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    Rooks Park

    4.7 (3 reviews)

    Rooks Park Parks Photos

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    Bennington Lake Recreation Area - Upper dam near Rooks Park.

    Bennington Lake Recreation Area

    4.2(9 reviews)
    5.6 km

    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.

    Photos
    Bennington Lake Recreation Area
    Bennington Lake Recreation Area - Paddling on the lake

    Paddling on the lake

    Bennington Lake Recreation Area

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    South Fork Walla Walla River Trailhead - Walla Walla River

    South Fork Walla Walla River Trailhead

    4.5(2 reviews)
    29.3 km

    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.

    Photos
    South Fork Walla Walla River Trailhead - South Fork Walla Walla River

    South Fork Walla Walla River

    South Fork Walla Walla River Trailhead - South Fork Walla Walla River

    South Fork Walla Walla River

    South Fork Walla Walla River Trailhead - Trailhead

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    Trailhead

    Whitman Mission National Historic Site - Exterior of the visitor center

    Whitman Mission National Historic Site

    4.5(15 reviews)
    9.7 km

    This historic site serves as a reminder to a part of American history that is pretty much…read moreoverlooked: the clashes between settlers and the Native Americans who already were inhabiting the land. Physician Marcus Whitman and Narcissa Whitman established the Whitman Mission in Cayuse (Native American) territory. The Cayuse initially welcomed the Whitmans, but as the increasing numbers of settlers passing by on Oregon Trail worried the Cayuse, tensions grew. It all came to a head when a measles outbreak in November 1847 killed half the local Cayuse. The settlers were also affected, but fared better. The Cayuse took it to mean that the Whitmans were responsible for the deaths of the Cayuse, as to them, the doctor was the cause of death. The Whitmans and 11 other people were killed, and others taken hostage, sparking the Cayuse War. It ended when five Cayuse men were turned in for being the perpetrators (without clear evidence) and hanged. The visitor's center is built on the site of the mission. The center has a gift shop, a movie, and a small museum to explain the events that occurred here. Outside, there is a trail that brings you to a memorial obelisk, and meanders past the foundations of the mission buildings.

    My visit here was awesome and I learned so much about a really pivotal (and sad) moment in history…read more The grounds are beautiful, the small museum was well done, the staff were excellent, and the history at the site is really fascinating. I will definitely be back again some day.

    Photos
    Whitman Mission National Historic Site - Museum portion of the visitor center

    Museum portion of the visitor center

    Whitman Mission National Historic Site - View of the land that comprised the mission

    View of the land that comprised the mission

    Whitman Mission National Historic Site

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    Rooks Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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