[wildernessed]

Location : West of Entiat, Wa. Access : SR 97 >Entiat River Rd. > Mills Canyon Rd > Entiat Summit Rd. (Park just before the road starts to go up, or at pullout uphill on left) Maps : GTM - Cashmere, TOPO, Washington Gazetteer Stats : 9.5 Mi, 2300' The forecast was for showers in the Wenatchee area starting around 11 am, and cloudy skies, worse to the North and West, so wanting some miles, gain, and hoping for wildflowers we went with Mills Canyon to Keystone Point, which in past years has been a flower shop hike, especially if you like Rock Roses. Last year I did it as a conditioning hike with Dave Allyn and Hit the Trail, it was a great wildflower year for most places, and it was spectacular on this hike, especially for Rock Roses. We didn't know what to expect given the low wildflower turnout overall this season, with some exceptions. We parked near the bottom of the canyon, the skies overcast, but temps cool, which was good, because this place can heat up. Coming up the road we saw Balsam Root, Lupine etc..., so we had hope for more than a dry run up and back.

Right at the start we had wildflowers, a good variety a long, and up the slopes, and there they were, the Rock Roses, healthy looking with everything else. One thing interesting out here is that you will actually see Rock Roses among wildflowers in the grass on the slopes, not near any rock, but the one common thing with the rock roses we have seen is they occur in old burn areas, even more than they do in rocky areas, or among rock formations. So we walked upward out of the canyon and on the ridge to Keystone Point, and they never did disappear, while the normal wildflowers were less than average, they were still good, but the Rock Roses lasted all the way to the summit, or for a five mile stretch, just about every type of grouping, color, hue you could imagine so it was quite a treat.

Above Mills Canyon looking towards Dicks Mesa.

Stormy - Baldy

Looking off the West end of a large warm rock on Keystone Point where we had lunch, sun shining from the East, clouds spitting light rain from the West at times, with a view up the Entiat River Valley.

Rob on Keystone Point

It was spitting rain, for quite a while, but when we arrived on the summit, we had sunshine from the East at our back, and clouds with light sprinkles hitting us occasionally from the West, as the larger showers went to the North. We actually ended up spending a fair amount of time kicked back on a massive rock slab looking up the Entiat River Valley. On the way back the clouds split and we had hot sun, the whole way back.

Tyee

Eastern side of Kelly Mountain, Klone can be seen with binculars.

For wildflower and Rock Rose lovers I would recommend you visit this place for what may be a once in a many year event as far as these Rock Roses go, we walk this route for exercise, flowers, views, and because it's close, but you can drive this, it is a road, in fact it is the road that leads to the Eastern Terminus of Entiat Ridge.

[Backpacker Joe]

Love the pics. Especially the dorky ones.

[wildernessed]

Damn Mushrooms, how many days has this dayhike taken ?

[Backpacker Joe]

You guys are great. Hey Wildy, when do those Oval lakes thaw out again?

[GaliWalker]

[HitTheTrail]