Featured Day Trip Activities

Central Washington has many natural wonders and recreation areas that are all within a few hours of Canyon River Ranch. If you are looking for a day trip outing, here are some beautiful sites to go visit and explore during your stay at Canyon River Lodge. Checkout the informational brochures attached below for directions, amenities, and area features.

1. Palouse Falls State Park 

Located just over 2 hours from Canyon River Ranch is Palouse Falls State Park, one of the last active waterfalls carved by the Ice Age flood path.

2. Boulder Cave Trail

Just an hour away from Canyon River Ranch is short hike that leads to the natural wonders left behind by a unique erosion process when the Yakima Basalt Formation, a series of lava flows with sediment deposits, covered the area.

3. Dry Falls Visitor Center

Located within 2 hours of Canyon River Ranch is one of the natural wonders of North America. The Dry Falls Cataract is a 3.5 mile chasm of basalt with a 400 foot drop.

4. Rimrock and Clear Lakes

These beautiful mountain lakes are just an hour away from Canyon River Ranch and offers tons of outdoor recreation opportunities. Rimrock lake is fed by the Tieton River and controlled by the Tieton Dam in the Wenatchee National Forest and sits at 2,922 feet of elevation.

5. Cle Elum Lake and Copper Lake

Just up past Roslyn on Salmon La Sac Rd. you will drive by all sorts of hidden beauties! There are a lot of  hidden beaches to swim at along the road, as well as hiking and backpacking trails. 'Speelyi Beach' or 'Owhi Campground' are great places to swim and enjoy the peaceful scenery at. If you go up further on Salmon La Sac Rd., another great place to go swimming that everyone loves to go to is called 'Salmon La Sac Swimming Hole'; which will be crosroads with NF-46 Rd across the bridge.

6. Soap Lake

This lake is very unique in its own way. Soap Lake has a very high mineral content that is not like any other body of water! Due to several different kinds of mineral content, the lake is divided into two layers that will never be able to mix with each other. It is also known for its healing properties such as fixing skin, digestive, circulatory, and joint problems. People have reported that it has even cured their conditions such as eczema and joint inflammation. Visitors come from all over the world to visit this lake to cure their medical diagnosis.

7. Wild Horse Scenic View

Located next to the Columbia River right off of I-90 heading East, is a gorgeous view point of Vantage. It will be on the right after you cross Vantage bridge and this view puts you high enough to see above the water, the state park, and along with the beautiful scenery around it (careful it can be pretty windy due to the high elevation near the water!). At this scenic view point you will also see the 'Wild Horse Monument' which is the most frequently viewed public artwork in Washington. There is a very short steep hike (2/10ths of a mile) to go see this sculpture, but it is differently worth checking out especially after learning the history behind it! 

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