Traveling Huntleys

Inspiring travel stories, tips, and guides from a couple exploring the world one destination at a time.

Yakima, Kennewick & Walla Walla, Washington: Wine Country & Yakima River Canyon

by

Last Updated: June 22, 2026

Leaving the lush evergreen forests of the Pacific Northwest behind, we traded rain for sunshine as we drove south from Kent, Washington through the Cascades toward Yakima. The landscape transformation is dramatic — within an hour, towering firs give way to rolling golden hills and wide open skies, signaling the beginning of Washington’s celebrated wine country. From there we traced a path east through Kennewick and on to Walla Walla, one of the most acclaimed wine regions in the American West.

Yakima River Canyon scenic byway, Washington — sweeping views of basalt cliffs and the Yakima River, photographed by Michael Huntley travel blogger

Yakima

Visitor Information: Yakima Valley is Washington’s oldest and largest wine region, home to more than 120 wineries stretching from Ellensburg south through the valley. Yakima Valley Tourism: 10 North 8th Street, Yakima, WA 98901. Phone: (509) 575-3010. Website: visityakima.com.

Michael Huntley's Newmar Dutch Star motorhome and Jeep tow vehicle parked at Suntides RV Park on a golf course in Yakima, Washington

We settled in at Suntides RV Park, a full-service park situated on a golf course on the western edge of Yakima. It’s primarily a long-term resident community, but the city of Yakima requires them to maintain a handful of short-term sites — we were glad to snag one for a few nights. The park was quiet and well-kept, a comfortable base for exploring the valley.

Sandy Huntley wine tasting at Kana Winery in Yakima, Washington — one of the Yakima Valley's boutique tasting rooms

Wine tasting opportunities in Yakima were more limited than what awaited us in Walla Walla, but we found some real gems. At Kana Winery, we struck up a wonderful conversation with our server — a free-spirited woman who splits her time between teaching painting classes and pouring wine in the tasting room. Her last adventure before landing at Kana? Working as a belly dancer in Egypt. The Pacific Northwest has a way of attracting fascinating people.

Interior of Kana Winery tasting room in Yakima, Washington — Yakima Valley wine country
Unripe grape clusters on the vine at Kana Winery in Yakima, Washington — Yakima Valley wine country in summer

Yakima River Canyon

It was the owner of our Kennewick RV park who first suggested we drive the Yakima River Canyon — it had never come up in any of our internet searches, which made the discovery all the sweeter. The Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway follows State Route 821 for approximately 25 miles between Yakima and Ellensburg, tracing the river through dramatic basalt cliffs and open rangeland. If you visit Yakima and skip this drive, you’re missing the best thing in the area.

Visitor Information: The Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway (SR-821) runs between Yakima and Ellensburg, Washington. Access: from Yakima, take N 1st Street north and follow signs for SR-821 North. The drive is approximately 25 miles and takes 30–45 minutes one way. No admission fee. Website: Washington State Scenic Byways.

Bald Eagle perched in a cottonwood tree in the Yakima River Canyon, Washington — wildlife photography by Michael Huntley travel blogger

The canyon walls rose on both sides of the river, painted in layers of rust and gold, with hawks circling on thermals overhead. What made the drive truly special was the wildlife. We spotted Bald Eagles perched in riverside cottonwoods, Osprey tending to their massive stick nests on rocky outcroppings, and Bighorn Sheep picking their way along impossibly steep canyon slopes as if gravity were simply optional. Michael had his camera working overtime.

A pair of Osprey in their nest on a rocky outcropping in the Yakima River Canyon, Washington — wildlife photography by Michael Huntley travel blogger
Two Osprey perched in a tree along the Yakima River Canyon scenic byway, Washington
An Osprey in its nest along the Yakima River Canyon, Washington — SR-821 scenic byway wildlife photography by Michael Huntley
A Bald Eagle at its nest in the Yakima River Canyon, Washington — wildlife photography by Michael Huntley travel blogger
Female Bighorn Sheep on the canyon walls of the Yakima River Canyon, Washington — wildlife along SR-821 scenic byway
Female Bighorn Sheep navigating the steep basalt slopes of the Yakima River Canyon, Washington

The Yakima River is one of Washington’s premier blue-ribbon catch-and-release fly fishing streams, and the canyon was lined with anglers wading knee-deep in the current. Just as many locals were floating downstream on inner tubes, riding the lazy current in the summer heat with cold drinks in hand. We stopped for lunch at Red’s Fly Shop — a classic Pacific Northwest institution perched right on the riverbank — and watched the parade of floaters drift past while we ate.

Sandy Huntley having lunch on the deck at Red's Fly Shop overlooking the Yakima River in the Yakima River Canyon, Washington
Vintage distillery poster at Red's Fly Shop in the Yakima River Canyon, Washington — a classic Pacific Northwest fly fishing destination

Kennewick, Washington

Michael Huntley's Newmar Dutch Star motorhome and Jeep tow vehicle at Columbia Sun RV Resort in Kennewick, Washington — Tri-Cities area RV park

Kennewick is one of the three cities that make up Washington’s Tri-Cities area, along with Richland and Pasco, all situated at the confluence of the Columbia, Snake, and Yakima Rivers. We set up at Columbia Sun RV Resort, which offered full hookups, decent wifi, and good southern sky exposure for our satellite dish. The clubhouse was lovely, though it had been temporarily taken over by a little league baseball tournament — lively, if you’re in the mood for it.

Sandy was fighting a cold, which kept our activities limited, but we had a wonderful visit with Michael’s sister Terri, who was passing through on her way to see family. Sometimes a road trip calls for a quiet day, a good conversation, and an early night — and Kennewick delivered exactly that.

Walla Walla, Washington

Sandy Huntley standing beside the Newmar Dutch Star motorhome and Jeep tow vehicle at Blue Valley RV Park in Walla Walla, Washington
Blue Valley RV Park in Walla Walla, Washington — a convenient base for exploring Walla Walla wine country

Visitor Information: Walla Walla wine country centers around a historic downtown with dozens of walkable tasting rooms, plus rural estate wineries southeast of town. Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance: 26 East Main Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362. Phone: (509) 526-3117. Most downtown tasting rooms open daily 10am–5pm; hours vary by winery. Website: wallawallawine.com.

Walla Walla had been near the top of our list since we started planning this Pacific Northwest loop. Washington’s most celebrated wine region sits in the far southeastern corner of the state, just miles from the Oregon border, and its reputation for bold Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot is well deserved. We stayed at Blue Valley RV Park, which offered full hookups, decent wifi, and good satellite views — and is conveniently close to downtown.

Temperatures climbed into the high 90s during our stay, which made outdoor vineyard visits feel more like an endurance test than a pleasure. We stuck to the air-conditioned downtown tasting rooms, where we sampled wines from Cockburn Ranch Vineyard — their Dolcetto was a standout — and Bergevin Lane Vineyards. Sandy, never one to let heat slow her down entirely, found a shady spot to set up her paints and capture the landscape while we weren’t tasting.

Bottles of Dolcetto wine from Cockburn Ranch Vineyard in Walla Walla, Washington — one of the valley's distinctive varietals
Bottles of red wine from Bergevin Lane Vineyards in Walla Walla, Washington — a celebrated Walla Walla wine producer
A skeleton dressed in a cowboy hat and sunglasses at a Walla Walla winery tasting room, Washington — the playful spirit of Walla Walla wine country

Overall, the downtown wines were good and tasting fees reasonable, though bottle prices ran higher than we expected relative to the quality. We suspect the rural estate tasting rooms — out among the actual vines — offer a richer experience. Something to keep in mind for a future visit, ideally in the cooler days of September when harvest is underway. For more Washington wine country, we also loved the Willamette Valley earlier in our trip — a wonderful contrast in wine styles.

Practical Tips

Visit in spring or fall. Summer temperatures in the Yakima Valley and Walla Walla regularly exceed 100°F, which we can confirm makes wine tasting considerably less enjoyable. Late spring (May–June) and fall harvest season (September–October) offer ideal weather, better energy at the wineries, and festival events throughout both valleys.

Don’t skip the Yakima River Canyon. This is genuinely the most underrated thing to do in the Yakima area — you won’t find it in most travel guides, but the 25-mile drive along SR-821 is spectacular. Go in the morning for the best wildlife activity and light for photography. We saw Bald Eagles, Osprey, and Bighorn Sheep without leaving the road.

Book Suntides RV Park early. With most sites occupied by long-term residents, short-term availability is very limited. If it’s full, the Tri-Cities area in Kennewick offers more options and is an easy drive to both the canyon and Yakima’s tasting rooms.

In Walla Walla, try the rural estate wineries if your schedule and the weather allow. The downtown tasting rooms are convenient and walkable, but the estate wineries southeast of town offer a more complete wine country experience among the actual vines. Plan a half-day and drive the vineyard roads when temperatures are reasonable.