Howdy y'all,

I just moved to the Tri-cities from the Seattle area and I'm not too familiar with area yet. I want to start backpacking again, but I have no idea where to start in this area... or even if I can backpack in this area.

If anyone is familiar with this area of Washington state I'd appreciate some advice about where do some overnight backpacking trips.

Thanks,
Forester

I lived in Tri-Cities for 9 years, although I've been in Portland for the last 20. You can dayhike places like Badger Mountain, the Twin Sisters and the Juniper Dunes Wilderness. You'll find a few more listed on the website linked below. However, for backpacking the closest areas are the Cascades above Yakima or the Blue Mountains south of Pomeroy.

You might want to contact the Intermountain Alpine Club which does a number of dayhikes (at least one per weekend) and backpacks (I notice they're going to Hells Canyon over Memorial Day) and is a great place to meet other hikers and backpackers. With gas back up over $3 per gallon, it's also a good way to save money by car-pooling!

They aren't quite "near" you, but the Wallowas in NE Oregon are close enough for you to do some overnights in, coming out of the Tri-Cities. Eagle Cap wilderness has many outstanding trails you could explore. I haven't hiked in the Wenaha-Tucannon wilderness, but it looks to me like an interesting early season possibility.

Thanks for the advice people. Looks like I got some research to do ^-^

Sorry,my bad! I forgot the most important resource for trips in Washington-- the Washington Trails Association website.

There are some overnights you could work out in the Potholes area, up north of you near Othello. Now that trout season is open, though, you'll meet lots of fisherpersons in RVs! Ancient and Dusty Lakes near Quincy is another possibility. It is suggested you don't drink the water at the last because they drain lots of agricultural fields full of pesticides and such.