This article first appeared in the Methow Valley News, April 10, 2019
Any fan of Steve Martin’s hilarious comedy, “The Jerk,” will
remember his uncontrollable excitement when the new phone books arrived.
I re-enact that scene every spring, with slightly different
words. “The new blossoms are here! The new blossoms are here!” Or, “The birds
are back! The birds are back!” Or, my favorite sentiment, “The trails are open!
The trails are open! Things are going to start happening for me now.”
Some of the lower-elevation trails are ready for traipsing,
including the Golden Doe area south of Twisp. That trail has everything:
buttercup blossoms, mountain views and wetlands filled with birds. A recent
foray yielded views and songs from redwing blackbirds, spotted towhees and
western meadowlarks. For details on the Golden Doe unit of the Methow Wildlife
Area, access the Lower
Valley column from last year.
If you are looking for a cure to cabin fever, wide open
spaces with long-range views are the balm-diggity. (I just made that term up,
patent pending.) For views of the Cascades, a symphony of bird songs and
glimpses of the mighty Columbia, I highly recommend an excursion to the Central
Ferry Canyon Unit of the Wells Wildlife Area. Over a thousand acres — 1,914 to
be exact — of shrub steppe and mixed forest provide the perfect backdrop to
birdsong resonance in the mornings and late afternoons.
To find the Central Ferry Canyon Unit of the Wells Wildlife
Area, cross the Columbia River at the bridge in Brewster. You can’t miss it.
It’s the only bridge in Brewster. Turn right on Crane Orchard Road. Travel for
3.3 miles and turn left on Central Ferry Canyon Road, a well-maintained dirt
road. Follow Central Ferry Canyon Road for a little over a mile until entering
the Wells Wildlife Area, marked by a sign.
In the wildlife area there are three different parking areas
off the main road, all marked by Discover Pass signs. Not all areas have
maintained trails. For a distinct jeep track trail, I recommend following
Central Ferry Canyon road up towards the ridge and using the third parking area
found on the left-hand side of the road, below the tree line. For more
information on the Central Ferry Canyon Unit of the Wells Wildlife Area, visit
https://wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/wildlife-areas/central-ferry-canyon-wildlife-area-unit.
For those who enjoy a picturesque walk amongst gravestones,
Packwood Memorial Cemetery is located at the top of the ridge, within the pine
trees.
Finish up your excursion with a meal at Camperos Mexican
Restaurant. The colorful décor is as much a feast for the senses as is the
menu. The walls are a canvas of brilliant murals depicting orchard life in
Brewster, and a nod to Mexican ancestry and culture. Camperos is located at 301
E. Main Ave. in Brewster. Or, get a feast to go from La Milpa, featuring
amazing fresh-baked Mexican pastries, and family platters from their deli. La
Milpa is located at 324 E. Main Ave. The chili rellenos will have you
channeling Billy Idol, “More! More! More!”
