Baldy by Yakima Skyline Ridge sits atop Umtanum Ridge, overlooking Yakima River Canyon. To the north spans Manastash Ridge over Ellensburg, Washington. Moreover, the west ridge offers the quickest way to the top.
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Baldy at a Glance
Access: TP Jim Trailhead
Round Trip: TBD
Elevation Range: 1260′-3225′
Gear: none
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: yes
East of the Cascades
Last weekend, my only highlight was Iller Creek Trail in the Dishman Hills Conservation Area. But I wondered how great it would’ve been to be in the mountains instead.
The weather east of the mountains looked way better. So at the last minute, I decided to hike east after visiting the dog park. Morning snow and spin-outs over Snoqualmie Pass had closed down the freeway but opened soon afterward.
I planned to walk around Frenchman Coulee but didn’t want to go too far east with limited daylight. As I drove past Ellensburg, I took the exit to Baldy instead. It was time to revisit a rainy-day favorite, as it’s been over two years.
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Baldy West Ridge
We parked outside the Big Pines Campground and soon crossed the road. Then we followed the defined trail toward the northwest side. Instead of taking us to the crest, it went up through a gully to the west shoulder at 2100′. It was the steepest of the entire climb.
From the ridge, the trail joined the one from the west-northwest ridge. As the canyon view expanded, we enjoyed the views while continuing on the crest. It was our fifth time here, yet, I always managed to discover new things to see.
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Baldy Summit Plus Outro
It’s been cloudy and breezy up till now. Then the sun finally graced us with its presence an hour before sunset. The lighting from the evening sun was captivating. I especially loved the lights and shadows from the wavy ridges to the north.
Since we started late at 3, we stayed through the golden hour before leaving. The soft and vibrant evening colors were a real treat on this trip. It’s such a drastic shift from the harsh lighting I usually see at the height of the day.
See more trip photos here.