When the summer temperatures soar, it is easy to find yourself longing for the reprieve of winter.
Even though there’s no snow in sight, it still feels like Christmas in July up at the Bluewood ski area where there is a bounty of wildflowers, a lush conifer forest, miles of trails, cooler temperatures, and beautiful mountain views.
This popular regional ski area known for its family-friendly slopes and powdery snow is also open to hiking during the summer months.
There’s something particularly special about hiking in an area that feels so familiar and yet so unrecognizable across different seasons. Encountering the ski area’s verdant mountain meadows in summer is a delightful experience.
While Bluewood welcomes hikers during the summer off-season, the parking lot remains gated. Hikers need to park outside the gate and walk about a half-mile up the road to the base of the 400-acre ski area.
While the green and blue trails may be marked as easy routes on the ski map, they can feel a bit steeper while hiking. Although the change in elevation makes for more moderate hiking, the trails are easy to follow and the footing secure.
We started out heading up the Country Road trail to the top of the hill, then continued out across Tamarack Trail, detouring up to Vintner’s Ridge in order to take in the great views before heading back down. Circumnavigating the ski area by this route, we covered five and a half miles in about an hour and a half. We got an earlier start to beat the temperatures that would continue rising with the sun, but even by mid-morning heading into the heat of the day the trails had plenty of shade and the mountain air remained pleasant.
In addition to the reprieve from summer temperatures and the beautiful mountain views, there are other perks to exploring the ski area in summer. These perks include wildlife sightings and wildflower pickings. And if you know what you’re looking for – even tasty treats. Mushrooms – including morels – can be foraged from the forest floor around Bluewood, and if you visit in August, huckleberries may be ripe for the picking. Check out the links for official guidelines on both.
Exploring Bluewood’s ski trails by foot in summer is yet another great way to enjoy the wide range of outdoor activities in this region.
Things to know before you go:
- The Bluewood ski area on the Umatilla National Forest is located on land that holds an important place in the traditions of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla tribes. Learn more about how the Blue Mountains, including this area, are used by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla to support their culture and way of life.
- While the ski area is open to hiking, none of the facilities are open to the public during the summer. There are toilet facilities near Bluewood at the Touchet Corral Sno-Park that are maintained by the Umatilla National Forest Recreation year-round.
- If you pack it in, pack it out. If you aren’t already, get familiar with these basic seven principles of Leave No Trace for protecting and preserving natural landscapes.
Getting there:
The Bluewood ski area is about 20 miles outside of Dayton, Washington. From Dayton, head southeast on South 4th Street. This road turns into North Touchet Road after 1.5 miles. Traveling along this road for another 19 miles, park at the Touchet Coral Sno-Park on the right. The Bluewood gate is just up the hill on the left. Do not park inside the gate, lest you risk getting your vehicle locked inside.