Lake Easton Peak by Easton Ridge overlooks the namesake state park. Amabilis Mountain sits to the north, and Monahan Mountain on the south. Meanwhile, the east route along the Yakima River reaches the semi-open summit in under two miles.
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Lake Easton Peak at a Glance
Access: Cabin Creek Road
Round Trip: 6.8 miles
Elevation Range: 2200′-2772′
Essential Gear: snowshoes
Route Info: John Stolk
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: yes
Playlist: Ethereal
Hiking Near Lake Easton State Park
I thought the little peak sat on private land, but I could never confirm from the map. It seemed odd that it would be, given that the snowmobiles play here in winter. But after seeing John’s report from a year ago, I decided to check it out myself.
First of all, there was no “wide spot” to park near the entrance to the powerline. I couldn’t squeeze my car into the snow berm without sticking out or feeling good about it. Instead, I walked under a mile from the actual “wide pullout” by Cabin Creek to the west.
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East Route by Yakima River via Cabin Creek
Along the spur road that led to the powerline clearing were day-old tracks. The route to Lake Easton Peak soon became apparent from beneath the powerline. En route, I kept my eyes peeled for any warning or negative signs in case I needed to flee.
Soon, the road briefly dipped toward the Yakima River before going uphill. Until now, I could still walk in zero to two inches of snow without sliding. Then, before the next switchback, there was a gate with a “private property” sign that I had anticipated.
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Viewing Clouds From the Summit
I turned and went uphill in snowshoes while hugging the left tree line. I assumed everything west of the gate would remain open to the public. After two switchbacks from the upper road, I re-emerged from the trees onto the semi-open summit.
On this cloudy day, south vistas opened to Monahan Mountain and Cabin Mountain. I’d glimpse Lake Easton and the state through the trees on the north. But I got a more open view from the lower lookout before retracing my steps out of the area.
Before leaving Easton, I walked around the state park since I’d never been there. The forest views were spotty, so I didn’t stay long after putting in three miles.
See more trip photos here.