Easy trail that connects to the upland and the lower canyon trailheads
How long is the trail?
The full length of the trail is 6.26 miles roundtrip. However, since it is a out-and-back trail, you can make it however long you want.
How difficult is it?
Highlights: multiple trail connectors; dogs can be off-leash; mostly flat (if you stay on the main trail); shaded by the canyons; might be closed due to mud during the winter and early spring months; beware of possible rattlesnakes during the summer months
About the trail: The the Cowiche Canyon West Trail, which begins at the parking lot on Weikel Road, is a straight and easy path that dead-ends at the Cowiche Canyon East trailhead after 3.13 miles. For a shorter walk, consider venturing off on side trails and turning around sooner. After going straight on the Cowiche Canyon Trail for about two miles, you'll encounter a trail on the right called the East Uplands Trail, which heads steeply uphill and leads to the Scenic Drive (uplands) trailhead (follow the signs along the way, if you choose this route). The total length of the trail is 6.26 miles. You can do the out-and-back or take some of the other connecting trails to get to different trailheads. The trail is mostly flat and gravel.
Getting there: The trailhead is just off of the Weikel road down the hill from the Summitview road. There are ample parking spaces here. Here's the google map:
Our experience: We walk the main Cowiche Canyon trails a few times a week, choosing between three separate trailheads as our origin- Weikel (west), Cowiche Canyon Road (east), and Scenic Drive (uplands), all of which have gravel parking lots. With the many trail networks here, it's easy to get the dogs a good several-mile workout. One of the aspects we enjoy most about walking along the Cowiche Canyon Trail, whether we begin at the Weikel trailhead or the Cowiche Canyon East trailhead, is that it follows the Cowiche Creek and leads through the center of the canyon, providing a diversity of habitat and scenic views.
In the summer, we regularly see marmots here, climbing amongst the rock walls--but, be aware, we've also seen rattlesnakes along the trail. If starting at the Weikel trailhead, the first couple of miles of the trail are predominately shaded since its surrounded by steep canyon walls. Because only sparse sunlight reaches the path surface, you should be careful about slipping on ice if you are using this trail during the winter months, and definitely dress warm. This trail is best used during the summer since the canyons provide much-needed shade from the otherwise scorching sun!
Our dogs love this trail, simply because it is not heavily traveled and they are therefore able to run off-leash. If you are going to let you dogs off-leash here, please be mindful of other people using the trail and always pick up after your dog.
Check out the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy website for trail conditions, trail maps, and other details: https://www.cowichecanyon.org/trails/
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