Washington State Parks: Jarrell Cove

To borrow a phrase from my sister when she described Jarrell Cove, this is a little gem of a park.

With two large docks, 14 off-shore moorage bouys and several boat-in camping areas, Jarrell Cove is used primarily for boaters out fishing in the waters off Key Peninsula or out for a relaxing paddle around the islands. But there is so much more to this park.

A trail allows visitors to stroll through the forest, towering douglas-fir reaching towards the sky with salal and sword fern greening the forest floor. Wildflowers and mushrooms peak out from under moss covered logs that appear to glow in the light. It's a forest that seems so wild but always just a few yards from the campground and road.

But there is more. Walk to the "L" dock for views further into the cove. Come here in the morning to catch the morning glow over the trees or the evening to catch the last rays of light on those same trees - it will feel different in the different light. On the "T" dock look across to the boats moored on the other side of the cove or look out into Pickering Passage.

Come to Jarrell Cove for a quiet respite, your camera will not be disappointed.

To get here: From Shelton drive north on Highway 3 for 6 miles or south on Highway 3 from Bremerton for 23 1/2 miles. Turn east on E Pickering Rd for 3 miles across the Harstine Island Bridge then turn left on North Island Dr. Follow North Island Drive for 3 1/2 miles and turn left on E Wingert Rd to the park.

Washington State Parks: Wanapum

The mighty Columbia River starts with not so humble beginnings in the Columbia Icefields of the Canadian Rockies and flows 1,243 miles to the Pacific Ocean. When Lewis & Clark first explored the west and David Douglas investigated the native flora and fauna, the Columbia ran free and wild. But in recent history this grand river was tamed and tethered, passing through 14 dams providing flood control, irrigation and electricity to the populations of the northwest.

Among these is Wanapum Dam which forms LakeWanapum near Vantage. The dam lies south of Vantage and between the town and the dam on the shores of Lake Wanapum lies Wanapum State Park.

Sitting on a small hill above the lake, Wanapum has a nice view of the dam to the south – far enough away the ever illuminated lights aren’t a nuisance to campers. Wait for the vibrant blue of twilight and the lights from the dam against twilight and the canyon walls can make a compelling image. Walk through the sage hillside in the spring to photograph wildflowers in the scrubby brush. Beautiful floral colors against the grey green sage creates a beautiful contrast.

When the waters in Lake Wanapum are low, walk the sandy beach between the day use area and the boat ramp. The beach here is littered with thousands of tiny clam shells, some no larger than a dime. Try photographing them backlit by the sun to show off their glowing transluscence.

For a small park built primarily for camping to accommodate the visitors to Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park to the north and boaters visiting Lake Wanapum, Wanapum State Park has a lot of potential for beauty.

To get there:  From I-90 either east or west take exit 136 from Vantage/Huntzinger Rd. Turn south and drive for 3 miles to the park.

Washington State Parks: Ginkgo Petrified Forest

Once upon a time there was a vast forest covering what is now the dry landscape of eastern Washington. Douglas-fir, oak, hemlock, walnut and ginkgo forested the land stretching for miles in a blanket of greens. Then volcanic eruptions blanketed the land east of the cascades in lava and ash killing the forest and covering lakes. Soon any logs that had fallen into the lakes were preserved in a chemical process where nutrients in the logs were replaced with silica turning them to stone.

Fossilized trees.

Kind of cool really. But what’s really cool about the petrified trees of Ginkgo is that this is one of the few places on earth where fossilized remains of ginkgo trees exist. Ginkgo trees no longer grow naturally in the wild, they are a cultivated tree but at one time they could be found in forests growing freely. And this is why Ginkgo State Park is named after the tree – it holds the proof that these trees were once wild.

The park is essentially separated in two distinct areas although much of the land surrounding Ginkgo is under Washington State Park protection, it is undeveloped. The developed areas contain 3 miles of hiking trails, picnic areas, boat launch and Interpretive Center. 

The first area of the park is where you will see the petrified trees. Looping trails meander through the hills giving you views of the sage country and glimpses of the petrified trees. The trees are partially submerged in the earth locked behind iron fencing. But it you place your lens on the fencing and zoom in past the fence, you can easily capture details of the trunks. Also bring along a medium sized diffuser to help block the sun from casting harsh shadows across your subject. But the trees aren't the only things to photograph here. Song birds fly and sing amongst the sage brush and in the spring flowers spread across the land shaded by the shrubs. And the views are simple yet soothing.

In the town of Vantage is the second area to explore. High on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River stands the interpretive center telling the story of the natural and cultural histories of the area. Here you can find more petrified logs and petroglyphs rescued from the flooding River when Wanapum Dam was built about 5 miles south of the park. From this vantage point, you have views up and down the Columbia River and the basalt cliffs that contain the river.

A trip to both areas is well worth your time.

To get there: From I-90 heading either east or west, take exit 136 (Vantage/Huntzinger Rd) and turn north to Vantage.  For the Interpretive Center, drive through Vantage on Main St and turn right on Ginkgo Ave. Drive to the end to the parking lot. For the Petrified Forest trails, continue on Main St as it curves to the left and becomes Vantage Highway. The parking area for the trails is approximately 2 miles on the right.