📍Steptoe Butte State Park, Colfax, Washington

Taking advantage of the fine weather last weekend, I drove from Seattle to Steptoe Butte State Park in eastern Washington State. The wheat fields here are stunning, like a scene from a movie. Eastern Washington State's vast green wheat fields are at their best in May, making them perfect for weekend excursions. The wheat fields look like scenes from My Altay.

The scenery here looks a little grassland at first glance, especially on the road there are many big windmills, it has a little taste of Inner Mongolia, but in fact these are wheat fields, so you can only see them from the end of May to around July, otherwise later some wheat fields will be fully harvested, the ground will be bare (we went last week can already see a small part of the harvest).

It's a 4-5 hour drive east from Seattle to steptoe butte, but the whole way from Dusty Town to Colfax feels like an immersive ride on a windows desktop! The road runs through the barley fields, and the last hour or two of the drive is healing.

Steptoe butte is a small hill near the wheat field, from which you can get a sweeping view of the whole field. But I think coming here to take pictures really, really needs sunny days! The oblique light on the wheat field at sunrise and sunset is super beautiful, and the effect should be much worse if it is cloudy.

We live in Pullman, a small town about a 30-40 minute drive from Steptoe Butte. Pullman is a quiet place to rest. The Marriott and Hilton hotels are all good.

Best viewing time

I think the best viewing time is 2-3 hours before sunset, about 5-8pm, this time the light is particularly good, shining on the wheat field is very beautiful. The sunset itself is not particularly shocking, but before sunset, when the sun tilt Angle is lower, the effect of light and shade in the wheat field is really excellent.

Driving tips

There is a winding road from the foot of the mountain to the top, which takes about 20 minutes by car. There are plenty of places to stop along the way, so don't forget to stop and take photos. The two portraits were also taken halfway up the mountain near the top.

Mountaintop experience

At the top of the mountain, the wind is strong and the temperature is low, about 10-15°C. Remember to bring extra clothes if you plan to stay late. The scenery is very quiet and perfect for enjoying the sunset, but you have to be safe, the road is uneven near the top and the perimeter is not protected.

Other tips

1. Food preparation: There are no shops at the top of the mountain, it is recommended to bring plenty of water and snacks.
2. Camera equipment: If possible, bring a telephoto lens (70-200mm or higher) for better vistas. I'm holding an iPhone 15pm 5x telephoto.
3. Sunscreen: UV is very strong, remember to bring sunscreen and hat.
4. Navigation and signal: the mountain road signal is unstable, download the offline map in advance.
5. The road near Cle Elum is under construction, there is a serious traffic jam, so remember to go out at the wrong peak or leave early.