Mosquitors be thicc and aplenty
Road smooth enough for a Bentley
Thank Jesus no snakes
For to bite on me cakes
And the sun shineth down on me gently

Toward the missile site summit I’m hikin’
Speedy like I’m chased by some pikemen
Though my heels may blister
Like my sunburned sister
The trail is a good one, I’m likin’

How tasty was last night’s spaghetti
Full of carbohydrates I’m ready
To hike like the wind
Summit’s just round the bend
In this Central Basin Serengeti

Though the Nike site is no longer active
It could be a bit radioactive
A nice southern breeze
Up from Hanford it heaves
The place plutonium was crafted

The concrete boys poured a foundation
And did their part to protect our nation
Back when computers
Were the size of a Hooters
And the moon was a new destination

I parked at an unmarked access point for the Palouse to Cascades Trail east of Smyrna at 46.83954, -119.61509 in the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area Complex to explore some of the DNR and BLM land on the north slope of the Saddle Mountains. There is a flattish area called Smyrna Bench about halfway up to the top of the ridge that looked like an interesting place to poke around a bit. I hiked west on The Palouse to Cascades Trail a short distance until reaching DNR land and made my way up the steep slopes to get to the bench. 

After about 700' of climbing I arrived to the expanse which I crossed through open sagebrush until arriving to an old road. This road goes east to west and begins below on private and posted land on Rd 17 SW next where I parked in the state park. I walked the road west through BLM land until spotting a good ridgline to ascend the final 1100' to top of the Saddle Mountains. Lots of game trails as well as old jeep tracks to choose from. 

A worthwhile area to explore and one can walk all the way to (or from) Wahatis Peak and beyond to the east on public land once on top. 

8.9 miles and 2300' of gain. 

I took the access road running north from about MP 60 on WA-24 and parked in a turnout at the base of the hills, though I could have driven to the Saddle Mtn outlook. The road has patches of moderate potholes, but is in otherwise good condition. Since I did not continue along the ridge from the outlook, this was a short hike, but it offered great views of the Hanford Reach.

I forgot to check my odometer leaving Othello, so I didn't find the access road, which is just east of milepost 60 on SR 24. The access road is well-graveled but unsigned. It crosses an irrigation canal before you start climbing up the ridge.

Instead, I parked just south of SR 24 and did a long cross-country walk just to get to the trailhead. Once there I headed west toward Wahatis Peak.

I alternated walking on the road at times, then going cross-country along the top of the ridge which is easy walking. Came across outcrops of petrified wood along the way. Saw no other hikers, but talked to a couple in a truck looking for petrified wood.

I reached Wahatis Peak, my turnaround point and the highpoint of the ridge. Fortunately, its collection of cell phone towers is the only spot in the eastern Saddle Mountains that has them.

The views are continuously great. In the distance, The Columbia River lies to the south, and more scablands, farmlands and sageland lies to the north.

I had to keep up a good pace to get back to my car before dark. Took an hour and a half less than heading out. Covered about 23 miles, but several miles was because of my not finding the correct access road. This hike is much shorter if you drive up to the ridge.

Lots of birds, but didn't see any other animals. Near the bottom of the gulches leading up to the ridge, lots of burrows and signs of activity. If there were marmots, I probably would have seen some, which leads me to believe the burrow diggers are badgers.

I hiked the ridge from the lookout point at the end of the access road leading to the ridge top of Saddle Mountains where the old Nike Missile control site is located at 1975.' This is mainly a cross country route with some hiking on dirt roads. A short and steep trail drops 130' to the Corfu Gap before rising again to a 2070' high point with fabulous views of the area. The trail does not continue beyond here but the undulating ridge is broad and open and again drops to Saddle Gap at 1570' where waters from the Missoula Floods rushed through during the last ice age.

My goal was Taunton Benchmark, a minor point on the eastern end of the ridge and #39 on the list of county prominence peaks in Wa. From there I retraced my steps back to the car. 

A long ridge walk at 13 miles RT and 2000' of gain.