I wanted to catch the weekend sunshine. So we looked for a new place out east. The initial plan was Blag Mountain. But we couldn’t go past the snow on Derby Canyon Road. Then we drove another 40 minutes to Keystone Point.
See more trip photos here.
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
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 went up to the saddle between Point 1975 and Point 2502. Then the trail flattened a bit before the “Ut Sit Optimum” signpost. It looked like a marker for the viewpoint. From there, a less defined path then continued through to Point 2982 above Moody Canyon.
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Keystone Point Summit
We followed the mild ridgeline past Point 2982. Then on the other side, we dropped slightly to the east saddle of Keystone Point. There was still snow on the northern slopes. But we avoided it by continuing on the rocky crest. Soon, we made the final push up to the top. A radio tower and some solar panels adorned this summit.
Views into the Entiat River Valley were excellent. Then there was Spencer Peak just south of here. The City of Entiat and Orondo along Columbia River were right beneath our feet and paws. Flowers haven’t bloomed. But I imagine that balsamroots would be out in a week or two.
See more trip photos here.