Trip
Day Hike - Umtanum Ridge
3rd hike of my annual Yakima Canyon Wildflower Hike Series! A steep hike but with incredible views and flowers, including balsamroot, lupine, and even hedgehog cactus!
Contacts
- Sat, Apr 23, 2016
- Foothills Hiking Committee
- Day Hiking
- 20-30 Somethings, Adults
- Moderate/Strenuous
- Moderate
- Mileage: 7.0 mi
- Elevation Gain: 2,400 ft
- FULL (9 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
9:30am, Ellensburg I-90 exit 109 (Canyon Road) Conoco gas station
We will begin at the Umtanum Creek Recreation Area trailhead in the Yakima Canyon. This will be a loop hike that will involve some off trail/cross country travel or hiking along faint game trails. We will hike up on mostly faint paths and sometimes cross-country to the top of Umtanum Ridge. But it is important for us to hike this route to see the blooming hedgehog cacti, which are beautiful. Then we will follow a road at the top west to a 3650ft. summit, and then we will hike down on the main trail back to the TH. Even on the main trail, there will me many steep and sometimes loose sections. We will see a ton of lupine and balsamroot on our hike. Great views of the Yakima Canyon, Stuart Range, Mt Rainier, Adams, and even Hood!
Trip report from last year: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/trip-reports/trip_report.2015-04-19.1010217247
Umtanum Ridge
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USGS Selah
USGS Pomona
USGS Wymer
WA DNR Yakima
Green Dot Maps (wdfw.wa.gov) - See full route/place details.
Required Equipment
Hiking gear, good boots, sunglasses/sunscreen
Recommended: trekking poles, camera