This hike happened by happenstance…read more A friend and I were supposed to go up to Horseshoe Prairie (http://www.yelp.com/biz/horseshoe-prairie-nordic-ski-area-pendleton) for snowshoeing, but unfortunately, I let my friend drive and he was a little too confident about his car's snowy-road-handling ability. After spinning tires a time or two, we canned our fun-in-the-snow plans, turned around, and slid down the hill to civilization. While picking up chocolates at Petite Noirs (http://www.yelp.com/biz/petits-noirs-milton-freewater), the owner mentioned a nearby hike. To not make the day a total loss, we were all ears, and went for it. Just off of main street in Milton Freewater, you take the turn off for Harris Park (as you're driving south out of town, it'll be the left BEFORE you take the hill up and out of town). You then drive about 10 miles up a canyon carved by the South Fork of the Walla Walla River. This canyon is part of the Blue Mountains, and it's amazing to see how quickly the landscape changes from the drabby flatness of Milton-Freewater to the alpine-y beauty of the Blues & Walla Walla river. Once you're in the area of the park, keep going until you approach the trailhead for the South Fork Walla Walla River trail. Here there are quite a few parking spots, a couple of restrooms and river bubbles within earshot. You are clearly outside of civilization and within an honest to goodness country landscape. The deep valley is beautiful and the trail looks inviting. For the most part the trail parallels the river. Sometimes it sidetracks and goes up the side of the valley wall, but the river is always within view. The trail is well-kept and nice (other than a few boggy/muddy spots). We went for about 2.5 miles on the trail before calling it a day. We enjoyed sightings of elk at one spot (we later saw herds of deer, turkey, and even a scooting coyote during our dusk drive out). I'm so glad I made it here. I can definitely see myself coming back to dip myself within the magic waters (à la Field of Dreams) and fly fishing the stream (à la A River Runs Through It). I've also heard that you can ride your mountain bike here too---I'd also be down for that! South Fork of the Walla Walla Trail. I will see you again---very, very soon.

This was a great hike with my dog. Very turn their was a beautiful view of the Walla walla River…read more Trail was in decent condition. Plenty of parking at the trailhead.

A great place to Wander…read more Tip#1: If you're using Google Maps to find this place, simply put in "Yellepit", and it will get you there. On the sunny Saturday that I visited, sleepy tumbleweeds lined Ayers Road, the gravel stretch that ultimately leads to the trailhead. Admittedly, it was alarming to come over a hill to see an armed man standing in the road facing me, but he, his rifle, and the other men, were there for some shooting fun. Not too far past them, was the end of the road - or rather, a closed, barbed wire gate. There's only space for about 2 parked cars to the right of the road, by the fence. I was the third, so just parked as far on the side as I could. Tip #2: Climb (carefully) OVER the barbed wire fence. Just to the left of the opening, is a good place to do this. Do not (as I did), try to open the gate. It's easy to open - it nearly literally flies open -- the barbed wire and wooden planks eager to return to their at-ease positions, and is notably much less easy to close/reassemble. I felt very, very, "city" when this happened, and I struggled for a few minutes to amend the situation. Tip #3: See Tip #2 for the following 2 barbed-wire fences you'll encounter. I crossed paths with very few people along the way, and none seemed to have a true plan of action. A couple gentlemen I encountered had been out, wandering the cow trails, and told me to just carve my own path, be wary of the drop-offs. Tip #4: Be comfortable with unclear directions, unmarked pathways, and changes-in-plan. Or perhaps, don't do this hike. I ended up on cow-trails myself, learning a bit about their dexterity along the narrow stretches. I was impressed! In any case, I missed whatever direction would have led me to the Mound Pond Overlook, which had been my goal, but still discovered worthy vistas and a very peaceful area to spend the afternoon. At one point, I was startled to happen upon two cars, on a bluff, that appeared to have fallen from a cliff above - perhaps in the 70s/80s(?). It's not really something you expect to encounter when wandering cow trails high above the Columbia. It was a gorgeous afternoon - and once I got far enough away from the makeshift gun range, it was also peaceful. This is a great hiking area if you are: 1. Comfortable with general wandering 2. Not afraid of armed people shooting nearby 3. Directionally sound enough to find your way back to your car, once you've been wandering around 4. Love and appreciate views of the Columbia River 5. Comfortable with wandering cows Final Tip: Check out the wta.org site for more trail info. This ultimately *still* didn't get me to where I wanted to be, but was helpful, nevertheless.

The gravel parking lot is right off the side of the road, and I originally drove past it without…read morerealizing that was the lot. So, I had to turn around and drive back, which was slightly nerve-wracking as the highway has some twists and turns that make it difficult to tell if there is oncoming traffic. On the plus side, there seems to be plenty of room for parking, and we were the only ones there. There's a sign detailing the legend of the twin sisters, and then there's a short but steep trail to the base of the rocks. Great place to stretch your legs!

Beautiful site. Easy trail. A bit more difficult incline. Enjoyed it. Turning off the road was not…read moreas difficult as they say. Just prepare ahead of time warning drivers behind you. Several people did come flying in like bats out of hell but there is no need for that.

Perfect cabin for me & my two adult daughters & my three 10-13 yr old granddaughters to spend a…read morecouple nights! Used the picnic table, the fire pit, the small refrigerator & the clean nearby shower house! Very pleasant & little noise from nearby interstate for restful nights.

We've been camping here at Emigrant Springs State Park for a couple year's now and have always…read moreenjoyed our time here. Always in the cabins. The cabins have a cozy vibe but they are pretty standard cabins. I heard they are about to take out all the mini fridges inside the cabins along with the gas oven / 3 burner stove top on the deck. That feature has been a staple for us. Not bringing our big @$$ cook stove was awesome but no more. That's fine. We'll be bringing our big @$$ stove.

I'm surprised no one is ever there. Great place in the winter to walk your dog. Today, I only saw a…read moretour bus.

Outdoor adventures, and interactive museum!! This place is definitely well managed and ready for…read morepeople to explore. DISCOVERY PASS is required to gain entry; or 10 dollar day pass. This park is at the confluence of the Snake River and Columbia River. In addition, great information about Sacajawea and how she helped Lewis and Clark navigate along the rivers starting in 1805. Plenty of trees to keep cool during summer months.

Gave this trail another try & thought it was worthy of an update. Instead of driving to the top of…read moreHorse Heaven, I parked at the "official trailhead" at the base of the "hill". Wanted to ride the trail here, but within tens of feet, I was sadly turned away....by gravity. Yeah, I had to get off and walk. I then made it to a point and saw where the trail ultimately went. Ummm...scary. The only way I could make it to the top was if there was a "mountain bike escalator"--until that happens, this trail is strictly for the big-quaded hikers! PLAN B I took the gravel road (for autos) to the top of Horse Heaven (and to the trailhead I parked at last time). It's a nice steady 2-mile climb. My legs were feeling it, and I was liking it. To your left are the beautiful Horse Heaven Hills and the sky; to your right, the towns of Kiona, Prosser, and wineries---all from a stellar birdseye viewpoint. I heard a gunshot at one point. This caused me to stop and scan the farms below, but I couldn't see anything. I continued up at a cautious cadence. I made it to the top trailhead, and continued along the ridge trail (the one I tried last year--see my original Yelp). A personal note---this time I didn't have to walk up the hill. I made it all the way up via pedal power (stopped once, cuz of a balance issue, but got back in the saddle and finished off the hill---rocks, burly wind, and all). The descent was definitely sexy. There's nothing like barreling down a hill like a mad demon. At only a 20min drive away, this is a decent option for getting a quick leg workout. UPGRADE TO 3.5 stars (rounding UP).

Walk, drive, ride. It's you rchoice. Do you remember that…read moresong which includes," kiss the sky"? here is your chance. It's a vast open sky and view of lots of sand.

This location is clean and well groomed. If you are looking for a place to lounge, picnic, and let…read morethe fur babes let loose, this is your place. There is adequate parking. Be certain to lick things up and pack your trash out too. There are some amazing view point to consider. If you enjoy nature walk or hikes, this can be a place to enjoy. We enjoyed our time with the family and fur babes.

Skip the Lewis and Clark trail at McNary park. It's not much of a workout because there isn't much…read moreof an incline. Worse, there is hardly any shade, so it's pretty much like a trek through the desert. While the view of the river might motivate you at first, it soon becomes drab and there is not much respite by looking to the other side, which is purely mountain terrain. To get from one park to another (McNary to Hat Rock or vice versa), you have to hike about 8 miles or so, so if you decide to come here despite my discouragement, come in the early morning or late evening and jog it out when it is cooler. Try to bring company, as there was not a single soul and I suspect shady people could do some serious damage if they wanted.

Nestled within the elbow of the mighty Columbia as it makes its last dash Pacific-ward are the…read moreFinley Hills Trails. This area is known as the Wallula Gap & you are gifted with views of this natural wonder....after you ride through some sandy, desolate, and sweat-inducing trails (that can sometimes have a rattler or few). So, I have looked at this area from afar (by car when heading down to Walla Walla, or by train window when going to Portland), and have always loved the terrain. Here, the Columbia cuts through what must have once day been a mountain, and now we're left with a mini-canyon with high walls. I always assumed the views from atop these walls must be awesome, and they are. Getting here is a short jaunt from the Tri-Cities, and yes, you do drive through Finley (it's not that scary, actually). Most of the drive is paved save for the last mile. There's an area to park your car (it isn't marked, but the Yelp Map should give ya a good idea). Once parked, cross the road you were just on and make your way through the gate/fence. Then you're in. There's the main road/trail here. I heard there is atleast one single track you can also take here if you take an immediate left, but it wasn't illuminated to me (grasses overtook it methinks). At any rate, just follow the road. The riding is decent, but it does get sandy in parts. If it's windy (which is frequently on the menu at the Wallula Gap), you will wish you had a mask like Darth Vader. I rode a few miles and saw no other bikers, but did see people on horseback. I was frequently on the lookout for rattlesnakes. It was a hot day, and my friend mentioned they also like this area (I never came across a single one). After a tough arduous workout, I spied some sort of Tower (probably cellular) and made my way toward it. Here is reward for all the pain and suffering. This is a perch with the views to make memories. Here you can see Mr. Columbia's elbow. You're going to be high up along cliff's so don't be too daring. It's a bit rocky here, too, so mind your knees and don't do the falling thing. This is what made it all worth it. Great views, great views, great views. Next time, I'd probably try this during a less windy and earlier in the season (to avoid the dryness factor). But all in all, a new local biking option has been found.

This really is a great place to hike. I like to take one of the trails all the way around the lake…read moreand depending on which trail I take, the hike can be from 3.5 to 5 miles. There are three parking areas. My favorite parking spot is the middle lot, not way out at the gate and not up close to the lake, or rather reservoir. This gives me several options for hiking. If I go around the lake clockwise from this parking lot, I'll be leaving the hill to climb at the end of the hike. If I go counterclockwise around the reservoir, I'll be doing the hilly part first and then the slow climb out at the end of the hike. The hubby prefers to hilly part first; I prefer the hilly part last. I find the long steady climb out becomes monotonous. We try to mix it up. Rarely do we shortcut the hike and walk across the top of the dam on the south end, as the back side is way more fun. Depending on what the weather has been up to, some of the trails can be quite muddy, and of course, in the spring and summer months, there are ticks. I usually encounter only one or two other walkers/hikers/dogs on a trip around the reservoir. Only once have I had to yield to horses. This really is a great place for some fresh air and exercise.

This morning the weather was perfect, in the mid 30s, so my wife and I decided to walk around the…read morelake. Great fun. We shared the lake with a few dogs, a few walkers and a few scouts.