Manastash Ridge - Westberg Trail, Manastash Ridge - Prater Trail & Manastash Ridge - Boy Scout Trail — Tuesday, May. 27, 2025

I hiked the Westberg Trail to Manastash Ridge with my hiking  group today.  The last time I made the trek up here was in the 70’s during my college days attending Central. Several cars were at the trailhead lot when we pulled in at 10:00 and a large group was gearing up.  We played leap frog with them all the way to the ridge. Several other solo hikers and trail runners passed us descending and ascending.  The Th has no services except an information kiosk so plan to green door.   We came for the wildlife flowers and incredible territorial views.  I was surprised after almost 50 years the trail basically goes straight up without any real switchbacks. A few new trails have sprung up - Cheeky Bugger, Sunset and Prater. Our 5.8 mile loop followed Westberg, Boy Scout, Cheeky Bugger, Sunset and back to the Boy Scout Trail. The entire trail was hard packed, dusty soil with loose rock chunks and loose topsoil in places. This hike is still a leg grinder and the deeply eroded trail adds to the mix.  The wildflower display made the hike worth the effort.  We saw Balsam Leaf Arrow Root, Paint Brush, Fleabane Daisy, several varieties of wild Buckwheat, Bitterbush, Phlox, Camas, Bitterroot, Lupine, Delphinium, Penstemon, Iris, Triteleia, Western Hawks Beard and more.We stopped on the ridge top in a wide open area adjacent to Hansen Pond Road for a lunch / rest break facing the Stuart Range.  The Boy Scout Trail was calling to us as a different route down, it was straight down with loose top soil and rocks in places.  Two in my group slid down to their bum with a slight miss step.  I don’t advise this route down if questionable trail conditions concern you.  This was our first “hot” hike of the year so, the shade in the pine forest was a welcome reprieve.  To give our toes and bottom of our feet a break with hopped over to the cheeky bugger trail with a sweeping serpentine path. Even though it added a little mileage we all felt it was a much more pleasant descent.  A solo Mtn biker was headed uphill and we all stepped off to let him pass.  This route mostly solitary with flower scent in the air.  Near the bottom the trail turned into the Prater trail and we took a switchback to connect with the Boy Scout trail back to our starting trailhead. Temperatures rose to 78 when we walked back to our vehicles at 2:45.  Plan to bring extra water.  Another fantastic day out in nature with friends.