Top 10 Hiking Trails in the Blues

Finding trails to enjoy is what inspired Outside Walla Walla. With 715 miles of trails in the Umatilla National Forest and 2,700 miles in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, hiking opportunities are plentiful. These two forests account for roughly 3.3 million acres of public land across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

What It’s Like to Hike in the Blue Mountains

Ranging in elevation from a few hundred feet to 9,845 feet in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, the hiking experience varies as much as the elevation. Bring the whole family on a riverside stroll or pack it in for a long weekend, whatever distance covered guarantees scenic vistas and magnificent displays of the intricate and complex workings of geologic time.

Protected by the Cascade and Rocky Mountains, the climate allows for an extended hiking season. Dodging the wet, marine air from the west and cold, Arctic air from the east, it is not unheard of to get a hike in each month of the year.

Hiking through the seasons also means different looks at the same terrain—rivers bulge with winter snow melt as trees bud and blossom, which, in the blink of an eye, turns to trickling creeks and fall foliage.

Take a Hike—Our Top 10 List

Picking just ten trails to recommend was challenging. There are plenty more to love. Always up for a challenge, we’ve compiled a list, elaborating on the qualities and features that make these trails extra special.

Before we grew our family, Steve and I knew we wanted to raise our kids engaging with the outdoors as much as possible.

OutsideWallaWalla.com is the result of a giant research project, and the kids have been along for the ride the entire time. Plenty of naps happened on a trail in the backpack carrier, and now they often outpace my hiking stride.

Walla Walla has a well-deserved reputation as a premier destination for some of the best wines in the world, but it is also a wonderful place to raise a family or perhaps explore for the first time.

When the weather warms up and the rivers swell, there's no better way to cool off and explore the Walla Walla Valley and the surrounding Blue Mountains than by heading straight for the water.

At Outside Walla Walla, we’re passionate about getting folks outdoors and into the wild beauty of our region—so we’ve paddled, floated, and splashed our way through some of the best local water adventures, and we’re here to help you do the same.

Whether you're new to kayaking or a seasoned paddleboard pro, there’s a water experience waiting for you. Here’s a guide to some of our favorite places and ways to enjoy water sports throughout southeast Washington and northeast Oregon.

When is the best time to ride in the Walla Walla Valley?

When winter hasn’t quite relinquished to spring at higherelevations. When the Dogwoods are blooming and the alkali bees are coming out of hibernation. When the promise of summer’s heat yields the opportunity to watch the sunrise over the Blue Mountains. When fall’s crisp air and longshadows reveal the patterns of summer’s harvest.

When people ask us when to ride the Walla Walla Valley, ouranswer is simple–the time is always now.

Local Routes by Local Riders

Since the Outside Walla Walla team is not known as seasonedcyclists, we are grateful for our expert friends who are willing to lend a helping hand. Through collaborations like these, we are working to build a community database of outdoor recreation, offering a little something for everyone.

We’ve narrated a few routes and cataloged them by area oftown, introducing the outfitter or local group who designed the ride. Check out this growing collection on our Road Routes and Gravel Roads pages.

Please spend a little time digging into this compilation ofinformation. There is a lot to cover, and we want you to have a great ride. No matter which direction you choose, adventure awaits.

Wine, wheat, and onions—yes, Walla Walla does all three well. Hiking, biking, birding, kayaking—turns out, Walla Walla is a hub for outdoor recreation too. Walla Walla is an exceptional home base to explore vast arrays of terrain and engage in a whole host of outdoor activities. Agriculture put us on the map, but the valley has evolved into a wonderfully welcoming, flat-out fun place to spend a weekend.

Consider adding outdoor recreation to the weekend plans as many activities are within an hour of town. Since it is already a destination town, Walla Walla has many opportunities available at various price points for lodging, dining, and shopping.

Historic downtown is easy on the eye, and the local cuisine is even better on the tummy. After a hike in the Umatilla National Forest, enjoy live music at several venues.

Follow up a morning fly fishing lesson with some wine tasting. You’ve made it this far; you might as well drink the juice. Burn a few calories on the bike ride? Freshly crafted desserts await.

Visiting Walla Walla is easier than ever. Multiple daily flights from Seattle make the journey accessible for folks making the trek from afar. It is also a scenic drive from all the surrounding larger cities (Seattle, Portland, Boise, and Spokane), clocking in at four hours max.

Southeast Washington is a vast landscape. In just one county the annual rainfall can vary at times by 30 inches. Natural springs bubble up throughout the Blue Mountains while sage brush anchors the dry, desert soils. Sprinkled throughout the region are numerous small towns that reflect this diverse landscape.

 Restaurants capture the local food scene; coffee shops provide a meeting place where big ideas are put into action; farmers blend traditions of generations past with new-age technology; and local agencies work fearlessly to build a thriving community.

While spirits are high, conversations are sometimes tough. At the core, there is compassion and dedication because the place is so special it is worth the challenge. One southeast Washington town calls itself the gateway to the Blue Mountains, a basecamp for adventure. Dayton, Washington is just that place.

Basalt flows dating back millions of years spread far and wide; iconic Pacific Northwest rivers shifted course, trading channels; massive floods shaped the landscape for thousands of years, Wallula Gap’s past is a convergence—of geologic events, of rivers, of civilization.

For a full write up of our experience exploring this area, please visit the blog. There are lots of links, book recommendations, and tips about how to recreate throughout this unique landscape.

Outside Walla Walla is a website showcasing outdoor recreation throughout the Walla Walla valley and northern Blue Mountain region. Enjoy four-season fun. This podcast, we focus on snow sports. Do you have little kids who like to sled? Let's be honest; adults enjoy the thrill too. The variety of snow adventures span two states, so curl up around the fire with a cup of hot chocolate while you listen. Then, start making a plan to go outside Walla Walla!

It is possible to hike all year! There are a handful of lower trailheads near the South Fork Umatilla River that provide a scenic reprieve from the pace of winter holidays, commitments, and resolutions. For more information and links to the details, check out our Winter Hiking in the Blue Mountains blog and video. The full Outside Walla Walla GUIDE is coming soon!