Name of area: Tieton River areas
Where: Between Yakima and White Pass, WA
How do I get there from Walla Walla?:Take Hwy. 12 to Tri-Cities. Take I-182 to I-82 and head west toward Yakima. On the north side of Yakima exit west onto Hwy. 12 toward Naches. At the major fork several miles past Naches stay left on Hwy. 12. The cliffs come into view shortly on the south side of the river. The most popular cliff band, called Royal Columns, is accessible from the Oak Creek Wildlife area, three miles above the fork. Other areas, such as The Bend and Moon Rocks are a few miles farther up the canyon.
How long of a drive is it? 2.5-3 hours
What's there?:Andesite columns of excellent quality with many, many good cracks as well as bolted face routes.
Land Ownership: Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife
Pros:Excellent crack routes.
Cons:Somewhat long and certainly boring drive. Can be very crowded, especially on weekends. There are seasonal closures (in the spring) to protect nesting raptors. Lots of rattlesnakes!
Comments:A great place for the aspiring traditional leader. Lots of moderate crack routes of good quality.