Konnowac Pass Recreation Area

A group of outdoor enthusiasts formed Cowiche Canyon Conservancy (CCC) in the early 1980s. The group manages several parcels of grasslands, sage, flowering meadows, oak woodlands and basalt cliffs in Central Washington.

One of these parcels, the Konnowac Pass Recreation Area southeast of Yakima, provides about 20 miles of interconnected trails for hiking and mountain biking. The recreation area includes land owned by CCC, the Bureau of Land Management, and private citizens. Trails are well-marked with signs set in baskets of rock, with trail names corresponding to a map you can find online and at the trailhead.

There are many possible routes you can take; one option is a fun 4-mile loop with about 450 feet of elevation gain over Konnowac Ridge. 

Dogs are welcome on Konnowac Ridge trails if they are under voice control or leashed. Dogs must stay on the trails, and of course you need to pack out their poop.