Wild Horses Monument•Washington

00:00     Title
00:15     Horseshoe Cove
02:04     Clear Creek Falls
03:58     Dog Lake Campground
04:46     Wild Rose Day Use Site
06:35     Burkett Lake Recreation Area
08:19     Wild Horses Monument
10:22     Fin

​The Wild Horses Monument is a nice day trip destination in central Washington that offers scenic views and hiking trails. This monument is also a good place to take a break from the road when traveling long distances on Interstate Highway 90. Wild Horses Monument is located across the Columbia River from the town of Vantage and a Highway 90 exit ramp lands at the access point. The Wanapum Recreation Area, Burkett Lake and Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park are located near Vantage, so there is plenty of great outdoor adventures to experience in this area. Yakima is nearby and the Highway 12 tourism corridor through the national forests to Mt Rainier begins here.   

Upon arrival, it takes a minute or two to adjust to the surroundings and figure out what this monument is all about. The views from the hillside of the Columbia River Basin extend to the horizon and the rolling hills are mesmerizing to see. Views of the bridge to Vantage are clear as a bell and the commuter traffic down below just flies on by.

Looking east at the hilltops is where silhouettes of wild horses can be seen. It does take a while for the eyes to adjust to the distance, but after a bit it becomes easier to see the main attraction at the Wild Horses Monument. The crest of the hills overlooking the river are decorated with a large herd of metal horse sculptures. The horses look as if they are running wild and free through the hills and the imagery is captivating to see.

​The actual name of this work of art is "Grandfather Cuts Loose the Ponies" and the name of the artist is David Govedare. This extensive metal sculpture artwork was completed in 1990 and most agree that it symbolizes free will. No matter whether a visitor hikes to the top of the hill to get a closer look or time is spent soaking up the overview from the roadside, the artistic message certainly is conveyed. This simply looks like a place where wild horses would roam free and this unique monument is well worth checking out!