25.5 miles of hiking • 1500' elevation gain •
Weren't sure where we'd end up as we headed east. Made a quick stop at the Balfour-Klickitat walking loop, to see the eagles, but the only ones we saw were flying by as we drove in. After a mile or so of walking around, we decided to head for the eastern end of Swale Canyon, to see what we might.
It wasn't an ideal day, in that we mostly lacked the blue skies that make for such dramatic desert photos. Still, it was fun to revisit this old haunt. Decided to make a push for it, and shoot the entire canyon in and out. Not a lot of wildlife out, but we did see a few juvenile eagles, some wild turkeys, a heron with fresh-caught fish lunch, some deer, and absolutely no ticks! Oh, and a lovable old black lab, just as the banjos were becoming audible. Yeehaw!
While we grabbed a bite to eat at the western trailhead, we also decided that there was absolutely no reason to do the entire trail other than to say you had. Once beyond Hillbilly Heaven, it was just about an entirely straight shot to the far trailhead. Only highlight along that stretch was the turkeys. Otherwise, turning around at the 10-mile mark certainly catches the best the trail has to offer.
