Basalt Gardens/Wanapum Dunes, Washington

Wildflower Destinations > Central Washington

Basalt Gardens/Wanapum Dunes

Grant County, Washington

Bureau of Reclamation

Fees: none

Activity: hiking

Elevation: 815'-990'

Current status (as of 3/31/25): blooming

Notes: This funky little patch of public land, known variously as "Basalt Gardens" or "Wanapum Dunes," is an interesting mix of sand dunes and columnar basalt. It has no signage or formal trails, but there are lots of boot paths and game trails to explore. (The map on this page is only there to give you an idea of the extent of the Bureau of Reclamation land; walk wherever you want.)

Just 0.4 miles to the north of the Basalt Gardens pullout is "Basalt Pillars," a cliff-top plateau overlooking the Columbia River.

Peak wildflower bloom at Basalt Gardens/Wanapum Dunes is typically from late March through April into late May, but there may be some flowers blooming from early March until early June.*

Typical year:

Info links:

WNPS Columbia Basin

Photo albums: 2023

NWS weather forecast

Wildflowers in this area:

WildflowerSearch.org

iNaturalist observations

Consortium of PNW Herbaria

Featured plants: Abronia mellifera, Eremogone franklinii, Erigeron linearis, Oreocarya leucophaea, Penstemon gairdneri

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* The dates given on this Web site for each location's blooming season are only estimates and can vary from year to year. Weather conditions in the winter and spring can shift these dates by up to a month, especially in the mountains. For the latest updates, check the Oregon Wildflowers or PortlandHikers Facebook groups, or browse the most recent postings to iNaturalist or Instagram.