The Yakima Area Greenway is an asphalt walking and biking pathway along the Yakima River. It runs for almost seven miles from Selah Gap on the north nearly to the Union Gap on the south. There is a two-and-a-half mile extension toward the north end that goes west to Myron Lake, a gravel pit lake close to the 40th Avenue exit off of Highway 12 on the north side of Yakima. Plans are underway to extend the pathway to Naches.

Birding opportunities abound along the Greenway with one of the best walks for birds being between Sarg Hubbard Park and Sherman Park. The walk between the two parks is only a mile but offers a variety of habitats. Sarg Hubbard Park can be reached from I-82 by taking the Yakima Avenue/Terrace Heights Boulevard exit (Exit 33), going east to 18th Street, and then south to the park entrance on the left. Follow the driveway up the hill and park near the restrooms and playground. Fall through spring is the best time to visit this area.

Sarg Hubbard Park has two small ponds which can be reached from the parking area by walking southwest a short distance past a covered picnic area. View the first pond from the top of the hill and follow the hill south to the second pond. Although there is little vegetation around the first pond, many species of water birds have been seen there including an Eared Grebe on the 1997 CBC and an immature Sabine's Gull in September 2001. Connecting to the second pond is an L-shaped wetland that has lots of cattails, willows and other vegetation where species including Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Green-winged Teal and American Coots are regular. Other possibilities include Virginia Rail,Greater Yellowlegs, peeps, and Wilson's Snipe. An American Bittern spent several weeks in the wetland several years ago. Five species of swallows can be seen during spring and summer. Walking east along the north side of the wetland will lead you to the Greenway pathway.

Turning south (right) will put you on the dike, and pathway, between the wetland on the right and the Yakima River on the left. Soon the wetland ends, giving way to Buchanan Lake, which used to be a 120-foot deep gravel pit. The pit was allowed to fill with water in 1997 when the gravel mining operation was closed. Buchanan Lake is now the highlight, as far as birders are concerned, of the Greenway. The list of grebes, waterfowl, and gulls seen on the lake is extensive. The only one of Washington's grebes not yet seen here is Clark's Grebe. At least 17 species of ducks have been found on Buchanan Lake including a Surf Scoter in the fall of 2002. The gull list includes Bonaparte's, Ring-billed, California, Herring, Thayer's and Sabine's. A pair of Osprey has nested on a platform at the north end of the lake for several years. Other highlights include American White Pelican, Tundra Swan, Snow Goose and Greater White-fronted Goose.  Buchanan Lake was discovered to be an important night roost for waterfowl, with many species of ducks, along with Canada Geese, flying in at dusk during the winter.

This stretch of the Yakima River is a good place to see Bald Eagles during the winter. The high count is sixteen eagles seen from one spot at the same time, scanning the river to the north and south. Common Goldeneyes and Common Mergansers are frequently seen during the winter months along with Great Blue Herons and Belted Kingfishers. Accipiters and Red-tailed Hawks are frequently sighted soaring over the river and adjacent riparian areas. Sparrows can be seen in the small willows and bushes between the river and the pathway. At the south end of Buchanan Lake the pathway passes another wetland on the right, then takes a short, downhill curve into a large stand of cottonwoods. Several trails cross through these trees providing access to many passerine species that use this woodland. Downy Woodpecker, Bewick's Wren, and Black-capped Chickadee are found here. Winter Wrens and Varied Thrushes are frequent visitors. Great Horned and Western Screech- owls have been found on many occasions and Northern Saw-whet Owl has been heard calling occasionally during the winter.

On the north side of the cottonwoods a dirt trail branches off the asphalt pathway to the right. Follow this trail with the wetland on the right and the cottonwoods on the left. Both areas can have many birds in them. The trail curves to the left and reaches a wider walkway to the right. The walkway leads to a good-sized area to the north where the Yakima Area Arboretum composts the prunings from the arboretum.

The Yakima Valley Audubon Society maintains a feeding station from the first of November through February on the at the south end of the composting area. Bird seed is scattered on the ground, which attracts a wide variety of ground-feeding species. Over twenty species have been seen at the feeding station including White-throated Sparrow and Harris's Sparrow. Golden-crowned and Fox Sparrows are common visitors. Sooty Fox Sparrows are the most common sub-species, but a Red Fox Sparrow visited in the winter of 2009-10.

All three accipiters frequent the area with Sharp-shinned Hawks being the most regular during the winter. A blind set up just south of the feeding station for closer viewing. To the west of the cottonwoods is the Yakima Area Arboretum with its extensive ornamental plantings. Species regular here include Canada Geese feeding on the grass, with rarer species such as Cackling Goose, Snow Goose and Greater-White-fronted Goose found in some of the flocks.  Wood Ducks and American Wigeons on the pond near the arboretum office, and VariedThrushes, American Robins, and Cedar Waxwings feeding on hawthorn berries and crab apples. Bohemian Waxwings are rare visitors.