Keystone Point by Spencer Peak is a modest high point near Entiat River Valley. It’s to the west of the mighty Columbia River. The steep east slopes offer the quickest way to this lesser-known peak.
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Keystone Point at a Glance
Access: Highway 97 pullout
Round trip: 8.5 miles
Elevation Range: 760′-3895′
Gear: none
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: yes
The Preface
I wanted to catch the weekend sunshine and looked for a new place out east. The initial plan was Blag Mountain, but the snow kept us from going farther up Derby Canyon Road. So we drove 40 minutes out to Keystone Point.
I couldn’t find any information on this high point besides the handful of recorded ascents. But the ridgeline looked pretty direct, so all we had to do was follow it to the top. I even saw a trail going up the steep hillside from the parking area.
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Northeast Ridge
Later, I pulled off to the side of US-97 ALT. It was also just 1.25 miles south of the Entiat River junction. Then we started going up the trail on the steep slopes. It was windy down in the parking area. But the constant wind grew more intense the higher we went.
Soon, we reached the saddle between Point 1975 and Point 2502. Then the trail flattened before the “Ut Sit Optimum” signpost, a marker on the viewpoint. A less defined path then continued through to Point 2982 above Moody Canyon.
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Keystone Point Summit Plus Exit
We climbed the mild ridgeline past Point 2982 and dropped slightly to Keystone Point’s east saddle. There was still snow on the north, but we avoided it by staying on the rocky crest. Soon, we reached the top adorned with a radio tower and solar panels.
Views into Entiat River Valley were excellent; then to the south was Spencer Peak. Entiat and Orondo along the Columbia River were right beneath our feet (and paws). The flowers haven’t bloomed, but I imagined balsamroots would soon strew the hills.
See more trip photos here.
