Manastash Ridge - Westberg Trail

The Westberg Trail climbs Manastash Ridge in a relentless 2-mile ascent from the Kittitas Valley floor near Ellensburg. Named in honor of a local wrestling coach, this trail earns every foot of its 1,800 feet of gain with a steep, direct route through open shrub-steppe. Halfway up, a lone pine tree offers a natural rest stop with views across the valley to the Stuart Range.

The summit area, marked by a memorial called "The Book," opens up to panoramic views of the Kittitas Valley and the Cascades beyond. Spring is the prime season, when lupine, balsamroot, phlox, paintbrush, and wild buckwheat color the hillsides. Late spring into early summer catches the wildflower peak. Fall works well too, with cooler temperatures and golden grasses. Summer is best avoided unless you start at dawn; there is no shade and no water on the entire route, and direct sun on the south-facing slope turns this into a furnace.

Locals treat this as an after-work fitness hike, and for good reason. It delivers a solid workout with genuine mountain views in under two hours, right off the highway. The trail splits at 0.3 miles; stay left for the Westberg proper. The right fork leads to the Boy Scout Trail, which connects higher on the ridge.