Hopefully you'll get some additional feedback, but if you are going for full green fields, you'd still probably be better off in early June.
The best way to get an idea of when the Canola will be in bloom and when winter and spring crops will be green or mixed greens and yellows, send an e-mail or call the Whitman County extension office. They should be able to tell you how things are shaping up, however it will probably be a little early for them to know more than generalities at this point. They would have a better idea further into spring.
I don't know which side of the mountains you live, but early spring on the west side doesn't always indicate how far along things will be on the east side given the different rain pattern's etc. they get over there. Things can change late in the spring pushing crops to ripen faster or slower than what is expected in the late winter or early spring.
I grew up and lived there until about 9 years ago.
Posted by Dennis Plank on March 16, 2010 at 1:04 PM
Magnuson Butte (some maps spell it differently). It's about 10 miles west of Spokane, and just east of Reardan. From Reardan drive a bit over a mile east on Hwy to to Waukon Rd. Turn south and drive until you see the Grange Hall on the left. Turn right there on a Titchenal Rd. You'll cross a farm road and then see a road angling uphill to the right. It goes to the top of the butte which has an antenna farm (not particularly photogenic). However the hollow to the east at the top of the Butte is a 400 acre Nature Conservancy preserve and it's one of the largest remnants of Palouse wildflowers left. Great any time from mid April through early June and nice farmscapes from the top. Do not attempt the Titchenal if it's been raining and if it threatens rain when you're on top-get off! Titchenal is gumbo in places and becomes slicker than ice. If you're into individual wildflowers and want to walk around the preserve, contact the Washington office of The Nature Conservancy for permission.
Check out Kamiak Butte as well. There are some very nice scenes possible. You can camp here, but if you do, you are shut into (or out of) the camp from dusk until 7am, which is fine if you plan on doing sunrise and sunset from the butte on the day you camp there, but not so good as a base of operations for other sites.
If you have a day to just drive side roads, you come across some interesting and unique scenes. There are lots of winding roads and small towns. Take a drive up 270 through Palouse, Oakesdale and Tekoa. Taking a variety of side roads can yield results.
There is a covered bridge over the Palouse river off of Manning road, north of Colfax. Go north on Green Hollow Road at the north end of town, and then take a left on Manning road. You'll start driving up a hill and when you look back down toward the river you'll see the bridge. I believe the bridge itself is on private property, but I don't remember for sure. It's located here: 46.928291,-117.415313
I'm not sure who the land owner is or if they are photographer friendly, but you can get some nice comps from the road. You'll most likely be shooting toward the east/southeast.
There is a nice round barn on the Old Moscow Road near Pullman. The people who were living there years ago allowed access, but I don't know if that is the case today. I believe there was some restoration work done in 2000-2001 You can get some nice comps of the barn from the road, but the owners will probably allow access since it is photographed frequently. It's located at 46.70437,-117.124183.
I'm sure you've seen the "Wheel Barn" in Uniontown. The owers are photographer friendly and allow quite a bit of access with permission.
Of course, if you aren't into barns or bridges, the info I just gave you is a little useless, other than shooting patterns and scenes from the buttes, which is cool on it's own.
Posted by David Bostock on March 17, 2010 at 9:09 PM
Ryan, I am currently thinking of heading that way in late April...too early?
Ryan and Dennis, all of that was a big help ... geocords even! Can't thank you enough. Looking forward to exploring but it's always nice to have a few benchmark sure bets. Cheers.
David, You will still have the opportunity to get some good field patterns and such, but the spring crops might not be too far along, depending on how early they are able to seed. If it has been dry enough, they could be planting this month (I've seen some plant in Feb in some years and as late as mid April in others if it was long winter and too wet to sow).
You should have some nice contrast with green winter crops and fallow ground or recently seeded ground that will give you some very nice lines. I'd suspect it would be too early for canola to be blooming, but again, I've seen it bloom in April and in May before. It depends on quite a few conditions there. That's why a call to the local extension office can be helpful.
Discussion
6 repliesGiven that we are having an early spring in Washington, when would be the best time to visit? Early May?
What other areas are recommended? Good places to camp? Best towns that time forgot?
Many thanks in advance for any suggestions!
The best way to get an idea of when the Canola will be in bloom and when winter and spring crops will be green or mixed greens and yellows, send an e-mail or call the Whitman County extension office. They should be able to tell you how things are shaping up, however it will probably be a little early for them to know more than generalities at this point. They would have a better idea further into spring.
http://www.whitman.wsu.edu/
I don't know which side of the mountains you live, but early spring on the west side doesn't always indicate how far along things will be on the east side given the different rain pattern's etc. they get over there. Things can change late in the spring pushing crops to ripen faster or slower than what is expected in the late winter or early spring.
I grew up and lived there until about 9 years ago.
Have fun.
If you have a day to just drive side roads, you come across some interesting and unique scenes. There are lots of winding roads and small towns. Take a drive up 270 through Palouse, Oakesdale and Tekoa. Taking a variety of side roads can yield results.
There is a covered bridge over the Palouse river off of Manning road, north of Colfax. Go north on Green Hollow Road at the north end of town, and then take a left on Manning road. You'll start driving up a hill and when you look back down toward the river you'll see the bridge. I believe the bridge itself is on private property, but I don't remember for sure. It's located here: 46.928291,-117.415313
I'm not sure who the land owner is or if they are photographer friendly, but you can get some nice comps from the road. You'll most likely be shooting toward the east/southeast.
There is a nice round barn on the Old Moscow Road near Pullman. The people who were living there years ago allowed access, but I don't know if that is the case today. I believe there was some restoration work done in 2000-2001 You can get some nice comps of the barn from the road, but the owners will probably allow access since it is photographed frequently. It's located at 46.70437,-117.124183.
I'm sure you've seen the "Wheel Barn" in Uniontown. The owers are photographer friendly and allow quite a bit of access with permission.
Of course, if you aren't into barns or bridges, the info I just gave you is a little useless, other than shooting patterns and scenes from the buttes, which is cool on it's own.
You should have some nice contrast with green winter crops and fallow ground or recently seeded ground that will give you some very nice lines. I'd suspect it would be too early for canola to be blooming, but again, I've seen it bloom in April and in May before. It depends on quite a few conditions there. That's why a call to the local extension office can be helpful.