The Historic Yellowstone Trail
in Washington

Ellensburg to Richland

The Yellowstone Trail - Ellensburg to Richland
Summer of 2012

Leaving Ellensburg going south, the Yellowstone Trail follows Main St. to Umptanum Rd., and then turned west over the freeway. We continued south on Umptanum Rd. which follows the old stagecoach route over Ellensburg pass to Wenas. In about 2 miles after crossing the river the road reaches the hill where the pavement ends. From here it is about 30 miles of a rough dirt road until you get to Wenas. After driving through Wenas, continue on N. Wenas Rd. all the way to Selah. In Selah you continue south on N. Wenas Rd. / SR-823 ,and then take a left onto E. Naches Ave., then right onto S.1st St. / SR-823 and continue south.

Just before the road turns into 4 lanes and crosses the Yakima river, the original route curved a little to the left and connected with Golf Course Road. Here is a little stretch of original concrete pavement. Golf Course Rd. used to cross the river at to meet up with what is today US-97. The quadrangle map of 1901 shows the road from Selah into Yakima followed the route of the trolley. The trolley over the Naches river was built in 1912 between Selah and Yakima. The route then continued south on S. 1st St. into Yakima, and it then becomes Main St. as you arrive at Union Gap.

Just before Union Gap the original road veered right onto Old Town Rd. then a left onto W. Valley Mall Rd., and then right onto Rudkin Rd. as it continued south as it turns into Main St. As you leave Union Gap the route continued south, and the old road took what is now the US-12 on-ramp, and just before you get to US-12 the old road curved a little more to the right onto an abandoned alignment. This old part follows the railroad tracks to about where US-97 curves to the right, and it crosses the Burlington Northern tracks and then the Union Pacific tracks, and then meets up with US-97 at the point where the highway road marker is.

Heading southbound on US-97 you take a left and cross the Yakima river at Parker on the Parker Bridge Road. The original alignment turned left, but today you have to go one block south and turn onto 2nd St., then go north and turn right onto Parker Rd. which travels east to the Yakima Valley Highway. The road then continues south on Yakima Valley Hwy. for about a mile to Parker Heights Rd. which was the old alignment. The road connects back up with the Yakima Valley Hwy., and then veers to the left and onto Buena Rd. at the town of Buena.

Back on the Yakima Valley Hwy. to Zillah, the road turns right onto Roza Dr. / 5th Ave. in Zillah, and then left onto 1st Avenue. At this intersection you can see a new Yellowstone Trail sign. If you turn right onto 1st Ave. and go about a mile you will find the Tea Pot Gas Station. Leaving Zillah you go east on 1st Ave. across the Yakima Valley Hwy. and onto Division Road. Continue on Division Rd., and curve right, and then left, and then take the first right onto Durham Road. Stay on Durham Rd. as it heads southeast along the freeway and meets back up with the Yakima Valley Highway.

Stay on the Yakima Valley Hwy. all the way into Granger. The old road used to continue south into Granger but now veers left because of the Interstate. Leaving Granger the old route headed east on Van Belle Rd., and then turns right onto Scoon Rd., and south into Sunnyside. The route turns right onto North Ave., then left onto N 16th St., and heads south out of town. N. 16th St turns into the Sunnyside-Mabton Rd. / SR-241, and after a couple of miles, turn left onto Grandview Pavement Road. After crossing the tracks into Grandview, the road turned left onto Division St. then right onto 4th St., and after going through town on 4th St., the road turned right onto N. Elm St. / Old Prosser Rd., and heads south.

In about 2 miles the road turned left onto Robinson Rd., then right onto S. County Line Rd., and meets back up to the Old Prosser Hwy. to Prosser. The Old Prosser Hwy. becomes the Old Inland Empire Hwy. otherwise known as the "O.I.E." The road then turns right onto Wine Country Rd., and crosses the river into Prosser. The road then turns left onto Grant Ave. through Prosser, and meets back up to the O.I.E. After Prosser, it is the O.I.E for about 5 miles, and then the old road turned left across the tracks, then right onto District Line Road. The old route then follows the railroad track on the north side. In about a mile the old road turned left onto W. Rayhill Rd. then curved right and crosses the O.I.E, where it then curved left, and then meets back up with the O.I.E.

In about a mile the old road turned left onto E. Corral Creek Rd., and travels through a gulch, and then curves right onto Whitmore Way. The road then winds it's way down the hill onto W Williams Rd., then right onto Highlands Rd., and south to the O.I.E. The road then heads east into Benton City and right onto W. 13th St., then left onto Della Ave., and into town. Once in town take a right onto SR-225 and go south across the river into Kiona. After you cross the river you turn left onto SR-225 / Kennedy Rd. and head east.

About a mile and a half east on Kennedy Rd., the old route veered to the left and went in a northeasterly direction to meet up with SR-224 and continued into West Richland. This section is a private dirt road. The route then continues down SR-224, and then onto Fallon Rd., as it curves right, and then left onto SR-224 as it continues into Richland. Through Richland it gets confusing so I am not completely sure of the exact route. I do know it connects with George Washington Way / SR240, and travels toward Kennewick.