Yakima Valley Outdoor Adventure — Find Your Way Outside
The Yakima Valley enjoys outstanding weather and an exceptional setting for outdoor recreation. National forests, wildlife habitats, lakes, streams, rivers, ski areas, hiking routes, and scenic agricultural landscapes all open the door to the great outdoors.
Get Outside Beneath Sunny Skies
Yakima Valley Outdoor Adventure
For anyone ready to add more adventure to life, the Yakima Valley is ready to welcome you. With an average of 300 days of sunshine annually, outdoor activities are possible in nearly every season. The Valley’s central position in Washington State also makes it easy to arrive with all your equipment.
The White Pass and Chinook Pass Scenic Byways both lead into the Yakima Valley, bringing the geological variety of the Cascade Mountain Range within a short drive. Three major rivers pass through the Valley, creating 109 different lakes and 173 miles of flowing river. These waterways support fishing, rafting, standup paddleboarding, and more.
The region’s varied geology makes it possible to ski in the morning, mountain bike in the afternoon, and play golf at twilight. With so many options, the real challenge is deciding which adventure to begin with.
Outdoor Recreation by the Numbers
- 300+ Days of Sunshine
- 300+ Miles of Trails
- 165+ Campgrounds
- 109+ Lakes and Ponds
- 170+ Miles of Rivers
- 90+ Parks
Yakima Valley Outdoor Activities
On the Trail
Hike, Ride and Run
The Yakima Valley is made for added adventure, with an average of 300 days of sunshine annually and no truly bad time of year for enjoying the outdoors. Its central Washington State location also makes bringing along your gear simple.
Water Sports
Fish, Float and Paddle
Sun-filled weather does not mean a lack of water in the Yakima Valley. Waterways descend through the forested slopes of the East Cascade Mountain Range, forming 109 different lakes and a combined 173 miles of flowing rivers.
The Yakima River is Washington State's only designated "Blue Ribbon" trout fishing stream. The area’s lakes and reservoirs also provide excellent settings for boating, kayaking, and waterskiing.
Fun in the Snow
Ski, Snowboard, Snowshoe and Snowmobile
The Yakima Valley’s 300 days of sunshine are accompanied by abundant opportunities for winter sports. When snow arrives, the landscape becomes a destination for cold-weather recreation. Hiking routes turn into miles of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing terrain, while alpine meadows and valleys offer room for snowmobiles.
Skiers and snowboarders can make their way to White Pass Ski Area. Winter in the Yakima Valley brings a particularly magical outdoor experience.
Climbing
The Yakima Valley’s rugged volcanic geology helps make it one of Washington State's best destinations for rock climbing and mountaineering. Climbers value many of the Valley’s mountaineering areas for their solid rock quality and broad selection of routes.
From Downtown Yakima, a short drive can put you on a quick pitch and next to terrain capable of challenging even highly experienced climbers. The Valley’s expansive scenery means that nearly every climb concludes with a breath-taking view.
Wildlife Viewing
Rocky ridges, grassy hillsides, open meadows, rivers, and lakes give the Yakima Valley a home for a wide range of wildlife. Federally managed wildlife preserves and nearby natural habitats create many accessible ways to see animals in their natural surroundings.
Chinook and White Pass provide habitat for Rocky Mountain elk, bighorn sheep, deer, birds of prey, songbirds, blue herons, osprey, wood ducks, grouse, and a large variety of amphibians. The dramatic basalt cliffs of the Yakima River Canyon shelter the densest concentration of nesting hawks, eagles, and falcons in Washington State.
At the Yakima Area Arboretum, visitors can encounter hundreds of species of birds and small mammals.