I saw snow on the mountain from tri cities so i decided to try to bag the summit. I ran along the barbed wire fence up to the ridge, ran 3 miles on the ridge, made it up to about 3100′ until I hit snow about 6″ deep, I tried to take some pictures but my phone shut off at 2600′ from being so cold. I ran until the snow was a foot deep until I turned back. It was about 6.5 miles from the parking lot. I took the road down to 1500′ then I cut straight across the valley back to the trail I used to get back to the ridge, then I followed it back to the highway. Round trip was 12.3 miles with about 2,300′ of elevation gain and about the same amount of descent. I imagine it to be about 8 miles to the top making it a 15 – 16 mile trip. Notice, in order to reach the ridge you have to cross a couple of barbed wire fences. In order to summit you must be physically fit, prepared and determined. I will update next time I attempt
Corey G.
Tu valoración: 4 Richland, WA
When people ask about things to do in the Tri-Cities, I usually say, «you have to drive an hour or two to find somewhere cool.»(This was because I was lazy). I think one can find ANYTHING unique and cool WHEREVER they live. So, I’ve been trying to open my eyes to local options. Rattlesnake Mountain is said to the be the«highest mountain west of the Mississippi WITHOUT a tree on it». I don’t know about that lofty claim, but that’s its claim to fame. Rattlesnake Mountain(«Lalíik» name of mountain in Wanapum) always seemed elusive. Part of it is owned by a farmer(I on the western slope), while the eastern slope is under control of the Arid Lands Ecological Reserve. This is a huge ridge and the southern part of the ridge is where one can find hiking options. Right off of SR225, one can find a few trailheads. So, if you’re traveling from SR240, go past the shooting range and then keep an eye out for a couple of trailheads to your left(if you’re coming from Benton City, as soon as you pass the last house, the two trailheads will be on your left. The big trailhead is hard to miss and has a big sign marking itself. This is where some people unload their horses for rides up the Rattlesnake Slope. The other trailhead(a little more west) is small, and can fit only about 3 vehicles. Both trailheads have trails which head up the Slope. They join within a few minutes of traveling north. Once the trails are joined one then hikes up a canyon. The trail is basically a rutted road(perhaps access road for the powerlines you walk under while hiking). The hike in the canyon is nice and somewhat protected from the elements. Keep an eye out for wildlife. There are deer, coyotes, and elusive elk among the local inhabitants. Once you pop up out of the canyon you are in the grassy sage steppe of southeastern Washington. You can see the breath-taking expanse of land leading up to Rattle Mountain — «wow, the Tri-Cities is nearby??» One has a couple of options now. One can continue to hike on the main trail – this goes onto the flatlands below Rattlesnake Mountain, or one can take the less tread path which goes up to Rattlesnake Ridge(basically you walk along a barbed wire fence. We went up. This isn’t for the weary. The hike is fairly vertical, and climbs up fast, but what a view. One can see LIGO( ), most of the Hanford Reservation, and quite a bit of the Tri-Cities and other nearby & smaller mountains(such as Badger { ). All in all this is nice walk with great views. A good option for«something to do in the Tri-Cities».
