Manastash Ridge Road

[Jerry]

Manastash Ridge Road
June 30, 2007

I joined up with Clay and his family from Yakima and a bunch of folks with his "All Wheelers Off Road Club" in driving the Manastash Ridge Road southwest of Ellensburg. We met in Naches with eight vehicles including two Jeep Cherokees, a full size Chevy Blazer, a Willy's Wagon, two Jeep Wrangler TJ's, a Ford Ranger and my Ford Bronco II.

Leaving Naches we drove over the hump to the Wenas Valley and followed the paved Wenas Road until it turned to gravel. About three miles from the beginning of gravel we came to the Observatory Road where we opened the gate, closing it behind us, and observed the "Green Dot" system on our way to the University of Washington Observatory perched atop Manastash Ridge. The observatory was fenced and the gate locked so we didn't get real close, but the territorial view from the ridge was pretty nice as we parked our rigs in front of the white domed building for photos and to air down our tires for the bumpy roads ahead.

From the observatory we backtracked a short distance and turned onto the Manastash Ridge Road. There are several Green Dot roads in the area, but none of them are marked with names or numbers and my current map of the area only confused the issue. Clay was in the lead and his instinct was flawless. There were a couple of places we could have made wrong turns, but we didn't and that left more time for us to enjoy the views of Mount Rainier and the Stuart Range as we continued west on the ridge. The weather was perfect and visibility was virtually unlimited. It was a great day for a drive.

This trip was intended to be a backroad discovery tour of Manastash Ridge, although it was nice to have 4-wheel drive for a couple of hill climbs over loose shale rock. We climbed about 2,000 feet in elevation on our 11-mile trek between the observatory and the Barber Springs gate at the National Forest boundary.

Evelyn and I had our kids visiting from western Oregon so I broke away from the group when we hit the FR1701 road and headed for home. The rest of the folks continued over the 4-wheel drive trail to Funny Rocks, a popular sandstone ORV play area. I for one was elated to have the opportunity of accompanying a group of neat people and similarly equipped vehicles over a route I have speculated about for years. And I want to thank Clay and everybody else who turned out for a great day.

Jerry from Yakima

[Ceg]

I guess I have something to share about this run. Here is my report:

On June 30th, 2007 around 10 AM we met up with 8 rigs at Many?s market in Naches, Washington. Fatboy lead us toward the observatory.
Here we are climbing up out of Naches toward the Wenus Valley




Turning on the Observatory Road.


The rigs of the day at the observatory.


Great views from the Observatory


We aired down at the Observatory and headed up the Manastash Ridge. 99 being new to wheelin? wasn?t sure about going down this steep loose hill. She was in the lead and had to be the first one down. She went on down and did fine. We stopped to watch the others come down. Here is Jerry in his Bronco II.


I don?t think Test Dummy?s girl friend liked his driving.


At 1701 Jerry headed home. We took 4W694 to stay on top of the Manastash Ridge.
Down the trail Test Dummy?s rig started having a few problems. I had to get a picture of this classic rig on the trail.


Test Dummy dropped down 670 to get his rig home. We head on with 6 rigs. We stopped for a view of Manastash Lake.


Next we came to a fun place in the trail. Here the Willys got a little carnage in the tight trees.


Bobracing took a wider way down.


Fatboy came down the way 99 did.


99 coming down the next little drop off.


We stopped at Funny Rocks to watch some rigs play.


Next we went to Moon Rocks. Fatboy liking the new lift kit.


We headed back to 4W694 and turned down 4W686.
99 and her Tweety Jeep


Steve and Will?s Tweetey Jeep


Here I got out to take pictures of the wash out on Milk Creek Road because a lot of people ask to see pictures of it. I think the guys that drove around us thought I was nuts for taken road wheelin? pics.




Here we are airing up at the bottom of Milk Creek Road (1708).


This was a real fun run. Great people, scenery and weather.
Thanks guys for coming.

[Steve]

From your post, I would assume that 4W694 and 4W686 was passable by the full size Blazer which would mean my 80-series Land Cruiser would fit.

[Ceg]

Originally Posted by Steve

From your post, I would assume that 4W694 and 4W686 was passable by the full size Blazer which would mean my 80-series Land Cruiser would fit.

Kind of. We did not do the part of 4W686 called "Woodpecker". We turned off 4W686 at the bottem of the steep hill climb and took 4W686 to the old FS1708 road which turns into 4W686 now. That area at the end of Milk Creek Rd (FS1708) is screwy with the trail numbers.

The Blazer fit for the most part with ease. A small part of 4W694 over looking Manastash Lake is pretty tight for a full size.

[Steve]

Luckily my width is less than a full size, about the same as a new Tacoma. I just have be concerned about the 112 inch wheelbase.

Steve

[Jerry]

I took my Full Size Jeep Cherokee over the 694 above Manastash Lake and also in our group was a big Bronco with wide tires. One place was tight for a full size, the only place I had to pull in my mirrors between the Barber Springs gate and Funny Rocks. Other than that my rig fit just fine. As I recall the Bronco did some rubbing.