Manastash Ridge is a long anticline mountain ridge located in central Washington state in the United States. Manastash Ridge runs mostly west-to-east in Kittitas and Yakima counties, for approximately 50 miles. The ridge is part of the Yakima Fold Belt of east-tending long ridges formed by the folding of Miocene Columbia River basalt flows.
The name Manastash comes from the Sahaptin word /máːmaštaš/, possibly meaning "we are going root digging".
The highest point in Manastash Ridge is Manastash Peak at , located west of Ellensburg, Washington. Interstate 82 crosses through the eastern portion of the ridge; the Manastash Ridge Summit is located at milepost 7 of the interstate (south of Ellensburg) or about north of Yakima, Washington at an elevation of .
In addition to Manastash Peak, Manastash Ridge includes the peaks of Quartz Mountain (), Mount Clifty (), and Lookout Mountain (). The astronomy department of the University of Washington maintains the Manastash Ridge Observatory, located about west-southwest of Ellensburg.
References
External links
Manastash Ridge road conditions
Bivouac.com - Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia - Manastash Region page
Manastash Ridge Observatory page
Ridges of Washington (state) Landforms of Kittitas County, Washington Ridges of Yakima County, Washington Washington placenames of Native American origin