Hanford Reach National Monument: Have any Hogs visited Hanford Reach National Monument and, if so, is there anything worth seeing? My wife uses a walker so we would not be able to...

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Have any Hogs visited Hanford Reach National Monument and, if so, is there anything worth seeing? My wife uses a walker so we would not be able to travel far on foot, nor would we be able to travel over unpaved or steep terrain.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

I haven't been, probably won't, but according to their website "But don't come expecting a lot of visitor facilities—they don't exist. You'll be experiencing the Monument on its own terms." There are limited restrooms. Two state highways run through. Their site says the best way to experience the monument is by boat.
It sounds like a drivethrough on the highway maybe but not much else for less mobile people. Much of the land is off limits, too, to protect wildlife and cultural sites.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Went last year. Amazing place. The tour part is run by National Parks. Your wife with her "walker" won't be an issue.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

bsprague wrote:

Went last year. Amazing place. The tour part is run by National Parks. Your wife with her "walker" won't be an issue.

Thanks, we will check it out.

ngrea Loc: Sandy Spring, Maryland

I lived in Richland in the late ‘60’s when my husband was a reactor engineer at Handford. Even outside the handford reserve it is an interesting part of the world. Many people don’t realize Washington is half desert and how important the river is for life. Be aware the temperature can vary from -40 to +120. They also have wind and sand storms so bad they can take the paint off your car. During WWII they were called “termination w-inds” because so many people would quit their jobs when one hit.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

You might check to see if there are any tour companies that go into the monument. My husband was in a similar situation when we visited some National Parks. They were excellent.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

You would find more accessible scenery at Palouse Falls or at Dry Falls of the Columbia. Check it out.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

mizzee wrote:

You might check to see if there are any tour companies that go into the monument. My husband was in a similar situation when we visited some National Parks. They were excellent.

It is like a tour company operation. You assemble in a near city building, get a presentation and then load on busses for travel to the reactor site. In this case the tour company is the National Park Service.

saxman71 Loc: Wenatchee

There's the very large, barren and wild Hanford Reach NM and then there's the Manhattan Project tour. You are getting answers regarding both but they are distinctly different. I have hiked around Hanford Reach NM but you need to be very mobile to do it. However, there is a fair chance you will see some interesting wildlife. The reactor tour is a guided tour that should be reasonably accessible. I've not done it but have seen some images from inside. Here's a shot a photographer friend of mine took last year. https://pbase.com/readschaad/image/168427367

RichinSeattle

saxman71 wrote:

There's the very large, barren and wild Hanford Reach NM and then there's the Manhattan Project tour. You are getting answers regarding both but they are distinctly different.

There's only one "Hanford Reach Nat'l. Monument," and it's in south, central Washington. It was designated a Nat'l. Mon. by Clinton, and is being considered for de-designation by the National Park Service, as of 2017. (It is used by local native Americans for hunting.)

I don't know what you're thinking of in New Mexico.

saxman71 Loc: Wenatchee

RichinSeattle wrote:

There's only one "Hanford Reach Nat'l. Monument," and it's in south, central Washington. It was designated a Nat'l. Mon. by Clinton, and is being considered for de-designation by the National Park Service, as of 2017. (It is used by local native Americans for hunting.)

I don't know what you're thinking of in New Mexico.

Here's what I was talking about Rich. If you read through the thread you would have seen advice regarding both the Reach Nat. Mon. you are referencing and the Hanford Nuclear Reactor Tour, one of the Manhattan Project sites. Google it. The photo I provided a link to was from the tour.

https://www.nps.gov/mapr/hanford.htm

RichinSeattle

saxman71 wrote:

Here's what I was talking about Rich. If you read through the thread you would have seen advice regarding both the Reach Nat. Mon. you are referencing and the Hanford Nuclear Reactor Tour, one of the Manhattan Project sites. Google it. The photo I provided a link to was from the tour.

https://www.nps.gov/mapr/hanford.htm

Sorry, Saxman. I was reading "NM" as new Mexico, which is where nuclear testing first occurred.

I did look at the Hanford Reach website. It appears to be well worth a visit, either before or after summer.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Palouse is scheduled, but we will be going South - to Oregon and Southern Idaho. Dry Falls will have to wait. Thanks for the tips.