Rediscovering the Southern Route of the Yellowstone Trail in Washington State
April 24,25, 2013

From Ellensburg to Yakima 

We were coming from Seattle, so we drove east over Snoqualmie pass on interstate 90 to Thorp. At Thorp we drove over the old Thorp Hwy. to Ellensburg, which was built in the 1930's. At Ellensburg and had a quick breakfast, and then it was back on the trail. We wanted to take the original route south on Umptanum Rd. to Wenas, but it is a 30 mile dirt road, and is very rough in places, and I didn’t want to take this slow possibly dangerous route. Instead, we decided to make some time and took Interstate-82 over the hill into Selah. I figured we could explore Wenas another time. (We did in a Prius) After a stop along the freeway going up out of Ellensburg we got a good photo of the town and surrounding area.

On the way into the Yakima valley we stopped at the rest stop north of Selah, and got some good photos of that town, Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams. I also took a shot of the Interstate-82 bridge. When we arrived at Selah we were back on the trail. The old route follows S. 1st St. through Selah, and before the freeway crosses over the river, the road veered to the left onto was is now Golf Course Road. There was an old bridge across the river here and you can still see a section of the original concrete pavement. The old road then connected to what is now Hwy-823 into Yakima. We then took 1st St. south to Yakima and continued on 1st Street.

From Yakima to the Tri Cities

As we headed out of Yakima towards Zillah on US-97. We stopped at the heritage marker on the south side of the canyon which marked the place of a battle which took place during the War of 1855. From this somber place it was southeast to Wapato. From Wapato we took a side trip over to Toppenish so we could visit the Northern Pacific Railroad Museum. After checking out the place and while taking a photo of the old depot, I noticed the Yellowstone Park Line on the monad above the front door.

After a fun visit to the museum we resumed our journey. It was over the Yakima river to the old village of Donald, and then right onto the Yakima Valley Hwy. through Buena. Past the little town of Buena we took a right onto Rosa Dr. / 5th St., and passed the old 1910 church and arrived in Zillah. At the intersection of 5th St. and 1st Ave. we saw a newly posted Yellowstone Trail sign. It was good to see the sign posted along the old route. We then took a quick side trip north to see the old Tea Pot Gas Station which was established in 1922. They had to move it in 1978 during the construction of Interstate-82, and it is about 1.2 miles away from its original location. 

We then drove out of town on 1st Ave., which took us back to the Yakima Valley Hwy. toward Granger. After leaving Granger, the old route followed Van Belle Rd. to Sunnyside. This section became the official route after 1919 or 1920. Through Sunnyside the route followed Edison St., and then after leaving town we took a right onto the Sunnyside-Mabton Rd., then left onto Grandview Pavement Rd. which takes you into into Grandview. Leaving Grandview, we took the Old Inland Empire Hwy (OIE) into Prosser while taking some photos of the wine country and Yakima river.

As you drive through this region with Mt. Adams as a backdrop, you can see all the various agricultural farms and how much farmland it takes to provide us with the food we buy in the grocery stores. From Prosser we were back on the Old Inland Empire Hwy. The signs now just refer the highway as the "OIE." The next town is Benton City, and after driving through town, we crossed the Yakima river and arrived at Kiona. From Kiona we took SR-224 toward West Richland.

Traveling down Kennedy road a few miles, we stopped for lunch and a few quilt stores, which pleased the wife. After she finished shopping, we headed out of town toward Kennewick. From Kennewick we crossed the Columbia river and arrived at Pasco. We decided to stop at Sacajawea State Park to step foot on one of the places where Lewis and Clark camped. This is at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers, and near the old town of Ainsworth. Ainsworth was once a county seat and a major railroad town. There is nothing left of the town today. After watching the baby geese we headed toward Wallula Junction.

From the Tri Cities to Walla Walla

After Leaving the Tri-Cities we crossed the Snake River on US-12 and headed toward Walla Walla. This segment from Burbank to Wallula Junction is now underwater due to the dam. From Wallula to Touchet I believe the original route followed a now long gone alignment. On the map I have traced this alignment out as best I could. You now have to follow US-12 into Touchet. At the Walla Walla River, the original route continued across US-12 and onto Byrnes Rd., and followed the railroad track into Touchet.

We passed through Touchet and stopped at the old town of Lowden, and took some photos of the old abandoned garage, gas station, store and building, and then continued on toward Walla Walla. Before we got to Walla Walla, we took a right onto the Old Hwy-12, and stopped at the old town site of Frenchtown. After reading the historical markers, we proceeded to the Whitman Mission State Park. After some photos and visiting the grounds, we walked a preserved part of the Oregon Trail. 

It was then up the hill the to the monument so we could get a good view of the surrounding area, and then down to see the great grave. After our visit we drove to Walla Walla.

From Walla Walla to Colfax

At Walla Walla, we stayed the night, and then the next morning it was back on the trail toward Dixie. From Dixie the route, now US-12, takes you north to Waitsburg. After some photos of the old town, we took US-12 to Dayton. At Dayton we stopped to take some photos of the old railroad depot which was built in 1881, and the old courthouse. Leaving Dayton we found an old bridge, on Patit Rd. east of town.

This bridge was not part of the trail, but it is a nice old bridge which built around 1915. After we were back on US-12 north, we spotted the old alignment and bridge over the Tucannon river. This bridge was also built sometime around 1915. Once we got to the intersection of SR-261 and US-12, we decided to break off the trail and take a side trip on SR-261 through Starbuck and west along the Snake river toward Lyons Ferry. Lyons Ferry is located at the confluence of the Snake and Palouse rivers.

After a stop at Lyons Ferry for some nice photos of the river, bridge and railroad trestle. The bridge across the Snake river was originally built in 1927 at the Columbia river crossing at Vantage. In 1963 the state built a new 4-lane bridge and roadway, and the old bridge was dismantled and then rebuilt at Lyons Ferry.

We were glad we made this side trip as the falls were spectacular. There are many vistas to view the falls. We took many photos of the place, while some prairie dogs were sunning themselves on a rock. After our wonderful visit, we headed back out over the Palouse hills northeast to Washtucna. In Washtucna we saw an old abandoned gas station and an old building which used to be a Chevrolet dealer. From Washtucna we headed back to the trail at Colfax on US-26.

The Yellowstone Trail when leaving Dayton took US-12 north to SR-127 and to Central Ferry. The 1918 Blue Book advised travelers to continue northwest to the Penawana Ferry instead of the Central Ferry as they said it was a better road which a good ferryboat. After crossing either ferry, the roads continue northwest to Colfax.

From Colfax to Spokane

After a stop in Colfax to get a bite to eat, we then headed north on US-195 through Steptoe, and north to Rosalia. We took the old route which is now US-195 and stopped at the old Milwaukee Road concrete trestle. You can still see the Yellowstone Trail marker painted on the bridge. Once in Rosalia we got a couple of photos of old homes, and the old restored Texaco Station which was built in 1923. the olf station is now the Rosalia Visitor Resource and Interpretive Center. Leaving town we spotted a nice old Victorian mansion.

The old route continued toward Thornton, where we were treated with some old original concrete pavement as it followed the abandoned railroad. We took a photo of a concrete drainage tunnel which was built in 1916 and goes under the railroad bed. After some photos of the old road, we drove through Thornton, and north to Spangle. From Spangle it is about 15 miles to Spokane. 

From Spokane it was west across the state back to Seattle.