Things to Do in Dayton

History of Dayton

The City of Dayton was founded in the 1860’s by Elizabeth and Jesse Day.  Today it is the County Seat of Columbia County and has the oldest train depot and continuously operating courthouse in the State of Washington, both dating back to the late 1880’s.

The population remains at about 2,500, though in previous years there were more seasonal migrant workers that cut asparagus for Green Gian,t and who built the Little Goose Lock and Dam northeast of Starbuck.

EXPLORE!
sunset near dayton

Hikes Near Dayton

Eastern Washington has interesting terrain with rolling hills of canola and garbanzo beans tucked beneath the snowy Blue Mountains.  I experienced a short heat wave while in Dayton with three days of near 90 degree weather in town and snow so deep in some areas of the mountains that the trails were inaccessible.

That said, I still managed to knock out a handful of hikes during the week I visited.  They ranged from easy to hard, and I can’t claim any were spectacular after my recent hikes in Idaho.

HAPPY HIKING!