Riparian and Butterfly Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This trail through the Cowiche Creek riparian area showcases the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy's restoration and butterfly "Citizen Science" work in our vanishing Shrub-Steppe landscape.

The entry trail crosses an important meadow area which is being restored with native grasses, and then the irrigation and Cowiche Creek bridges. Passing the trailhead kiosk, turn onto Riparian Trail West, the pathway that follows Cowiche Creek to the "Butterfly Garden" which contains the Coronis and other butterfly species favorite feeding plants.

Beyond the Butterfly Garden, the singletrack crosses the riparian meadow on the Swallowtrail Trail, a trail through the area being developed to enhance butterfly habitat. You then connect back onto the Riparian Trail West which follows the meadow border back to the kiosk.

Deer, coyote, owls, rattlesnakes, many species of butterflies, and many other Shrub-Steppe creatures live in this unique riparian meadow setting.

This hike illustrates the restoration work that was one of the major the reasons for the purchasing and protecting the Snow Mountain Ranch property.