This is an excellent route to get up to Manastash Ridge high point in early season, while the north side of the ridge is still snowed in. Excellent early season hike as I came in from the Little Naches River side, as most of the SW side of the ridge is melted out.
Directions to where I parked(Blue Track): From the Little Naches Road, take the first right, which is NF 1901,for about 4.25 miles. It is a very nice gravel road the whole way. Take a right on spur 726, which is a little narrow, and has some deep ruts. I was glad I had high clearance for this last spur road (NF 726) I could of driven up further, as the road was better than the muddy spot I stopped at on spur 726. If one did not want to drive spur 726, they could walk it, or they could park down further and take Jeep spur 722 up.
From where I parked, I took a Ebike up to where the Jeep roads started, only about a 1/2 mile and 200 vertical feet though. I was thinking that I could take the Ebike up to possible Lily Pond Lake, and save some time on the 4x4 roads. I thought wrong, as these Jeep roads are gnarly and steep!! I ditched the bike here, and started hiking the Jeep roads up to Lily Pond Lake. Some of these roads were so steep it was hard to walk up, let alone drive up them! Lots of big ruts filled with water and mud on these Jeep tracks.
After getting to Lily Pond Lake, I went up a super steep Jeep road that ended at the top of a steep hill. Here I was able to follow an old trail that went all the way up to the ridge. It was an old trail, and not a game trail, as some of the old logs had been sawed away. It was hard to spot the trail going up the final steep section to the ridge, but on the way down it was easier to follow. Nice route for a trail, especially as it approached the ridge, as it had some excellent views!!
Once on the ridge top, I ran into snow. The snow was sporadic in places, and 1-2ft deep in others. The main summit of Manastash Ridge is in the trees, and is a bit underwhelming with no views, but on the way back, I headed north a bit on the ridge on some rock outcrops, that had some great views. Some serious drop off to the west too
It felt good to get out for a longer hike with some elevation gain, but I definitely need to get back into hiking shape, as it was tiring today! Nice and quiet today, on a weekday before Memorial Day as I saw or didn't hear anyone all day! I assume it's a zoo up there on the weekends with all the off roaders. 7.5 miles with 2559 ft elevation gain from where I parked the car.
GPS tack below: Blue track-Drive up the Road Red track-Hike
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