Washington Off-Road Trails

Green Divide South is part of the famed Stampede Pass Route. Along the way are two hikes: Colquhoun Peak and Pyramid Peak. Colquhoun is a half-mile hike with approximately 500 feet of elevation gain, reaching a peak of 5,144 feet. There, you may find the remnants of the Colquhoun Lookout, which was constructed in the 1930s and removed in 1958. Unfortunately, due to treasure hunters, little remains of the lookout. Pyramid Peak is a 1.5-mile-long hike leading to 5,636 feet elevation. The first mile of the trail is shared with the Pacific Crest Trail, a hiking trail that covers 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada.

Stampede Pass Route is a 32-mile mountain pass through the Cascade Range, just south of Snoqualmie Pass in Washington. The pass was created to service railroads that traversed the Cascade Mountains. Today, it covers several well-maintained forest roads with ample room and views throughout.

NFDR 2923 is a fairly well-maintained gravel road to traverse from Highway 101 to NFDR 29, a much more interesting path to Forks if you're headed that way! It starts nice and wide, narrowing down a little as you near the peak of the road, but it is traveled enough to keep the foliage mostly back from the sides of the road. Like most of the roads through this portion of Olympic National Forest, you get a very pretty forest drive down in the lower sections and lovely views as you get closer to the top. As may be expected in a rainforest, clouds can often obscure the top, though the sky is gorgeous on a clear night.

There are a few spur roads off to the side as you go up and down, and some of them have small campsite areas, but there isn't much directly on the road. Right at the beginning on the north end, there's a splinter off the road that leads to a flat open area that is pre-disturbed, with a fire ring and a metal table that seems to have been left in place.

Sears Creek Road is a 4.17-mile trail along the White River. The easy trail has plenty of nice views and campsites.

Most of the trail is gravel or graded dirt, with small to medium-sized potholes. In a few areas, streams have flowed over the road, causing ruts in dried mud. One area in the second half of the trail has very deep ruts caused by water flowing down the road, but this area is passable in a stock SUV with minimal ground clearance.

There are excellent views of the mountains rising out of the river valley, and a short walking trail at the end of the road takes you down to the river.

Many short pullouts lead to campsites off of the road. The majority of these sites have fire rings and ample room for parking. There is also a large parking area with several campsites near the river at the end of the road.

Located in the northern area of the Wenas Wildlife area, 10 miles southwest of Ellensburg, this trail is a rough, non-technical trail winding its way from Ridge Road to Durr Road. Much of the trail is covered in fist-sized rocks, with exposed roots and off-camber ruts. Though not too much of a challenge for most 4X4 vehicles, it will be harsh on your vehicle, especially if you do not air down. The trail offers a nice and unobstructed 360-degree panoramic view of Umtanum Ridge and Wenas Valley and Wildlife Area. This trail is part of the Washington Cascade Overland Route but only offers one campsite along its 5.4-mile length. The campsite is large and open, with no protection from the elements, and no amenities offered.

While you won't find any sugar plums along Plum Creek Road, its short and sweet switchback catapults you to the top of the border between King and Kittitas counties. It's an essential trail in completing the Stampede Pass Overland Route and could challenge drivers with its steep ascent. Unlike the previous Green Divide (North), Plum Creek opens up and shares expansive views of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Forest. But if you take your time and use low range, you'll find a sweet escape above the forest in this part of the Snoqualmie Ranger District.

Divide Ridge is a rough dirt road with very little difficulty aside from some tight branches right near the end. You'll have great views of the mountains as you traverse near the ridgeline of the mountain, culminating slightly down in a valley with a secluded campsite with plenty of space for a group of people.

This trail had a few camp spots along the way up, with several potential camping offshoots as well, so finding a spot to stay the night shouldn't take much effort!

North Fork Cispus is a forest service road in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State. This road provides access to the North Fork of the Cispus River, a scenic area known for its beautiful landscapes, hiking trails, and fishing opportunities. The road winds through dense forests and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Outdoor enthusiasts often use this road to access the remote wilderness areas for camping, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Many spur roads along this route will provide dispersed camping. The only dispersed camping on this road is toward the trail's end. Three beautiful waterfalls along this route are just magical. North Fork Cispus is a popular destination for nature lovers seeking a peaceful and serene outdoor experience in the Pacific Northwest.

Bookended by campsites, Tekison Creek Road is a dead-end connecting road between Little Brushy Creek and Brewton Road, with a seasonally accessible finger leading to the waters of the Columbia River. Along the west end of the trail, at the connection with Brewton, Tekison branches off for another half mile, ending at a rarely used, single-vehicle-mounted tent camping location. An overgrown water crossing in this section is the only difficult part to contend with, though you can easily avoid it and skip this half-mile altogether. The northern half of the road, closest to the water, is closed from October 20th to April 30th to protect local Elk herds. Along the drive, you will see old buildings and machinery in the field that may prove interesting, as well as railroad tracks across the water from a great shoreline campsite that is rather small, only large enough for one or two vehicles and a ground tent.

Green Dot Roads are a collaboration between DNR, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and private landowners to provide opportunities for dispersed recreation such as camping, hunting, off-road vehicle riding, and wildlife viewing. Green Dot roads are the legal motorized routes and marked with a round green reflector on a white route marker. You can find current mappings that will include seasonal and other closures at https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/wdfw-lands/green-dot. A Discover Pass is required for portions of DRN land that are included in Green Dot road maps.

Cleman Mountain Ridge Road starts as a nice gravel road and takes you from the National Forest into the Fish and Wildlife Green Dot lands. You'll pass through the Wenas wildlife area and a small portion of the Oak Creek wildlife area. Along the trek, the road changes from gravel to dirt to mud to small rocks and will pitch your vehicle up to 20*. You'll follow part of the WABDR route past the peak of Cleman Mountain and the radio towers there while experiencing breathtaking views of the Cascade Mountains out the window. The road is rough but suitable for any high clearance 4WD.

Several campsites are located along the road at various points to give you options in both location and the environment. Still, all are at nearly 4,000 feet or higher, so plan accordingly. The road ends abruptly with a, "No Unauthorized Vehicles" sign, but several offshoot roads provide other options for through traffic while still experiencing this road.

Part of Cleman Mountain Ridge Road runs along Section 2 (Packwood to Ellensburg) of the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route (WABDR), a scenic 575-mile mostly offroad route from the Oregon state line to the Canadian border.

Green Dot Roads are a collaboration between DNR, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and private landowners to provide opportunities for dispersed recreation such as camping, hunting, off-road vehicle riding, and wildlife viewing. Green Dot roads are the legal motorized routes marked with a round green reflector on a white route marker. You can find current mappings that include seasonal and other closures at https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/wdfw-lands/green-dot. A Discover Pass is required for portions of DRN land included in Green Dot road maps.

Forest Service Road 3330 starts on West Taneum Road just outside Ellensburg, Washington, and connects at its upper elevation with Hutchins Road, allowing easy access to the Manastash Recreation area. The road is very well maintained, with only the usual washboard effect in places. This road provides access to various recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. There are also a few camping spots located along the road. FS 3330 offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in nature and enjoy the tranquility of the forest environment. The road is typically well-marked and offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Whether you're looking for a peaceful drive through the woods or seeking adventure in the great outdoors, Forest Service Road 3330 has something to offer for everyone.

Weissenfels Ridge Road climbs from the Snake River Road up to Montgomery Ridge Road. It is an easy gravel road suitable for any vehicle. From the Snake River, the road climbs quickly up to the open prairie, above the river and tributary canyons, where it follows the ridge between the Tenmile Creek and the Snake River and tributaries canyons offering spectacular views. Kiesecker Road is a dead end that provides a good view of the upper reaches of the Couse Creek Canyon as it starts to drop from the prairie. Because Wiessenfles Ridge Road is bordered by private property, there are no places to camp

As Weissenfels Ridge Road climbs from the Snake River, it becomes a steep, narrow, shelf road with many twists and blind turns.  

Blowout Creek, also known as FS Road 1913, offers a scenic journey starting from the top of Stampede Pass and heading east to connect with the Naches Trail and FS 19 in the Naches Valley. As travelers embark on this route, they are treated to breathtaking mountain views of majestic Mount Rainier to the south and the rugged Cascade mountain range to the north. The road winds through dense old-growth forests, where towering trees create a canopy overhead, filtering sunlight and casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses this road, so please consider the possibility of encountering hikers in the area. While there is no camping along the way, spur roads lead to secluded spots perfect for dispersed camping, allowing adventurers to immerse themselves in the tranquility of nature while surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wilderness. Traveling along Blowout Creek is a truly immersive experience that showcases the beauty and grandeur of the Pacific Northwest's natural landscapes.

C-Line cuts across the middle of Capitol State Forest on a well-maintained gravel road with patches of pavement. Suitable for all vehicles, you'll find forested corridors and expansive views both as you traverse East or West across the forest. The road has several points of interest along the route, bisecting several hiking trails, Waddell Basin West, Greenline, Wedekind, Crestline, and Porter, as well as one sanctioned target shooting pit, and a turn off on C-6000 for a 2-mile drive down to Fall Creek Campground.

Capitol State Forest can have active logging operations, so be sure to pay attention and watch for heavy machinery and trucks while exploring the forest. There is no dispersed camping allowed in Capitol State Forest; the only camping permitted within the forest is in official campgrounds, so please ensure that you have a plan for that if you need a place to stay for the night.

Capitol State Forest is an 11,000-acre forest packed with roads and trails and specific opportunities for recreational purposes. Please see https://www.dnr.wa.gov/Capitol for up-to-date info and closures relating to this location and any restrictions on activities.