Benton: Hanford Reach, History and Wine

Open shrub-steppe, the history of B Reactor, and wine and culinary offerings in Prosser give a trip to Benton a variety of highlights. The Columbia River also shapes the landscapes described here. Depending on whether you want to focus on nature, history, or regional culture, you’ll find a range of ideas here to help plan your trip.

Columbia River and Open Landscapes

Hanford Reach National Monument preserves more than 196,000 acres of open desert shrub-steppe and the White Bluffs escarpment. Hanford Reach is the last remaining free-flowing, non-tidal stretch of the Columbia River in the United States. This distinction also shapes the wildlife: Chinook salmon migrate here in the fall, and sturgeon up to 10 feet long still live in its deep waters.

A paddling trip on Hanford Reach typically takes four to six hours. However, wind and water levels can greatly affect the duration. So don’t treat this timeframe as a fixed estimate for every trip. Six miles of shoreline are among the notable features of the landscape at Crow Butte Park.

History at the Museum and B Reactor

The REACH Museum explores the natural and human history of the Tri-Cities and surrounding area. Permanent and rotating exhibitions cover topics including the Manhattan Project, the Cold War, Indigenous peoples, and the catastrophic Ice Age floods. Since rotating exhibitions may change, it’s worth checking what’s currently on offer before your visit. In the outdoor learning area, hands-on, interactive activities complement the exhibition topics, ranging from irrigated agriculture and hop growing to native animals, native plants, and the formation of landscapes.

B Reactor was completed in September 1944 and was the world’s first full-scale plutonium production reactor. Its interior and reactor face are currently accessible through public tours. A tour includes a 75-minute guided walk-through; tour operations may change. So check the current tour schedule before your visit.

The landscape and history also meet on the Candy Mountain Trail, which passes a small monument to the history of the Hanford Site. A boulder along the trail marks the maximum height reached by former Lake Lewis during the Ice Age floods. In this way, a reference to the history of the Hanford Site and a visible trace of the Ice Age floods point to two different historical topics.

Trails and Views of the Landscape

The White Bluffs Rhythmites Trail begins at White Bluffs Ferry Landing. This moderately challenging route is 1.7 to 3.0 miles each way; trail conditions may vary. Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve currently has just over eight miles of developed trails. The 1.7 to 3.0 miles of the White Bluffs Trail are each way; the just-over-eight miles at the preserve refer to its developed trail network.

For those interested in the shrub-steppe landscape, the Prosser Historical Museum also offers a relevant perspective: one of its three distinct exhibit areas explains this natural landscape of Prosser. Another, the Front Room, welcomes visitors with the early history of life in Prosser and the surrounding area.

Prosser: Wine, Culinary Experiences, and Events

The Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center combines educational programs and classes with culinary experiences and wine tastings. Offerings and dates may change. Vintners Village features walkable facilities for wine, dining, retail, and events; individual businesses and events may change. Prosser Wine & Food Park is an agricultural and wine-focused property on the Columbia River. Tasting rooms are among its intended uses.

The topics described here offer different ways to shape your trip planning.

Discover more destinations: Richland, Kennewick, Prosser, Spokane, Lincoln County, Skamania, Yakima, Clallam County

For the broader travel overview: Washington.