I have long had this area on my list of places I'd like to explore, and was finally able to make it happen! This was just a short weekend trip with some nearby car camping, and my friend and I started with Joseph Canyon on Saturday following the drive down from Spokane. It was overcast and off & on drizzly all day, but didn't start raining hard until well after dark. For the hike, we followed the main trail to the first likely looking ridge to ascend, then started making our way up to the top for the view. It's steep and there's no trail, but it wasn't at all technical. The view from the top is excellent. We descended down a nearby gulch, checking out neat rock formations along the way. Once at the bottom we still had a little daylight left, so we continued the rest of the way up Joseph Creek via the trail. As others have noted, the trail comes to a dead-end not all that far up the creek. It wouldn't be much of a hike if one was just sticking to the trail, but the off-trail scrambling in this area is great. 

Revisiting this area I hiked up directly from Joseph Creek about 1/4 mile before the unmarked turnoff for the parking area in Joseph Creek Canyon. Hunters and fisher people were out en force up and down the Grande Ronde and Joseph Creek. 

I chose one of several ridges that rise 2000 vertical feet up from the canyon floor with the intention of walking the divide that separates Joseph Creek and The Grande Ronde River. Once on top of the ridge near point 2990 I noticed an elk herd relaxing in the saddle between me and point 3016. I decided not to continue as they were safe and sound from hunters below buzzing around on their quads. I instead watched them from the distance while having lunch before the steep descent. 

No trails in this area other than old roads in Green Gulch and a short section of single track in Joseph Creek Canyon which disappears within a mile or so in blackberry brambles. The ridges however are accessible for off-trail adventures and offer miles of walking with broad views over the canyons of Joseph Creek and The Grande Ronde. There is some steep terrain in order to get up there though. 

This section of the Chief Joseph Wildlife Area in Asotin County includes Joseph Canyon. An access is located about 2 miles south of The Green Gulch Trailhead just before a bridge crossing over Joseph Creek. This road is unsigned but leads to a parking area with a pit toilet. A trail runs up Joseph Creek for about 2 miles but ends in blackberry brambles. Bring some loppers or a machete if you want to continue. I opted, however, to climb up about 2000' to the divide that separates the canyon and the Grande Ronde River. 

The going is steep and steady but views are outstanding of the entire region. 

My goal was a 3255' point on the ridge. Once there I lounged and enjoyed views over the Grande Ronde to Puffer Butte and The Blue Mountains as well as up the rugged Joseph Creek Canyon.