Summer Adventures in the Yakima Valley

Outdoor Adventure Stops

Yakima Valley Road Trip Idea

Looking for an adventure? Use your summer getaway to explore the Yakima Valley's wide open spaces. Build a weekend itinerary around one or two activities, with plenty to do on weekend getaways from summer to fall.

Begin at the Yakima Valley Visitor Information Center for trip details and help planning with one of our travel consultants.

Yakima Valley Outdoor Trips Stops

01 — Hike, Bike and Run

More than 300 miles of trails extend in every direction, offering options for all abilities. Explore sub-alpine mountain trails, distinctive shrub-steppe landscapes, scenic mountain bi-ways a short drive from Yakima, national forests, or trails in town at Yakima's Cowiche Canyon Conservancy. Sunny skies make the valley a destination for hiking, mountain biking and trial running.

02 — Float and Paddle

For water lovers, six rivers and pristine mountain lakes surround Yakima with beautiful settings for a weekend outdoors. Cool off this summer by floating or paddling the Yakima River, riding Tieton River Rapids, or enjoying the calm of stand up paddle boarding among mountain scenery.

03 — Blue Ribbon Fly Fishing

The Yakima Valley is home to Washington's only blue ribbon trout stream. Spend a peaceful day angling beneath the stunning basalt cliffs of the Yakima River Canyon. Red's Fly Shop provides guided tours, online ordering for curbside pickup of angling supplies, and guidance and instruction for all abilities. Extend the trip with a weekend at Canyon River Ranch, which offers 1,000 feet of private riverfront.

04 — Adventure Clinics

Outdoor adventures clinics and classes provide ways to try something different, gain confidence, develop new skills, or challenge yourself. Shannon and Andy Mahre of Mahre Made and Girls with Grit lead group clinics, private lessons and retreats for trail runners and mountain bikers, ranging from introductory to advanced experiences. They also conduct SUP clinics on both lakes and rivers.

05 — Off Roading

For hills to climb and trails to blaze, the Yakima Valley offers an off-road destination with ideal, dry conditions for riding summer through fall. Spend hours riding in Ahtanum State Forest and along scenic mountain byways. Valley hotels also provide abundant, free parking for your rig and your machines. Green dot trail maps offer route information.

06 — Rock Climbing at White Pass

This climbing area is located Off of Highway 12 Along the Tieton River. Take in the fresh mountain air while scaling the beautiful volcanic rock walls of the Tieton River Canyon.