Umtanum Ridge Crest — Saturday, May. 6, 2017

Central Washington > Yakima

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.

More Information on this Trip Report

• https://www.strava.com/activities/974240723