The Washington state highway, known now as SR 821, was designated as the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway by the state government in 1967, recognizing its natural beauty and recreational opportunities. This scenic byway is visited by 1.1 million drivers annually, of which a third visit recreational areas and campgrounds along the route.

The scenic byway is located in south central Washington and generally follows the winding Yakima River for 25 miles between Ellensburg, Washington in the northern part of the River to Yakima, Washington in the southern area.

Originally, the highway was built in 1924 by the state as an old alignment of US 97 which in 1971, US 97 was rerouted uphill to the east over the Manastash Ridge and is currently sharing that alignment with IH 82. At that time, when US 97 was rerouted, the old alignment became State Highway 821 and has been this highway since.

A road link between Ellensburg and Yakima remained a priority for the state government, who appropriated funds in 1909 to survey the area for a potential state highway. It was to be a part of the planned Inland Empire Highway in 1913, forming a major trunk route through the Yakima Valley and Inland Northwest. At that time, a route along the east side of the river was surveyed in the early 1920s by state highway engineers.

Construction on the graded highway, using a surface of crushed rocks, through the Yakima Canyon began in 1920 and was completed on September 12, 1924. At that time, it′s cost was approximately $1 million to construct ($13 million in 2022 dollars) and included several tunnels cut through the lava basalt cliffs using dynamite. Those tunnels were later abandoned in 1963 when the traffic volumes had outgrown the narrow tunnels and the road was rerouted along a new alignment closer to the river.

This highway was signed as part of the Yellowstone Trail, a national east-west transcontinental auto trail from Plymouth Rock to Seattle, Washington. When the Federal numbered highway system was created in 1926, this route was given the US 97 designation. This highway was paved with concrete in 1932

The BLM owns 9000 acres of land in the Yakima River Canyon, in which it maintains four Recreation Areas containing four campgrounds, picnic areas, boat ramps, hiking trails and a footbridge over the Yakima River.

The BNSF railroad, which forms part of the main east-west railroad across south central Washington, enters the canyon from the north on the east side but very soon, crosses to the west side. The railroad stays on the west side through most of the canyon until arriving at Roza Dam, where the railroad crosses back over to the east side.

The railroad remains on the east side until it exits the canyon to the south. Meanwhile, during the traverse in the southern part of the canyon on the west side, the roadway is required to take a higher elevation to continue south.

Awake, dress in my summer blues, and tnen walk to the vault toilet. Upon returning to the jammer, I climb into the driver's seat, start the engine and pull forward a car length, stop, get out and check the site for any remaining trash. When I am done with that, I return to the driver's seat and after leaving my suggestion in the drop box, I leave the campground, heading north on the canyon scenic byway.

When I am done with all of my shopping, I drive back north on 40th avenue to US 12 and take the eastbound entrance and drive the three miles back to IH 82 where I take the northbound entrance. From here, I drive north on IH 82 to exit 26 where I turn left, take an overpass over IH 82 and US 97. Then, I drive north on SH 821 and into the Yakima River Canyon, stopping at the third Recreational Area, Lmuma Creek.

My path today takes me southeast on IH 90, over Snoqualmie Pass at 3022 feet in elevation after which I continue southeastward to exit 109 in Ellensburg and then take the southbound Canyon Road exit. I drive south on Canyon Road to Helen McCabe State Park where Canyon Road becomes SH 281 at Wilson Creek. SH 281 then follows the Yakima River through Yakima River Canyon for about twenty-five miles before it exits Yakima River Canyon and soon after arrives in Yakim, Washington.

However, for today, I stop about half way through the canyon drive at one of the four BLM campgrounds, pay the overnight camping fee and back into my space for the night.

As the day begins to wind down, the sun already long dropped below the horizon, I hear a distant rumbling which slowly is approaching my location. I can not even imagine what it is until I hear the sound of a trail whistle blow. I get up from my repose, open the side window and watch the train power down the track on the opposite side of the river. In my two visits here in this Yakima River Canyon campground, I had yet to see any travel upon the rail tracks and now I know that this is an active railroad.

After crossing eastern Washington on IH 90, I turn south on IH 82, drive three miles south on this interstate and get off at exit 2, SH 281 which travels south along the Yakima River Canyon Scenic Byway. I have driven this scenic highway before but it was long before I ever began my photography. I am hoping to get some remarkable shots of this deep river canyon. Too, I will try to find a place to camp along the river.