The rain stopped falling on Saturday leaving us the perfect opportunity for our first hike up Candy Mountain. The start of the graveled trail is relatively flat and is dotted with many interpretive signs identifying the plants and geology of the area.  After about a half mile the trail begins its climb to the summit.  The long switchbacks allow for a gentle yet steady 10% grade to the top.  The summit is reached at 1.8 miles from the parking lot.  The land on the top of the mountain is on private land, so please respect this special hiking destination.  A nice sitting area is located at the top where one can take in the 360 degree views before reversing back down the trail to the parking lot.  Cant wait to return again in the spring to see the wildflowers of the area. 

I've been wanting to check out the trails on Badger Mtn for quite a while and the rain stopped right as I was passing through. I started on the west side at the trailhead off of Dallas Rd since I wanted to make it a two-fer with neighboring Candy Mtn. Being somewhat short on time I just walked the gravel service road to the summit rather than taking the Skyline Trail.  It is steep but will get you to the top lickety split. Nice view of the area and my next stop, Candy Mtn. 

I walked the trail system to the top of Candy and enjoyed all the interpretive signs covering the geologic history and plant life of the area. The community has done a great job creating trail systems in both of these areas and continue to work to preserve more land which is under pressure for development given the fliers I saw at the trailheads. 

Later I did a drive up to Horse Heaven Hills via McBee Grade Rd to the highest point on Chandler Butte which provides a panoramic view of the entire area. I took the unmarked road that goes north from the sharp, southerly turn after crossing over the crest. Muddy and bumpy so some clearance advised. The tippy top is posted and private but you don't have to go there to enjoy the views. 

I was looking for a hike to stretch my legs on a drive from Seattle to the Wallowas. Using the Hike Finder map I found this gem in the Tri-Cities.

Candy Mountain was recently saved from the sprawl of housing development by a locals group. Great views and good geology has been preserved😃

The hike is short, and this time of year there are no wildflowers. The shrub steppe retains it’s charms though. Smoky conditions limited views a bit but we were entertained by all the geology lessons.

In short the Missoula floods of the last ice age backed up in this area behind a series of hills (Rattlesnake, Red, Candy, Badger, etc). This backup formed Lewis Lake in  matter of days and drained almost as quickly through Wallula Gap. The lake was so big it backed up the Snake and Yakama River basins leaving telltale glacial erratics and Colombian Mammoth carcasses stranded along a bathtub ring of sorts from the lake.

Enough of the science lesson. It was a perfect one hour plus leg stretch if you’re driving through the TriCities area.

Went to Candy Mountain today to get a quick AM run in. I would recommend visiting early in the summer months as it is very exposed and the winds are hot. Trail is well maintained and no snakes! There a hazy view of the top of Mount Adams in the distance. Less crowded and a nice change of scenery from Badger Mountain.

Nice spring hike. Will get your heart rate climbing switchbacks the whole way. Lots of sun exposure in the morning.