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Trip Report

White Bluffs - North — Monday, Sep. 15, 2025

Central Washington > Tri-Cities
The Columbia just a short distance into the hike.

I found this trail accidentally. The trailhead's on the right side of the road, shortly before reaching the boat launch. As the directions say, there's no marker other than a "No horses" sign, but you can see the trail heading up the hillside.

As a previous trip report details, there're bugs, I'd call them nymphs of some kind, thickly inhabiting bushes and the ground along a mile or less of the trail. They didn't bite, but they took flight as I passed and flew around and into me, which I found irritating. Once I reached the dunes, they were gone. 

After the trail climbed the ridge, I enjoyed the view of the Columbia River and surrounding landscape. I stopped several times to admire it. It occurred to me that the Columbia is quite large and magnificent. I counted 6 elk on a large island as I passed it by. I watched them for a bit with my binoculars.

The dunes ahead had two high points, and I topped both of them. I walked the ridge past the high point of the most distant one before turning around. The sand is often firm; however, at times it's soft and the going is slower. I thought about running and tumbling down the steep, west slope of the dunes, which would have been fun, but I just didn't feel like getting all dirty and sandy.

It took about 3 hours, out and back, and I saw no other people except those in a couple boats. I thoroughly enjoyed the hike. 

A sandy route ahead.
Not often do I summit a towering sand dune.
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