Jeff Goulden Washington State Desert Pictures, Images and Stock Photos

This senior female hiker reaches the top of a ridge on the Cowiche Canyon Trail. Cowiche Canyon is near Yakima, Washington State, USA.

East of the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s climate is arid and the terrain is desert-like. Summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in regions such as the Yakima Valley and the Columbia River Plateau. This is an area of rolling hills and flatlands. During the last Ice Age, 18,000 to 13,000 years ago, floods flowed across this land, causing massive erosion and leaving carved basalt canyons, waterfalls and coulees known as the Channeled Scablands. The Quincy Lakes area is part of the scablands of central Washington State. Visitors to this area will experience basalt cliffs, mesas, benches, canyons and potholes. Several of the potholes have become lakes that are filled with water seeping from the irrigation of nearby upslope farmlands. Ancient and Dusty lakes are two examples that have added to fish and wildlife diversity and have also become important recreational areas. Ancient Lake and Dusty Lake are in the Quincy Wildlife Recreation Area near Quincy, Washington State, USA.

East of the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s climate is arid and the terrain is desert-like. Summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in regions such as the Yakima Valley and the Columbia River Plateau. This is an area of rolling hills and flatlands. During the last Ice Age, 18,000 to 13,000 years ago, floods flowed across this land, causing massive erosion and leaving carved basalt canyons, waterfalls and coulees known as the Channeled Scablands. This scene of rolling hills was photographed from Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park near Vantage, Washington State, USA.

East of the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s climate is arid and the terrain is desert-like. Summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in regions such as the Yakima Valley and the Columbia River Plateau. This is an area of rolling hills and flatlands. During the last Ice Age, 18,000 to 13,000 years ago, floods flowed across this land, causing massive erosion and leaving carved basalt canyons, waterfalls and coulees known as the Channeled Scablands. The Quincy Lakes area is part of the scablands of central Washington State. Visitors to this area will experience basalt cliffs, mesas, benches, canyons and potholes. Several of the potholes have become lakes that are filled with water seeping from the irrigation of nearby upslope farmlands. Ancient and Dusty lakes are two examples that have added to fish and wildlife diversity and have also become important recreational areas. Ancient Lake and Dusty Lake are in the Quincy Wildlife Recreation Area near Quincy, Washington State, USA.

East of the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s climate is arid and the terrain is desert-like. Summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in regions such as the Yakima Valley and the Columbia River Plateau. This is an area of rolling hills and flatlands. During the last Ice Age, 18,000 to 13,000 years ago, floods flowed across this land, causing massive erosion and leaving carved basalt canyons, waterfalls and coulees known as the Channeled Scablands. This scene of rolling hills and sagebrush was photographed on Umtanum Ridge near Ellensburg, Washington State, USA.

East of the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s climate is arid and the terrain is desert-like. Summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in regions such as the Yakima Valley and the Columbia River Plateau. This is an area of rolling hills and flatlands. During the last Ice Age, 18,000 to 13,000 years ago, floods flowed across this land, causing massive erosion and leaving carved basalt canyons, waterfalls and coulees known as the Channeled Scablands. Frenchman Coulee is a valley leading through the scablands and down to the Columbia River. Volcanic in origin, it is defined by basalt cliffs. Frenchman Coulee is near Vantage, Washington State, USA.

East of the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s climate is arid and the terrain is desert-like. Summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in regions such as the Yakima Valley and the Columbia River Plateau. This is an area of rolling hills and flatlands. During the last Ice Age, 18,000 to 13,000 years ago, floods flowed across this land, causing massive erosion and leaving carved basalt canyons, waterfalls and coulees known as the Channeled Scablands. This scene of a beaver dam on Umtanum Creek was photographed in the L. T. Murray State Wildlife Recreation Area between Ellensburg and Yakima, Washington State, USA.

Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) is a North American flowering plant in the sunflower tribe of the aster family. It is widespread across the western United States and western Canada. It is drought tolerant and grows in diverse habitats from grassland to mountain forest and desert. The plant’s native range extends from British Columbia to the Mojave Desert of California and as far east as the Black Hills of South Dakota. The round to oval shaped leaves are covered in fine hair. The distinctive orange-yellow leaves make the plant easy to identify. These arrowleaf balsamroot were photographed in Cowiche Canyon near Yakima, Washington State, USA.

East of the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s climate is arid and the terrain is desert-like. Summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in regions such as the Yakima Valley and the Columbia River Plateau. This is an area of rolling hills and flatlands. During the last Ice Age, 18,000 to 13,000 years ago, floods flowed across this land, causing massive erosion and leaving carved basalt canyons, waterfalls and coulees known as the Channeled Scablands. This scene of rolling hills was photographed from Umtanum Creek Canyon in the L. T. Murray State Wildlife Recreation Area between Ellensburg and Yakima, Washington State, USA.

East of the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s climate is arid and the terrain is desert-like. Summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in regions such as the Yakima Valley and the Columbia River Plateau. This is an area of rolling hills and flatlands. During the last Ice Age, 18,000 to 13,000 years ago, floods flowed across this land, causing massive erosion and leaving carved basalt canyons, waterfalls and coulees known as the Channeled Scablands. This scene of the Yakima River was photographed from Umtanum Creek Canyon in the L. T. Murray State Wildlife Recreation Area between Ellensburg and Yakima, Washington State, USA.

There are many pothole lakes and ponds in the scablands of Central Washington. Corral Lake is in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge near Othello, Washington State, USA.

The scablands of central Washington with their rolling hillsides and basalt canyons offer some of the most colorful landscapes in the state. The Columbia River area has many such side canyons. This scene of the Vantage Bridge from the high bluffs overlooking the river was photographed at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park near Vantage, Washington State, USA.

Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) is a North American flowering plant in the sunflower tribe of the aster family. It is widespread across the western United States and western Canada. It is drought tolerant and grows in diverse habitats from grassland to mountain forest and desert. The plant’s native range extends from British Columbia to the Mojave Desert of California and as far east as the Black Hills of South Dakota. The round to oval shaped leaves are covered in fine hair. The distinctive orange-yellow leaves make the plant easy to identify. These arrowleaf balsamroot were photographed in Umtanum Creek Canyon near Ellensburg, Washington State, USA.

The numerous waterfalls of the Cascade Range and foothills are best viewed in early summer as melting snow feeds the streams, and again in autumn as the rains fill the streambeds. During late summer, only the major waterfalls will be flowing. Only a small number of the many waterfalls in Washington State have been named. Whether the falls have names or not, they are a refreshing sight to both the eye and spirit. Umtanum Falls was photographed on Umtanum Creek near Ellensburg, Washington State, USA.

East of the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s climate is arid and the terrain is desert-like. Summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in regions such as the Yakima Valley and the Columbia River Plateau. This is an area of rolling hills and flatlands. During the last Ice Age, 18,000 to 13,000 years ago, floods flowed across this land, causing massive erosion and leaving carved basalt canyons, waterfalls and coulees known as the Channeled Scablands. This scene of a desert canyon was photographed from the Cowiche Canyon Trail near Yakima, Washington State, USA.

The numerous waterfalls of the Cascade Range and foothills are best viewed in early summer as melting snow feeds the streams, and again in autumn as the rains fill the streambeds. During late summer, only the major waterfalls will be flowing. Only a small number of the many waterfalls in Washington State have been named. Whether the falls have names or not, they are a refreshing sight to both the eye and spirit. Umtanum Falls was photographed on Umtanum Creek near Ellensburg, Washington State, USA.

The Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) is a large North American flycatcher with gray-olive upper body, gray head and a dark streak through the eye. The underparts are light turning to yellow on the lower breast and belly. The breeding habitat of the western kingbird are open areas in western North America. Kingbirds make a cup nest in a tree or shrub. The female lays three to five eggs which are incubated for 12 to 14 days. The kingbird migrates in flocks to Florida and the Pacific coast of southern Mexico and Central America. The diet of these birds is mostly insects which they catch in flight or on the ground. They also eat berries. This western kingbird was photographed at Palouse Falls State Park near Starbuck, Washington State, USA.

This lone oak tree on a hillside was photographed along the Naches River near Yakima, Washington State, USA.

East of the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s climate is arid and the terrain is desert-like. Summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in regions such as the Yakima Valley and the Columbia River Plateau. This is an area of rolling hills and flatlands. During the last Ice Age, 18,000 to 13,000 years ago, floods flowed across this land, causing massive erosion and leaving carved basalt canyons, waterfalls and coulees known as the Channeled Scablands. This scene of rolling hills was photographed from Umtanum Creek Canyon in the L. T. Murray State Wildlife Recreation Area between Ellensburg and Yakima, Washington State, USA.

The numerous waterfalls of the Cascade Range and foothills are best viewed in early summer as melting snow feeds the streams, and again in autumn as the rains fill the streambeds. During late summer, only the major waterfalls will be flowing. Only a small number of the many waterfalls in Washington State, have been named. Whether the falls have names or not, they are a refreshing sight to both the eye and spirit. Umtanum Falls was photographed on Umtanum Creek near Ellensburg, Washington State, USA.

The Yellow-Bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris) dominates the "desert" of central and eastern Washington. Marmots are mainly herbivorous. Their diet consists of grasses, berries, lichens, mosses, roots, and flowers. This marmot was found in Cowiche Canyon near Yakima, Washington State, USA.

Installed wind power capacity in Washington State has grown in recent years and the state now ranks among the top ten in the nation with the most wind power installed. As of 2016, wind energy accounted for 7.1% of all energy generated in Washington State. These turbines operate in the Kittitas Valley near Ellensburg, Washington State, USA.

The Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) gets its name from the way the leaves quake in the wind. The aspens grow in large colonies, often starting from a single seedling and spreading underground only to sprout another tree nearby. For this reason, it is considered to be one of the largest single organisms in nature. During the spring and summer, the aspens use sunlight and chlorophyll to create food necessary for the tree’s growth. In the fall, as the days get shorter and colder, the naturally green chlorophyll breaks down and the leaves stop producing food. Other pigments are now visible, causing the leaves to take on beautiful orange and gold colors. These colors can vary from year to year depending on weather conditions. For instance, when autumn is warm and rainy, the leaves are less colorful. This fall scene of gold colored aspens was photographed in Umtanum Creek Canyon in the L.T. Murray State Wildlife Recreation Area near Yakima, Washington State, USA.

The Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) gets its name from the way the leaves quake in the wind. The aspens grow in large colonies, often starting from a single seedling and spreading underground only to sprout another tree nearby. For this reason, it is considered to be one of the largest single organisms in nature. During the spring and summer, the aspens use sunlight and chlorophyll to create food necessary for the tree’s growth. In the fall, as the days get shorter and colder, the naturally green chlorophyll breaks down and the leaves stop producing food. Other pigments are now visible, causing the leaves to take on beautiful orange and gold colors. These colors can vary from year to year depending on weather conditions. For instance, when autumn is warm and rainy, the leaves are less colorful. This fall scene of gold colored aspens was photographed in Umtanum Creek Canyon in the L.T. Murray State Wildlife Recreation Area near Yakima, Washington State, USA.

There are many pothole lakes and ponds in the scablands of Central Washington. Frog Lake is in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge near Othello, Washington State, USA.

The Yellow-Bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris) dominates the "desert" of central and eastern Washington. Marmots are mainly herbivorous. Their diet consists of grasses, berries, lichens, mosses, roots, and flowers. This marmot was found in Cowiche Canyon near Yakima, Washington State, USA.

There are many pothole lakes and ponds in the scablands of Central Washington. Frog Lake is in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge near Othello, Washington State, USA.

The National Wildlife Refuges are great places to view and photograph wildlife. Often, the natural beauty of these treasured places can be more inspiring than the wildlife that live there. Some of the best landscape pictures are often taken at wildlife refuges. This landscape was photographed from the Frog Lake Trail in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge near Othello, Washington State, USA.

There are many pothole lakes and ponds in the scablands of Central Washington. Frog Lake is in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge near Othello, Washington State, USA.

East of the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s climate is arid and the terrain is desert-like. Summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in regions such as the Yakima Valley and the Columbia River Plateau. This is an area of rolling hills and flatlands. During the last Ice Age, 18,000 to 13,000 years ago, floods flowed across this land, causing massive erosion and leaving carved basalt canyons, waterfalls and coulees known as the Channeled Scablands. Frenchman Coulee is a valley leading through the scablands and down to the Columbia River. Volcanic in origin, it is defined by basalt cliffs. Frenchman Coulee is near Vantage, Washington State, USA.

The Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a North American upland ground bird. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which was originally bred from a Mexican subspecies of wild turkey. The turkey probably got its name because domestic turkeys were imported were imported to Britain in ships coming from the middle east through Spain. The British at the time associated the wild turkey with the country Turkey and we still have the name today. Wild turkeys are among the wildlife that can be found in the Quincy Wildlife Recreation area. This male turkey was photographed on the road to Dusty Lake in the Quincy Wildlife Recreation Area near Quincy, Washington State, USA.

This well preserved red cabin brings back memories of when this area was a working cattle ranch. This cabin and ranch are on Charley Creek near Asotin, Washington State, USA.

The Yellow-Bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris) dominates the "desert" of central and eastern Washington. Marmots are mainly herbivorous. Their diet consists of grasses, berries, lichens, mosses, roots, and flowers. This marmot was photographed in at Palouse Falls State Park near LaCrosse, Washington State, USA.

The Yellow-Bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris) dominates the "desert" of central and eastern Washington. Marmots are mainly herbivorous. Their diet consists of grasses, berries, lichens, mosses, roots, and flowers. This marmot was photographed in at Palouse Falls State Park near LaCrosse, Washington State, USA.

The Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a North American upland ground bird. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which was originally bred from a Mexican subspecies of wild turkey. The turkey probably got its name because domestic turkeys were imported were imported to Britain in ships coming from the middle east through Spain. The British at the time associated the wild turkey with the country Turkey and we still have the name today. Wild turkeys are among the wildlife that can be found in the Quincy Wildlife Recreation area. This male turkey was photographed on the road to Dusty Lake in the Quincy Wildlife Recreation Area near Quincy, Washington State, USA.

The Yellow-Bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris) dominates the "desert" of central and eastern Washington. Marmots are mainly herbivorous. Their diet consists of grasses, berries, lichens, mosses, roots, and flowers. This marmot was photographed in at Palouse Falls State Park near LaCrosse, Washington State, USA.

The Yellow-Bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris) dominates the "desert" of central and eastern Washington. Marmots are mainly herbivorous. Their diet consists of grasses, berries, lichens, mosses, roots, and flowers. This marmot was photographed in at Palouse Falls State Park near LaCrosse, Washington State, USA.

The scablands of central Washington with their rolling hillsides and basalt canyons offer some of the most colorful landscapes in the state. The Columbia River area has many such side canyons. This scene of the high bluffs overlooking the river was photographed at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park near Vantage, Washington State, USA.

The scablands of central Washington with their rolling hillsides and basalt canyons offer some of the most colorful landscapes in the state. The Columbia River area has many such side canyons. This scene of the Vantage Bridge from the high bluffs overlooking the river was photographed at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park near Vantage, Washington State, USA.

The scablands of central Washington with their rolling hillsides and basalt canyons offer some of the most colorful landscapes in the state. The Columbia River area has many such side canyons. This scene of rolling hills and sagebrush was photographed at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park near Vantage, Washington State, USA.

The scablands of central Washington with their rolling hillsides and basalt canyons offer some of the most colorful landscapes in the state. The Columbia River area has many such side canyons. This scene of the high bluffs overlooking the river was photographed at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park near Vantage, Washington State, USA.

The numerous waterfalls of the Cascade Range and foothills are best viewed in early summer as melting snow feeds the streams, and again in autumn as the rains fill the streambeds. During late summer, only the major waterfalls will be flowing. Only a small number of the many waterfalls in Washington State have been named. Whether the falls have names or not, they are a refreshing sight to both the eye and spirit. Umtanum Falls was photographed on Umtanum Creek near Ellensburg, Washington State, USA.

At the end of the last ice age, the great Missoula Flood swept across eastern Washington leaving the unique scablands we see today. Palouse Falls, 198 feet high, remains as one of the magnificent remnants of the flood. As of February 12, 2014, Palouse Falls was named as Washington State's official waterfall. The powerful waterfall is on the Palouse River, a few miles upstream from its confluence with the Snake River. This view was captured from Palouse Falls State Park, Washington State, USA.

Steamboat Rock is one of the many basaltic rock formations in the Central Washington scablands. The butte rises 800 feet above Banks Lake and was once an island in the Columbia River. This scene was photographed from Steamboat Rock State Park near Grand Coulee, Washington State, USA.

Steamboat Rock is one of the many basaltic rock formations in the Central Washington scablands. The butte rises 800 feet above Banks Lake and was once an island in the Columbia River. This scene was photographed from Steamboat Rock State Park near Grand Coulee, Washington State, USA.

At the end of the last ice age, the great Missoula Flood swept across eastern Washington leaving the unique scablands we see today. Palouse Falls, 198 feet high, remains as one of the magnificent remnants of the flood. As of February 12, 2014, Palouse Falls was named as Washington State's official waterfall. The powerful waterfall is on the Palouse River, a few miles upstream from its confluence with the Snake River. This view of the Palouse River Canyon was captured from Palouse Falls State Park, Washington State, USA.

At the end of the last ice age, the great Missoula Flood swept across eastern Washington leaving the unique scablands we see today. Palouse Falls, 198 feet high, remains as one of the magnificent remnants of the flood. As of February 12, 2014, Palouse Falls was named as Washington State's official waterfall. The powerful waterfall is on the Palouse River, a few miles upstream from its confluence with the Snake River. This view was captured from Palouse Falls State Park, Washington State, USA.

East of the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s climate is arid and the terrain is desert-like. Summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in regions such as the Yakima Valley and the Columbia River Plateau. This is an area of rolling hills and flatlands. During the last Ice Age, 18,000 to 13,000 years ago, floods flowed across this land, causing massive erosion and leaving carved basalt canyons, waterfalls and coulees known as the Channeled Scablands. This scene of a desert canyon was photographed from the Cowiche Canyon Trail near Yakima, Washington State, USA.

East of the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s climate is arid and the terrain is desert-like. Summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in regions such as the Yakima Valley and the Columbia River Plateau. This is an area of rolling hills and flatlands. During the last Ice Age, 18,000 to 13,000 years ago, floods flowed across this land, causing massive erosion and leaving carved basalt canyons, waterfalls and coulees known as the Channeled Scablands. This scene of rolling hills was photographed from Manastash Ridge near Thorp, Washington State, USA.

In the early 1930’s, there was a large discovery of petrified wood along the banks of the Columbia River. Over 50 species are found at the site, making it one of the most rare and diverse petrified forests in North America. In 1935 7,124 acres of the site were set aside as Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. During the Great Depression the Civilian Conservation Corps built the park’s interpretive center. The National Park Service designated the Ginkgo Petrified Forest as a National Natural Landmark in October 1965. In 1975 the Washington State Legislature named petrified wood as the state gem. This petrified log on a hillside above the Columbia River was photographed at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park near Vantage, Washington State, USA.

The scablands of central Washington with their rolling hillsides and basalt canyons offer some of the most colorful landscapes in the state. The Columbia River area has many such side canyons. This scene of the Vantage Bridge from the high bluffs overlooking the river was photographed at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park near Vantage, Washington State, USA.

East of the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s climate is arid and the terrain is desert-like. Summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in regions such as the Yakima Valley and the Columbia River Plateau. This is an area of rolling hills and flatlands. During the last Ice Age, 18,000 to 13,000 years ago, floods flowed across this land, causing massive erosion and leaving carved basalt canyons, waterfalls and coulees known as the Channeled Scablands. The Quincy Lakes area is part of the scablands of central Washington State. Visitors to this area will experience basalt cliffs, mesas, benches, canyons and potholes. Several of the potholes have become lakes that are filled with water seeping from the irrigation of nearby upslope farmlands. Ancient and Dusty lakes are two examples that have added to fish and wildlife diversity and have also become important recreational areas. Ancient Lake and Dusty Lake are in the Quincy Wildlife Recreation Area near Quincy, Washington State, USA.

There are many pothole lakes and ponds in the scablands of Central Washington. Corral Lake is in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge near Othello, Washington State, USA.

The National Wildlife Refuges are great places to view and photograph wildlife. Often, the natural beauty of these treasured places can be more inspiring than the wildlife that live there. Some of the best landscape pictures are often taken at wildlife refuges. This landscape was photographed from the Frog Lake Trail in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge near Othello, Washington State, USA.

East of the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s climate is arid and the terrain is desert-like. Summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit in regions such as the Yakima Valley and the Columbia River Plateau. This is an area of rolling hills and flatlands. During the last Ice Age, 18,000 to 13,000 years ago, floods flowed across this land, causing massive erosion and leaving carved basalt canyons, waterfalls and coulees known as the Channeled Scablands. The Quincy Lakes area is part of the scablands of central Washington State. Visitors to this area will experience basalt cliffs, mesas, benches, canyons and potholes. Several of the potholes have become lakes that are filled with water seeping from the irrigation of nearby upslope farmlands. Ancient and Dusty lakes are two examples that have added to fish and wildlife diversity and have also become important recreational areas. Ancient Lake and Dusty Lake are in the Quincy Wildlife Recreation Area near Quincy, Washington State, USA.

There are many pothole lakes and ponds in the scablands of Central Washington. Corral Lake is in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge near Othello, Washington State, USA.

The scablands of central Washington with their rolling hillsides and basalt canyons offer some of the most colorful landscapes in the state. The Columbia River area has many such side canyons. This scene of the Vantage Bridge from the high bluffs overlooking the river was photographed at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park near Vantage, Washington State, USA.

Steamboat Rock is one of the many basaltic rock formations in the Central Washington scablands. The butte rises 800 feet above Banks Lake and was once an island in the Columbia River. This scene was photographed from Steamboat Rock State Park near Grand Coulee, Washington State, USA.

There are many pothole lakes and ponds in the scablands of Central Washington. Frog Lake is in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge near Othello, Washington State, USA.

The National Wildlife Refuges are great places to view and photograph wildlife. Often, the natural beauty of these treasured places can be more inspiring than the wildlife that live there. Some of the best landscape pictures are often taken at wildlife refuges. This landscape was photographed from the Frog Lake Trail in the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge near Othello, Washington State, USA.