter. A variety of sparrows lurk around
feeders in the riparian area east of the hawthorn plantings
in winter.
3
Helen
Jewett Pathway
From
Exit 36. East to parking. Two trails start from here:
the paved Jewett Pathway and the gravel Poppoff Nature
Trail. Both are good for birds. Look for Wood Ducks in
the ponds. Berries of the Russian-olive trees are attractive
to American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, and European Starling
in winter. Beaver, Muskrat, and Mule Deer are common here.
Yakima
Surrounding Area
4
Sportsman
State Park
Take
Exit 34 from I-82. 1.2 mile east to 33rd St. Left here
1 mile to the entrance on your left. The pond is a good
bet at any season for Wood Ducks. Great Blue Herons and
Belted Kingfishers fish the river and sloughs. Look for
Downy Woodpecker, Black-billed Magpie, Black-capped Chickadee,
and Bewick’s Wren in the trees and brush. Western
Screech-Owl and Great Horned Owl are night denizens of
the tall cottonwood trees.
5
Cowiche
Canyon
Walk
a 3-mile long path set in a rugged canyon just west of
Yakima. Take Summitview Avenue west from 40th Avenue 7
miles to Weikel Road. Right 0.1 mile to the parking area
turnoff. Walk downstream along Cowiche Creek, flanked
by lush riparian vegetation. Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed
Hawk, American Kestrel, Canyon Wren, Yellow-breasted Chat,
and Bullock’s Oriole are common here. August and
September bring large numbers of Cedar Waxwings, Black-headed
Grosbeaks, and robins, plucking the many berries from
the streamside vegetation. Yellow-bellied Marmots whistle
from the rocks in spring. Watch out for rattlesnakes.
6
Snow
Mountain Ranch
Cowiche
Mountain is protected in this 1700-acre preserve, great
for hikers. Take Summitview Avenue west from 40th Avenue
9 miles, then left on Cowiche Mill Road 2.5 miles to signed
parking. Take the trail from here across the creek to
fields and up Cowiche Mountain. Along Cowiche Creek’s
riparian zone, look for Lewis’s Woodpecker, Yellow-breasted
Chat, and Bullock’s Oriole. Brushy areas have Ash-throated
Flycatcher and Lazuli Bunting. Higher, shrub-steppe habitats
host Sage Thrasher, and Brewer’s and Vesper Sparrows.
7
Yakima
Canyon
Take
Exit 26 from I-82 and go north on SR-821. Great Blue Herons
may be seen on the west side of I-82 south of Exit 26.
View this rookery from Harrison Road off the exit. Continue
north into the canyon. Suggested stops from I-82 are at
3.3 miles (raptors), then another 0.5 mile (raptors, Chukar),
and then another 8.1 miles (geological exhibit). Scan
the cliffs and talus slopes for Bighorn Sheep and Mule
Deer along this beautiful route. Bald Eagles are numerous
in winter. In spring and summer, look for Golden Eagle,
Red-tailed Hawk, and Prairie Falcon. Chukar and Canyon
Wren are common near cliffs and Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-breasted
Chat, and Bullock’s Oriole flit in the riparian
vegetation along the river. Beyond the geological exhibit
nearly 4 miles, turn left into Umtanum Creek Recreation
Area (fee), the best site in the canyon. Cross the
suspension bridge to hike upstream along the creek to
search for all the species mentioned above in a beautiful
setting. Keep alert for rattlesnakes in warm months.
8
Bighorn
Sheep Feeding Station
At
the junction with US-12 and SR-410, go north on Old Naches
Road 0.1 mile to a canal and park. In spring the trees
along the canal can be swarming with migrants, including
Yellow-breasted Chat, warblers, and Lazuli Bunting. Another
0.5 mile along this road is a WDFW parking area on the
left. Scan the steep slopes of Cleman Mountain for a band
of Bighorn Sheep. Look for Golden and Bald Eagles, Chukar,
and Rock Wren.
White
Pass Highway (US-12)
White
Pass Highway (US-12) is a year-round route across
the Cascades from shrub-steppe upwards through dry forest
habitats to lower subalpine wet habitats. Lakes, marshes,
and rivers along the way provide habitat for water and
riparian zone birds, too. Make
stops at:
9
Oak
Creek Wildlife Area
West
on US-12 from SR-410 2 miles to headquarters for this
wildlife area. A huge Rocky Mountain Elk herd is fed daily
here in winter, usually at 1:30 pm. Oaks and cottonwoods
here attract Lewis’s Woodpecker and Bullock’s
Oriole during the warmer months. Golden Eagle and Canyon
Wren occupy the cliffs south of the highway, reached by
a bridge across the Tieton River opposite the feeding
station entrance.
Mountain bluebird Mac Knight photo
Western tanager George Vlahakis photo
White-headed woodpecker Mac Knight photo
Bull elk Denny Granstrand photo
10
Tieton
River Nature Trail
West
on US-12 another 1.2 mile is parking for this trail. WDFW
permit required. Follow the path across a field to a suspension
bridge over the Tieton River. Riparian vegetation, brushy
hillsides, and cliffs along the way attract many birds,
including Golden Eagle, Lewis’s Woodpecker, and
Bullock’s Oriole.
11
Bear
Canyon
West
on US-12 another 3.5 miles. Walk uphill from gate into
oak and scattered conifers in a scenic canyon protected
by The Nature Conservancy. Forest areas have Steller’s
Jay, House Wren, and Nashville Warbler. The cliffs attract
Golden Eagle, White-throated Swift, Violet-green Swallow,
and Canyon Wren.
12
Rimrock
Retreat
West
on US-12 another 5.9 miles, watch Calliope and Rufous
Hummingbirds war over feeders from the Trout Lodge dining
room.
13
Tieton
Road (Forest Road 1200)
Go
left off US-12 5 miles from Trout Lodge. Road loops around
the south side of Rimrock Lake to Clear Lake and rejoins
US-12 about 7 miles east of White Pass. In May and June,
a wide variety of breeding species can be found in the
forests, meadows, and marshes along this route. Following
forest roads a short distance from the paved road can
lead to many interesting areas.
14
Peninsula
Campground (fee)
Turnoff
is 2.9 miles along Tieton Road. The aspen grove and Ponderosa
Pine forest has many birds, including Red-naped Sapsucker.
15
Clear
Lake Campground South (fee)
Clear
Lake Campground South (fee) is 8.6 miles farther west
on Tieton Road. Forest and water birds. Nearby creek below
Clear Lake Dam has swarms of spawning Kokanee Salmon,
a landlocked species, in September. Watch for American
Dipper, too.
16
Clear
Lake Day Use Site (fee)
Clear
Lake Day Use Site (fee) is another mile along Tieton Road,
keep right once across the North Fork, staying on this
road. In 0.6 mile, turn right. A paved 1-mile path takes
you to vantages of Clear Lake. Look for Barrow’s
Goldeneye, Ring-necked Duck, and Osprey. Patches of alder
and willows have Swainson’s Thrush, vireos, and
warblers (MacGillivray’s and Yellow). The conifer
forest should produce Hammond’s Flycatcher, Western
Wood-Pewee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Yellow-rumped and
Townsend’s Warblers, and Western Tanager. Reach
US 12
in another 2.5 miles. Turn left.
17
Dog
Lake Campground
Dog
Lake Campground (fee), in 5.5 miles and White Pass Campground
(fee), another 1.5 miles, are good for mountain species.
Forests, meadows, and lakes at high elevation (4500 feet)
offer Ring-necked Duck, Barrow’s Goldeneye, and
Osprey, Red-naped and Williamson’s Sapsuckers, Gray
Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, Chestnut-backed Chickadee,
Winter Wren, Hermit and Varied Thrushes, White-crowned
Sparrow, and Pine Siskin. Listen for Barred Owls in the
dense forests behind Leech Lake.
Chinook
Pass Highway (SR-410)
Chinook
Pass Highway (SR-410) is a summer-only route across
the Cascades. Explore the forest roads, paved side roads
and campgrounds for a variety of bird species. Make
stops at:
18
The
Nile Road
In
12 miles west from US-12, turn left onto (upper) Nile
Road. In a few hundred yards, stop and check wetland by
the road for Willow Flycatcher, Gray Catbird, and Yellow
Warbler.
Calliope hummingbird George Vlahakis photo
Western meadowlark Ellen Stepniewski photo
19
Boulder
Cave
Continuing
on SR-410, turn left to Boulder Cave in 9 miles to sample
riparian habitat by the Naches River. Look for Harlequin
Duck and Dipper. The cave is a hibernacula for Townsend’s
Bats.
20
Bumping
River Road
West
along SR-410 7 miles, turn left onto Bumping River Road,
passing beautiful forest to Bumping Lake, a reservoir
with nesting Barrow’s Goldeneye and Osprey.
21
Fife’s
Peak Viewpoint
Fife’s
Peak Viewpoint in another 7 miles along SR-410 is good
for spying Mountain Goats. (A scope is useful here.)
22
Pleasant
Valley Campground
1.3
miles west on SR-410. Check for Chinook Salmon in the
river in August. Look to the sky for Black and Vaux’s
Swifts.
23
Chinook
Pass
In
12 miles reach Chinook Pass. At 5432 feet elevation, this
parkland is a riot of color in July and August when the
subalpine meadows bloom. Magnificent views of Mt. Rainier.
Morning light is best. Listen and look for whistling Hoary
Marmots and browsing Mule Deer. Scan the peaks for Mountain
Goats. Birds include Blue Grouse, Gray Jay, Clark’s
Nutcracker, Mountain Chickadee, Hermit and Varied Thrush,
Fox Sparrow, and Cassin’s Finch. Rufous Hummingbird,
many warblers, and sparrows occur in fall in brushy patches.
Wenas
Creek and Lower Valley
Wenas
Creek Region, along the lower east slopes of the
Cascades, is good for a variety of breeding birds, best
in spring and early summer. A variety of habitats, including
shrub-steppe, riparian, ponderosa pine woodland, mixed-conifer,
and subalpine forests, makes this whole region attractive
to many species of breeding birds. Take Exit 26 from
I-82 and go north on SR-821 0.1 mile to Harrison Road.
Go left here to North Wenas Road, then go right. Make
stops at:
24
Wenas
Lake
Access
is at the WDFW “Fishing Access” parking area
on the west side (inlet) of the lake. Great Blue Heron,
ducks, and Osprey are expected here. Lower water levels
expose a wide area of mud by late July or August. Look
for shorebirds at this time. Look for both species of
yellowlegs, Solitary, Semipalmated, Western, and Least
Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitcher, Red-necked Phalarope,
and Wilson’s Snipe. Mud boots are helpful. Walk
the riparian area upstream from the lake along a sketchy
trail. Look for Eastern Kingbird, swallows, Gray Catbird,
Yellow Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting,
and Bullock’s Oriole.
Lewis's woodpecker Mac Knight photo
Osprey with young George Vlahakis photo
Western bluebird George Vlahakis photo
25
Hardy
Canyon
Up
the North Wenas Road another 1.5 miles is Hardy Canyon
in the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. Great for birds of the
riparian zone, fields, and shrub-steppe habitats such
as Pacific-slope and Ash-throated Flycatchers, Eastern
Kingbird, Tree Swallow, Gray Catbird, Warbling Vireo,
Nashville and Yellow Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chat, Black-headed
Grosbeak, and Lazuli Bunting. Elk and Mule Deer are common.
(Open May through Nov.)
26
Audubon
Road
Four
miles farther up North Wenas Road. At end of pavement,
go left onto Audubon Road. Initially, pass shrub-steppe
vegetation composed mainly of Bitterbrush and scattered
Ponderosa Pine. Scan from the road; this is private land.
In 3 miles, turn left into Wenas Campground, known
for its variety of breeding species. Along the road, creek
and nearby ponderosa pine woods, check for Red-naped Sapsucker,
Downy and White-headed Woodpeckers, Western Wood Pewee,
Mountain Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Wren,
Veery, Warbling Vireo, Nashville, Yellow and MacGillivray’s
Warblers, Black-headed Grosbeak, Chipping Sparrow, Cassin’s
Finch, and Red Crossbill. Putting out a feeder may attract
hummingbirds (Black-chinned, Calliope, and Rufous). South
from the campground entrance, go west on a dirt track
along the South Fork of Wenas Creek. In 1/3 mile, check
the brushy hillside to the south for Calliope Hummingbird,
Dusky Flycatcher, and Nashville Warbler. At Hog Ranch
Road, hike right on a rough track to a bench where White-headed
Woodpecker, Gray Flycatcher, Pygmy Nuthatch, and Cassin’s
Finch occur. (Open May through Nov.)
27
Umtanum
Road
From
the pavement end, continue north on North Wenas Road (gravel).
Open Ponderosa Pine forests have Gray Flycatcher, particularly
beyond Ellensburg Pass, reached in 4 miles. Look for White-headed
Woodpecker, and Western and Mountain Bluebirds. The shrub-steppe
habitat to the east of the pine forest hosts Horned Lark,
Sage Thrasher, Brewer’s and Vesper Sparrow, and
Loggerhead Shrike. The Yakima Valley Audubon Society has
a trail of bluebird boxes with nesting Western and Mountain
Bluebirds along the road. From near Box 71, take a trail
1 mile to Umtanum Falls.
28
I-82
Traveling
I-82, a number of Osprey nests can be seen on power poles
adjacent to freeway ponds from Selah to Granger. Look
for these fish-eating hawks from late March through September.
29
Toppenish
NWR
Toppenish
NWR, with fields, riparian areas, and ponds hosts many
birds. Spring is best when Toppenish Creek floods. Winter
is good for raptors. From US-97/SR-22 junction in Toppenish,
go south 5.5 miles on US-97.
A
loop tour can start at viewing platform just off US-97
at the refuge entrance with views of the marsh and ponds.
Look for waterfowl and shorebirds from this platform.
Eastern Kingbird and Gray Catbird reside in the brush
by the creek. The trees around the headquarters building
1/3 mile to the west have Great Horned Owl. From the
platform go west on Pumphouse Road to Old Goldendale
Road. The marsh along this road has American Bittern
in the warmer months, as well as Virginia Rail, Sora,
Marsh Wren, and Common Yellowthroat. Go back to Pumphouse
Road, turn right, then north on Lateral C. Bird the
wooded area at Toppenish Creek, then continue north,
looking for Bobolink that nest in the fields on both
sides of Lateral C. Long-billed Curlew and Yellow-headed
Blackbird are also along this road. Continue north on
Lateral C to Fort Road. A right turn will take you back
to Toppenish. A left turn will take you to:
30
Fort
Simcoe State Park
20
miles west of Toppenish on Fort Road. Picnic under the
beautiful Garry Oaks and watch for Lewis’s Woodpecker,
White-breasted Nuthatch, and Steller’s Jay. Ash-throated
Flycatchers nest where brushy patches meet oaks. Spring
and fall migration is also very good.
For
Further Information
Yakima
Valley Audubon Society (509) 248-1963 Yakima
Area Arboretum (509) 248-7337 Yakima Greenway Foundation (509) 453-8280
Books available
at local bookstores (Borders and Inklings) and the Arboretum:
The
Birds of Yakima County. 1999. Andy Stepniewski. Published
by Yakima Valley Audubon Society. A Birder’s Guide to Washington. 2003. Hal
Opperman. Published by American Birding Association.
