This Quiet Pacific Northwest City Is Hiding In Plain Sight

It is rare to find a destination where you can ski down a mountain and tour a sunny vineyard in the same weekend. Yakima, Washington, is precisely that kind of place. With the Cascades nearby, this city really makes the most of its four seasons. Travelers can be out on Nordic skis in the winter, later hiking the Yakima River Canyon when the summer rolls around. And there is never a bad time to stop for a sparkling wine tasting or a freshly baked pastry! Let’s dive into the best of Yakima and all the reasons it deserves the top spot on your 2026 travel list.

Canyon Hikes

Yakima is surrounded by canyons, resulting in some of the most unique hikes you will find in Washington. Travelers hoping to build their itinerary around the various canyons can start at the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy Trails, which manages over 7,000 acres. Throughout the preserve, trails wind through basalt cliffs, wildflower meadows, sagebrush, and grasslands. While the main trail remains fairly flat, it eventually connects to steeper terrain in the Cowiche Canyon Uplands.

The Yakima River Canyon also has several recreation sites for visitors to explore. This river winds through basalt cliffs for 27 miles, some rising over 2,000 feet, extending from Ellensburg to Yakima. Trout fishing, camping, and rafting are also popular activities. For a bird’s-eye view of the Yakima Canyon, plan a hike on the Yakima Skyline Trail, which extends for a little over four miles round trip, featuring an elevation gain of about 1,450 feet.

Winter Recreation

If you are itching for some snow, you will love how close Yakima is to the mountains. Driving about an hour west of town, you will hit the White Pass Ski area, which offers spectacular views of Mount Rainier. Spanning roughly 1,500 acres, this area has Nordic ski trails of all levels, along with trails and tours for snowshoeing. Travelers looking to learn or fine-tune their skiing skills will be glad to know the area offers classes and workshops for all ability levels. And, of course, alpine ski and snowboard rentals are available. Ahtanum Meadows Sno-Park is another popular option, located about a 45-minute drive from downtown Yakima. Featuring 53 miles of motorized trails, this park is great for those who want to spend the afternoon snowmobiling.

Yakima Valley Wineries

As part of the Yakima Valley, Yakima serves as a gateway to over 90 wineries in the area. While it is hard to go wrong with a visit to any of them, a few wineries stand out, including the Owen Roe Estate, which is about 15 minutes south of Yakima. This winery has been producing wine since 1999 and offers both outdoor and indoor tastings of its Washington and Oregon wines. Gilbert Cellars lies on the southwestern edge of town and uses sustainable farming and low-intervention winemaking to produce its wines. Beyond wine tastings, the vineyard also hosts occasional events, including red wine and chocolate weekends and features from local food vendors.

You can also find wineries here that specialize in sparkling varieties! Treveri Cellars is a wonderful example, producing sparkling rosés, Rieslings, Blanc de Blancs, and Gewürztraminer, among other types. Check out Yakima’s event calendar before planning your visit, as the town hosts periodic wine festivals throughout the year. The Spring Barrel Weekend is coming up in April, when wineries throughout the valley celebrate their new releases with special tasting events and spring festivities.

Culinary Scene

You haven't truly seen Yakima until you’ve tasted it, so make sure to dedicate some time to exploring its bakeries and restaurants! To start out the day, you can grab a bite at Essencia Artisan Bakery, which serves freshly baked breads, pastries, cookies, and other sweet treats. Later in the day, you can enjoy a meal at Cowiche Canyon Kitchen + Icehouse, an American-style tavern specializing in classic dishes like steaks, burgers, soups, mac and cheese, and more. Public House of Yakima is a tasty place to wrap up your evening, offering 120 taps of beer and cider at two locations in town. They also serve hearty pub fare favorites, such as loaded nachos, flatbreads, sandwiches, and Bavarian pretzels.

A Pacific Northwest City Defined by Range

This year feels like the right time to explore some of the Pacific Northwest’s lesser-known destinations, and Yakima fits that description well. It has strong snow-based recreation in the winter, along with canyon hikes and wildflower meadows once the snow melts. A trip here also centers easily around good food and local wine, which remain part of the experience year-round. Taken together, Yakima offers a mix of landscape, activity, and dining that feels varied without feeling overbuilt.