Yesterday we made a last-minute trip out to Taunton Benchmark. But it was too windy to enjoy the sweeping views. So we spent most of our time behind a shed. Then today, we took a short trip up to Manastash Ridge via Westberg Trail.
See more trip photos here.
Westberg Trail at a Glance
Access: Westberg Trailhead
Round Trip: 5 miles
Elevation Range: 1840′-3560′
Gear: none
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: yes
Change in Plans
My initial plan was to go up to Swakane Peak near Wenatchee. So I looked at my old trips and saw that we were there less than two years ago. So in favor of adding more time in between visits, I looked for another hike.
Since we stayed in Ellensburg last night, I looked for something local. Then I realized we haven’t been on Manastash Ridge in a while. Not only would it save us driving time, but it would also be on our way home.
See more trip photos here.
Westberg Trail
As usual, we took the Westberg Trail to go up to Manastash 1. I remembered scrambling down the ridge the last time we were here. But for the puppy’s sake, today, we stayed on the trail the entire time.
Westberg Trail is a hot spot among hikers. The initially steep path took us right up to the viewpoint through a couple of ribs. The side trails could be a bit confusing. But the main pathway was easy to follow.
See more trip photos here.
Manastash Ridge Memorial
A group of Ellensburg high school students had put up an old memorial at the lookout. It stood up here for over 20 years. It was in honor of their beloved coach, Ray Westberg, who died of a heart attack at age 47.
But as time went on, dozens more memorials and signs began to show up on the ridge. They were not only for people but also for pets and animals. So in recent years, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has removed the ornaments because of clutter.
See more trip photos here.
End of Westberg Trail
Manastash Ridge runs nearly 50 miles from east to west, including the lookout site in the distant west. Most would turn around at the end of Westberg Trail by the lookout. But others would extend their trip by going farther on the ridge.
We haven’t been here during the blooming season since the first trip. But if we did, we would likely see a wide variety of flowers. Wildflowers like Lupine, balsamroot, paintbrush, sagebrush, and many others would strew along the trail.
See more trip photos here.
Summit Time
We visited the Rattler Benchmark of Umtanum Ridge last November. It was just one ridgeline away south of here. There wasn’t any snow at the turnaround point. But earlier, I saw some farther west on the ridge. It looked woodsy in that direction.
It was another windy day like the day before. So we dodged the wind behind some tall sagebrush. The part I liked the most was seeing the cities spared across the Kittitas Valley. Places like Thorp and Ellensburg were visible.
See more trip photos here.
Outro
We followed the trail on the way back. Many others were just coming up the ridge as we went down. Later, we stopped by the ranch next to the parking area. So I could show the puppy the horses.