Outside Walla Walla

Top 10 Hiking Trails in the Blues Finding trails to enjoy is what inspired Outside Walla Walla. With 715 miles of trails in the Umatilla National Forest and 2,700 miles in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, hiking opportunities are plentiful. These two forests account for roughly 3.3 million acres of public land across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. What It’s Like to Hike in the Blue Mountains R...

Before we grew our family, Steve and I knew we wanted to raise our kids engaging with the outdoors as much as possible. OutsideWallaWalla.com is the result of a giant research project, and the kids have been along for the ride the entire time. Plenty of naps happened on a trail in the backpack carrier, and now they often outpace my hiking stride. Walla Walla has a well-deserved reputation as a pre...

When the weather warms up and the rivers swell, there's no better way to cool off and explore the Walla Walla Valley and the surrounding Blue Mountains than by heading straight for the water. At Outside Walla Walla, we’re passionate about getting folks outdoors and into the wild beauty of our region—so we’ve paddled, floated, and splashed our way through some of the best local water adventures...

When is the best time to ride in the Walla Walla Valley? When winter hasn’t quite relinquished to spring at higherelevations. When the Dogwoods are blooming and the alkali bees are coming out of hibernation. When the promise of summer’s heat yields the opportunity to watch the sunrise over the Blue Mountains. When fall’s crisp air and longshadows reveal the patterns of summer’s harvest. When peopl...

Wine, wheat, and onions—yes, Walla Walla does all three well. Hiking, biking, birding, kayaking—turns out, Walla Walla is a hub for outdoor recreation too. Walla Walla is an exceptional home base to explore vast arrays of terrain and engage in a whole host of outdoor activities. Agriculture put us on the map, but the valley has evolved into a wonderfully welcoming, flat-out fun place to spend a we...

Southeast Washington is a vast landscape. In just one county the annual rainfall can vary at times by 30 inches. Natural springs bubble up throughout the Blue Mountains while sage brush anchors the dry, desert soils. Sprinkled throughout the region are numerous small towns that reflect this diverse landscape.  Restaurants capture the local food scene; coffee shops provide a meeting place where big...

Basalt flows dating back millions of years spread far and wide; iconic Pacific Northwest rivers shifted course, trading channels; massive floods shaped the landscape for thousands of years, Wallula Gap’s past is a convergence—of geologic events, of rivers, of civilization. For a full write up of our experience exploring this area, please visit the blog . There are lots of links, book recommendatio...

Outside Walla Walla is a website showcasing outdoor recreation throughout the Walla Walla valley and northern Blue Mountain region. Enjoy four-season fun. This podcast, we focus on snow sports. Do you have little kids who like to sled? Let's be honest; adults enjoy the thrill too. The variety of snow adventures span two states, so curl up around the fire with a cup of hot chocolate while you l...

It is possible to hike all year! There are a handful of lower trailheads near the South Fork Umatilla River that provide a scenic reprieve from the pace of winter holidays, commitments, and resolutions. For more information and links to the details, check out our Winter Hiking in the Blue Mountains blog and video . The full Outside Walla Walla GUIDE is coming soon!

Launching our Recreation U series, Gwen introduces the steps she took to feeling more confident outdoors. Hint—she loves information!

There is so much to do and see! In this episode, Outside Walla Walla talks about a few things to consider when planning an outdoor adventure as well as the tools and information available on outsidewallawalla.com!

Our Instagram feed doesn’t tell the full story. There are many challenges that come with recreation, so leave your expectations at home and enjoy the experience!

What is Outside Walla Walla? Why are we doing this?  Outside Walla Walla is an experience. One that leads to great adventures. A website packed full of tales of exploring the wild and ideas about how to create your own story. There are so many scenic, historic, protected, magical places surrounding the Walla Walla Valley, and we want to show them to you.  Call it a staycation or long wee...

OutsideWallaWalla.com showcases outdoor recreation across the Blue Mountain Region encompassing northeast Oregon and southeast Washington. This podcast features stories, interviews, and tips to discover your next adventure!