Coming down out of the Cascades on Highway 410, the forest thins, the air dries out and suddenly you are in orchard country. The contrast with the wet green mountains a few hours behind you is startling. This is the rain shadow of the Cascades, and without irrigation it would be sagebrush.
The orchards depend on water brought down from the mountains by canals and flumes built in the early twentieth century, part of the federal Yakima Project. The Tieton Dam, upstream in the mountains, created Rimrock Lake, and a tunnel and canal system carries water to the orchards. It is a remarkable piece of engineering, and it transformed the valley into one of the most productive fruit-growing regions in the country. In spring the orchards are white with blossom, and in late summer and autumn fruit stands sell fresh cherries, apples and pears.
Tieton itself is a small farm town that has reinvented itself in recent years as an arts community, with studios and galleries in old warehouses around its town square. It is a quirky, surprising place to stop. Nearby Naches is the gateway to the mountains, with a few shops and cafés.
The riding here is a pleasant change of pace. The roads through the orchards are quiet and gently curving, with long views over the valley to the hills beyond. Highway 410 continues east along the Naches River through a narrow canyon of basalt cliffs, and further up the valley, US 12 branches off toward White Pass, another fine mountain road. The canyon road is popular with riders, with good asphalt and plenty of curves.
The weather in the valley is dry and sunny, with hot summers and cold winters. In July and August the temperatures can be high, and the sun is intense. Selah and Yakima, both a short ride to the east, have all services, including fuel, food and lodging. Naches, closer to the mountains, has fuel and a few places to eat, and it is the last real stop before you head west toward Chinook Pass.