Lyon's Ferry

On May 12th we went to Palouse Falls State Park with our daughter and grandchildren, but found the park closed due the death of someone who had fallen from the cliffs and for whose body they were searching the river.  We went on to Lyon's Ferry State Park, a little south of Palouse Falls and spent some time exploring the area while the children swam and enjoyed ice cream and a picnic lunch.

Lyon's Ferry is named for the Lyon family which operated a ferry there until 1968 when the ferry was replaced by the Snake River Bridge.  The ferry is at the confluence of the Palouse and Snake Rivers and the area now has a marina and a fish hatchery as well as great views of the Joso Railroad Bridge.  We hiked the breakwater and enjoyed a beautiful sunny day there.

the old ferry

the views

Snake River Bridge

Snake River and Joso Bridges

Joso Railroad Bridge

Black Locust Trees

Dog Rose

Manastash Ridge

But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven.  Deuteronomy 11:11.

Early in May we hiked one of our favorite trails, the Ray Westberg Trail to the top of Manastash Ridge.  Manastash is a fifty mile long ridge in central Washington near the city of Ellensburg.  It runs mostly west to east and we hiked up the south side of the ridge.  The trail is a wonderful place for wildflowers and birds.  We hiked down via the Ridge Nose Trail, a side trail that reconnects with the main trail.