Where to Fish, Hike, Float and Camp in the Yakima River Canyon
Washington’s Yakima River is one of the West’s premier desert streams. It’s known for its superb fly fishing, fun float trips, dramatic river canyon, expanses of sagebrush and charismatic wildlife. The river, which is named after the indigenous Yakama people, flows for 214 miles from the rugged slopes of the Cascades to the Columbia River.
Between the towns of Ellensburg and Yakima, the river cuts a dramatic path through the scenic Yakima River Canyon, which is flanked extensively by public lands and draws visitors from all over the Pacific Northwest. Anglers take to the Yakima year-round on drift boats, and in the summer, people float short stretches on inner tubes. Bighorn sheep, elk and mule deer can often be spotted on the river’s banks, and the canyon’s sheer cliffs and crevices are home to the state’s densest concentration of nesting hawks, eagles and falcons.
In the upper reaches of the 27-mile canyon, Western Rivers Conservancy permanently protected the 647-acre Yakima Canyon Ranch by conveying the property to the Bureau of Land Management. Our efforts ensure permanent public access to the Bighorn boat launch—one of the most popular access points on the entire river—and conserve critical habitat for the canyon’s superb fish and wildlife.
The ranch spans both sides of the Yakima along a dramatic horseshoe bend and includes three blocks of land—Bighorn, Beavertail and Umtanum—that control prime access and launch points along the river. At the upstream end of the ranch, the Bighorn recreation site includes a boat launch, campground and scenic river frontage. The downstream end includes roughly 15 acres adjacent to the Umtanum recreation site. With the BLM’s acquisition of the ranch, the amount of river frontage in this popular recreation area has tripled.
The BLM opened visitor access to the Bighorn and Lower Umtanum recreation areas in May 2024. Visit the Yakima Canyon website or email blm_or_sp_yrc@blm.gov for more information about visiting these recreation areas.
For those planning getaways to the stunning Yakima River Canyon, we put together a guide for some of the best hikes, floats, camping and fishing opportunities the river canyon has to offer!
WHERE TO FISH
The entire Yakima River Canyon offers outstanding fishing opportunities, both on foot and from a drift boat. Walk-and-wade fishing is best September through May, during low flows, and there are ample access points to be found among the BLM’s various recreation sites, including Bighorn, Umtanum, Lmuna Creek, Big Pines and Roza. From a boat, any stretch of the river within the canyon is well worth exploring year-round. During the high water season, May through August, several big insect hatches make for exciting dry fly fishing.
WHERE TO FLOAT
The gentle, slow-moving stretch of river between Bighorn Campground and Roza Campground offers numerous opportunities for a leisurely summer float. We recommend putting in at Bighorn Campground and floating the roughly four hour stretch of river down to Red’s Fly Shop. The slow-paced trip will take you through part of the property WRC conserved and offers stunning canyon views along with ample fishing opportunities. One of the easiest ways to float this stretch is to rent rafts or drift boats from Red’s and catch the fly shop’s shuttle up to Bighorn to start your trip.
WHERE TO HIKE
There are dozens of great hikes throughout the river canyon. Two standouts begin at the Umtanum Recreation Area. From the Umtanum parking lot, cross the swinging footbridge—the only pedestrian crossing to the west side of the river within the canyon—to access either the Umtanum Creek Canyon trail or Umtanum Ridge Crest trail.
The Umtanum Creek Canyon trail is a 6.5-mile out and back that includes a moderate climb up the canyon with spectacular views of the basalt formations and, in the spring, vibrant wildflowers.
The Umtanum Ridge Crest trail is a steep six-mile out and back climb up to the canyon ridge that rewards hikers with sweeping views of both the Yakima River Canyon and the snow-topped Stuart Range. Both hikes offer great opportunities to spot bighorn sheep and myriad birds.
Wherever you choose to hike in the Yakima River Canyon, be alert for rattlesnakes.
WHERE TO CAMP
There are five BLM recreation sites within the Yakima River Canyon that offer excellent camping: Bighorn, Umtanum, Lmuma Creek, Big Pines and Roza.
