Snow Mountain Trails

SMR TRAIL DESCRIPTIONS

 

The Entry Trail takes you from the parking lot across the old pasture to a small irrigation ditch, then east to the old Tieton Irrigation Canal siphon, then down to the bridge across the creek and on to the kiosk.

 

The Garry Oak Trail starts at the trail sign on the Entry Trail just across the small irrigation ditch and goes down the open area between the oaks & Cowiche Creek, eventually curving around to meet the old service road coming down from Cowiche Mill Road at the west end of the Ranch property. A graphite trail marker here directs you up the service road almost to Cowiche Mill Road where three more graphites direct you back to the SMR parking lot to complete a loop of .42 miles. 

 

The Ditch Bank Trail starts just to the left (east) of the kiosk and follows the ditch rider’s road along the old Tieton Irrigation Canal, curving east under the row of basalt columns and proceeding to the west boundary of the ranch. Along the way are junctions with the short Connector Trail, the east end of the Balanced Rock Trail, and, at the Ranch boundary, with the east leg of the Cowiche Mtn Loop Trail and the Riparian Trail-East.

 

The west leg of the Cowiche Mtn Loop Trail begins at the kiosk, crosses the floodplain pasture, and enters a broad ravine. There is a trail junction here with both the Balanced Rock Trail and the Riparian Trail-West. The trail goes south up the ravine, eventually curving east and climbing out of the ravine to the benchlands above and a junction with the Wildflower Trail. It then heads south again past an old corral, climbing a broad ridge before curving east and traversing to a shallow saddle at the top of the ridge and then on to the summit of Cowiche Mtn (2,970’). The east leg of the loop descends north from the summit along another broad ridge, then crosses a ravine to a junction with the Bench Loop Trail. From here it continues north across the benchlands, descends a ravine, and curves west, traversing the hillside downward to the east end of the Ditch Bank Trail. Return to the kiosk via either the Ditch Bank Trail or the Riparian Trail-East for a loop of 6.1 miles with an elevation gain of 1,140’. 

 

The Riparian Trail-West goes west from the kiosk along the north side of the old pasturelands to the west of the Cowiche Mtn Loop Trail. A graphite trail marker is placed where the route enters the native vegetation (largely basin wild rye & antelope bitterbrush) at the west end of the old pasture. The trail continues west (generally straight ahead) through an oak-cottonwood grove, crosses a large, dry streambed, then angles southwest (left) to the elk fence at the boundary between Snow Mtn Ranch & the Oak Creek Wildlife Area. It then follows the fence south (left) to the bottom of the hill where it turns east (left) and follows the base of the hill to the mouth of the ravine & a junction with the Cowiche Mtn Loop Trail

 

The Riparian Trail-East starts at the kiosk and heads east along the north edge of the old pasturelands. It follows the creek for a short ways, then goes through a tunnel of shrubs and passes the pond before continuing along the edge of the trees, eventually curving southeast and connecting with the west end of the Ditch Bank Trail. Return to the kiosk via the Ditch Bank Trail for a loop of 1.2 miles.

 

A short Connector Trail connects the Ditch Bank Trail at the corner below the basalt columns with the Cowiche Mtn Loop Trail just north of the mouth of the ravine. Combined with the two Riparian Trails and the Ditch Bank Trail, this trail allows for a 1.75 mile loop of the entire floodplain pasturelands.

 

The Balanced Rock Trail starts from the Cowiche Mtn Loop Trail at the mouth of the ravine, climbs out of the ravine to a junction with the Wildflower Trail, then goes south along the top of the basalt columns, finally traversing a hillside before dropping down to meet the Ditch Bank Trail.

 

The Wildflower Trail starts from the top of the hill near the north end of the Balanced Rock Trail and climbs north along the bench lands above the ravine, eventually connecting to the Cowiche Mtn Loop Trail. Shortly before the junction with the Cowiche Mtn Loop Trail is the junction with the Bench Loop Trail. 

 

The Bench Loop Trail begins near the south end of the Wildflower Trail and goes east along the bench lands, eventually curving north and descending to a junction with the east leg of the Cowiche Mtn Loop Trail. Descend the Cowiche Mtn Loop Trail and return to the kiosk for a loop of 3.7 miles with an elevation gain of 370 feet.

 

The Riparian Overlook Trail (currently under construction). This short trail (.3 mi) starts from the Riparian Trail-West just west of the junction with the Cowiche Mtn Loop Trail at the mouth of the ravine and climbs the hillside in gentle switchbacks to an overlook above the pasturelands.

 

Note: Mountain Biking is prohibited on much of Snow Mountain Ranch (uplands). Snow Mountain Ranch was purchased using federal and state grant funds for the purpose of preserving and protecting natural shrub-steppe habitat, an increasingly rare and sensitive ecosystem. One of the grant conditions requires CCC to allow only light, low-impact recreation uses, i.e., no motorized or mechanized uses. Any type of wheeled vehicle can cause accelerated erosion on thin shrub-steppe soils, especially when the ground is moist.   Per the grant conditions, no wheeled vehicles are allowed south of the distinct fence/gate as you cross in the canyon -- a little south of the open fields. We appreciate your patience, consideration and caution.