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

From Ellensburg to Yakima

We began our journey from Seattle, heading east on Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass towards Thorp. Upon reaching Thorp, we opted for a more scenic route by taking the old Thorp Highway into Ellensburg. This road, built in the 1930s, offers a nostalgic glimpse into the region’s past.

In Ellensburg, we enjoyed a quick breakfast before continuing our adventure. Initially, we had planned to take the original route south on Umptanum Road, which leads to Wenas. However, the 30-mile dirt road is known for being rough and potentially hazardous, so we decided against risking the slow journey. Instead, we took Interstate 82 to Selah, bypassing Wenas for now—though we later explored it in a Prius on a different trip.

Along the way, we stopped on the hillside overlooking Ellensburg, capturing beautiful photos of the town and its surroundings. As we descended into the Yakima Valley, we paused at the rest stop north of Selah. From there, we took in panoramic views of the town, with Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams looming in the distance. I also snapped a shot of the Interstate 82 bridge.

Upon reaching Selah, we rejoined the historical route, following South 1st Street through the town. Before the freeway crossed the river, we turned left onto what is now Golf Course Road. There was once an old bridge here, and remnants of the original concrete pavement can still be seen. The road connected to present-day Highway 823, which leads directly into Yakima. We continued south on 1st Street, making our way into Yakima.

From Yakima to the Tri-Cities

Leaving Yakima, we headed southeast on US-97 towards Zillah. Our first stop was a heritage marker commemorating a battle during the Yakama War of 1855. From this somber site, we continued on to Wapato, where we took a detour to visit Toppenish and its Northern Pacific Railroad Museum. The museum houses fascinating artifacts, and as I stood outside the old depot, I noticed the Yellowstone Park Line emblem above the front door—a nod to the region’s railroad history.

After exploring the museum, we crossed the Yakima River to the village of Donald and turned right onto Yakima Valley Highway. This road led us through Buena, a small town, where we passed the historic 1910 church. We arrived in Zillah and, at the intersection of 5th Street and 1st Avenue, were greeted by a newly posted Yellowstone Trail sign, a delightful reminder of our journey’s historic roots. While in Zillah, we made a quick stop to see the iconic Teapot Dome Gas Station, which was built in 1922 and moved 1.2 miles from its original location during the construction of Interstate 82.

Continuing out of Zillah on 1st Avenue, we rejoined the Yakima Valley Highway towards Granger. From Granger, the route followed Van Belle Road to Sunnyside, an official alignment after 1919. We drove through Sunnyside on Edison Street and then took a right onto Sunnyside-Mabton Road. After a left onto Grandview Pavement Road, we arrived in Grandview. From there, we took the Old Inland Empire Highway (OIE) into Prosser, stopping along the way to capture photos of the beautiful wine country and Yakima River.

Driving through the region with Mt. Adams in the distance, we saw the vast agricultural landscape that sustains much of the area's farming industry. After passing through Prosser, we continued on the OIE, now simply marked as "OIE".

Our next stop was Benton City, and after crossing the Yakima River, we arrived in Kiona. From Kiona, we took State Route 224 towards West Richland. Along Kennedy Road, we stopped for lunch and visited a few quilt shops that my wife loved. After she finished her shopping, we headed toward Kennewick. From Kennewick, we crossed the mighty Columbia River and arrived in Pasco. While in Pasco, we stopped at Sacajawea State Park, a historic site at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers, where Lewis and Clark once camped. Nearby, the old town of Ainsworth, once a bustling railroad hub, has all but disappeared.

From the Tri-Cities to Walla Walla

After leaving the Tri-Cities, we crossed the Snake River on US-12 and drove towards Walla Walla. The original route between Burbank and Wallula Junction is now underwater due to dam construction. We traced the old alignment as best we could before following US-12 into Touchet.

At the Walla Walla River, the trail diverged from US-12, continuing along Byrnes Road, which parallels the railroad tracks into Touchet. We passed through Touchet and made a brief stop in the old town of Lowden, where we photographed an abandoned gas station, store, and garage. Before reaching Walla Walla, we took a detour onto Old Highway 12 to visit Frenchtown, where historical markers recount the region's storied past. From there, we proceeded to Whitman Mission State Park, a key site on the Oregon Trail. We walked along a preserved section of the trail and climbed the hill to the monument for a sweeping view of the area.

From Walla Walla to Colfax

After spending the night in Walla Walla, we set off for Dixie the next morning, following US-12 north to Waitsburg. After taking photos of the quaint town, we drove on to Dayton, stopping to admire the 1881 railroad depot and the town’s historic courthouse. On the outskirts of Dayton, we discovered a 1915 bridge on Patit Road, a charming piece of history though not part of the original trail.

Back on US-12, we spotted another old alignment with a bridge over the Tucannon River, also from 1915. At the junction of SR-261 and US-12, we took a detour through Starbuck and followed the Snake River to Lyons Ferry. The bridge we crossed was originally built in 1927 at Vantage and relocated to Lyons Ferry in 1963. The scenic stop allowed us to capture photos of the river, the railroad trestle, and even some prairie dogs basking in the sun. Palouse Falls was a breathtaking sight, with numerous vistas offering photo opportunities.

After a satisfying visit, we drove through the rolling Palouse hills to Washtucna, where we spotted an old abandoned gas station and a former Chevrolet dealership. From there, we rejoined the trail at Colfax on US-26.

From Colfax to Spokane

In Colfax, we paused for a quick meal before heading north on US-195. The road led us through Steptoe and on to Rosalia, where we stopped to admire the old Milwaukee Road concrete trestle, still bearing the Yellowstone Trail marker. In Rosalia, we photographed some historic homes and the restored Texaco Station, built in 1923, which now serves as a visitor center.

Leaving Rosalia, we encountered a stretch of original concrete pavement near Thornton, where the road parallels an abandoned railroad line. We photographed a 1916 concrete drainage tunnel under the old railroad bed and continued our journey through Thornton, and then north to Spangle. Finally, we arrived in Spokane, marking the end of this leg of our Yellowstone Trail adventure.