Arrived at the trailhead around 10 a.m. and it was mostly full! The trail was a good constant grade all the way up with a couple of steep stretches. It was sunny, warm, and the views of Rainier, Adams, St.Helens, and Hood(!) were breathtaking! Came back down around 2 p.m. Everyone was so happy to be outdoors! Note: flying buzzing bugs will not leave you alone - annoying especially when you're trying not to fall.

I had planned to spend the day on the West side of the Cascades but as I drove from Seattle early in the morning, the rain was really coming down. That rain turned to snow as I approached the pass and I decided I didn't want to deal with it. So I fell upon an trusty area in the central part of the state to enjoy my day. Umtanum Ridge. The Vista Trail that leads to the ridge is easily accessed from the same TH as Umtanum Canyon. Once you cross the bridge and go under the RR tracks, you will face a junction. Hang a left and get your climbing legs warmed up. The trail follows a drainage for about two miles and 2,000' of climbing. It is easy to follow, initially being steep and rocky before leveling out a bit. Finally you are faced with a very steep climb to the ridgeline. But the views are worth it. If you like you can continue straight pass the road and access a highpoint on the ridge for 360 degree views. I chose to hang a right and follow the primitive road along the ridgeline. I know many don't like to follow roads, but this one is so rough that it for the most part feels like a really wide trail. You stay atop the ridge enjoying views of Adams, Rainier and the Stuart Range. You can also look down on Ellensburg, Yakima and the other small townships of the area. The road follows the undulating ridgeline for about 13 miles, with various branches that descend to the valley floor below. I followed the ridgeline to the end, then dropped down the couple of miles to Wenas and the small trailhead there. This far west, the increased moisture allows some pines to grow and I enjoyed the variation. At the Wenas TH (19 miles from the Vista Trailhead, I turned around and retraced my steps. I didn't see a single person on a sunny Saturday until mile 30 and they were a pair of 4WD vehicles who were friendly and asked me if I needed anything. I didn't encounter another person on foot until mile 36! Solitude on a sunny Saturday. Can't beat that. Biggest con was it was windy which is common on the ridge but that kept the bugs away! Wildflowers were blooming everywhere at this time. Some areas of the road are under some big puddles of water but they are easy to get around. I would recommend carrying a lot of water if you are making a day of it as there are very few water sources along the way.

With good weather in the forecast, I was anxious to find an option with full sun exposure, warm, dry conditions, and the only moisture coming from a good sweat. This hike met all those. The short gravel section and gravel parking lot were fine for any vehicle. To clarify the directions for the ridge trail, from the wooden board, the ridge trail bears slightly left and seems to be the prominent trail option. The creek canyon trail is a hard right rather than straight ahead. If you look for an option to turn left, there is a faint trail, but it's not a good option for getting anywhere (DAMHIKT). The trail was in great condition, but definitely made you work for your lunch. It's a good solid climb and, as noted in the description, the last 1/2 mile or so is plenty steep (you can really see how steep it is when coming back down -- I think I spent more time on the descent than the ascent of this section). There is not great footing for this steep section, so I wouldn't recommend it for young kids.

Windy day up on the ridge top but flowers are blooming up most of the trail and tread is in good condition except for some erosion problems on the final steep section below the ridge top. Lots of folks with their dogs on the hike too.

With 2000ft. of elevation gain in 2 miles, this trail isn't for the faint of heart. With sections of trail in the 40-45 degree slopes this trail is as difficult going up as down. Trekking poles are highly recommended. We encountered 30-40 other people on the trail, which surprised me a bit, given the difficulty. It is a great training hike, to get you in shape for the season, and the views at the top are well worth the physical output it takes to get there. We could see Rainier, Adams, the Stuart Range and someone said the tip of Mt. Hood, but with clouds partially obscuring them. Wildflowers are in abundance, but have not quite hit their peak. This was my first hike up to the ridge top in my 30 years of hiking in the canyon below, and I'll definitely do it again. I have included a link to my photo gallery for this hike below.