Washington Off-Road Trails

Located in the northern portion of the Wenas Wildlife Area, about 10 miles south of Ellensburg, Washington, Durr Road is a trail with scenic views and local historic significance. The trail begins atop Umtanum Ridge, near a radio tower, and continues down into the valley below, crossing Umtanum Creek by a small bridge at the bottom. After completing the climb following the creek, a look behind reveals a magnificent view of the valley you just traveled through, including the switchbacks that lead Durr Road into failure. During the 1870s, as roads continued to improve, settlers began claiming land in Eastern Washington. Shushuskin Road was part of that route, carrying mail, freight, and passengers over 150 miles from Dalles, Oregon to Ellensburg, Washington. An alternate route was built by Jacob Durr in 1882, which crossed the Umtanum Ridge from the Wenas Valley, before rejoining the Shushuskin Road. Although the bypass saved travelers 10 miles from their journey, the route was quite steep and required turntables; platforms that allowed a wagon and its horse team to turn at the switchbacks. Between the difficulty and the high cost of $25 annually, the toll road did not see much use. As one stagecoach driver concluded, “There is no hell in the hereafter; it lies between The Dalles and Ellensburg.” The trail is now much tamer than it was in its inception. It’s now both a pleasant day outing, as well as a great addition to a much longer trip. This trail is part of the Washington Cascade Overland Route. Visit Overlanding Across Washington for more information, including which trails to take next.

Are you ready to get into a remote wilderness seldom traveled? Skok Wynoochee Crossover, FS-2300, in the Olympia National Forest, starts north of Belfair and travels through wonderful old-growth and timber management areas. Several small, deep, clear ravine lakes would be fun to explore. The road winds 32.90 miles ending at Wynooches Lake, 35 miles north of Montesano. This area is very remote, so plan your fuel usage accordingly since Montesano is the closest fuel point. While no campsites were noted along the trail, smaller spur roads should provide excellent camping areas.

Greenwater Road, FS-70, is a Forest Service road that allows access to the Naches Trail, Pyramid Pass, and Stampede Pass. The road is mostly maintained and climbs in elevation to 4,800 feet, ending at "Government Meadows Horse Camp." Although designed for those with horses, there are no restrictions on its use.

Tahuya State Forest ORV area is a great 4x4 destination for beginners up to seasoned veterans. While this forest trail system does have some challenging man-made rock gardens, for the most part, the only hindrance to stock vehicles would be the depth of some of the standing water in the fall, spring, and winter months and, of course, the "Rock Gardens" that were put in for more modified rigs. Tahuya has been nick-named "2-wheel Tahuya" as most of the trails are fairly easy. But some trails are definitely not for beginners. This makes it the perfect place for beginners to gain some skills before attempting more difficult trails. There is not really a good map produced that shows all of the trails in this park as some are 4x4, some are for motorcycles/ATV's, and some are just for walking/mountain biking. This trail write-up is called "84N". 84N is a loop trail that can be run in either direction. On this trail, you will encounter large mud-pits in the spring and fall months. There are also some stunning views of the surrounding "Olympic Mountains." This is just one of the many routes to explore in this ORV area. As a reminder, always tread lightly, stay on the trails, and follow the purple 4x4 triangles for other trails in the park.

55 Trail is in the Tahuya State Forest ORV park outside Belfair, WA. The Tahuya State Forest ORV area is a popular 4x4 destination. This park was designed for beginning wheelers up to seasoned trail veterans. Trail 55 is located at the southern end of the park beginning on access road G-3000. 55 Trail has man-made obstacles making it significantly more interesting. The trail undulates with deep opposing holes designed to flex your vehicle's suspension, so be listening for the pop of your springs as your rig is stretched. The 15 man-made rock obstacles spread throughout the trail have a bypass to allow stock vehicles to try these obstacles. This trail is perfect for beginner drivers to gain experience on rocks.

Trail #102 is within the Evans Creek ORV and part of the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Forest. This trail is one of a dozen available in this park for off-road vehicle use. With over 45 miles of trail riding, Evans Creek ORV is an excellent destination for a weekend getaway. Trail #102 is one of the more challenging trails, with steep elevation climbs and nail-biting narrow turns that are incredibly tricky with high sides. Roots and trees are begging to snag a fender, a mirror, or scratch a hard top. Trail #102 is a trail you won't soon forget. 

With a name like Humps and Bumps, you would be right to assume what this trail is about, with its many dips waiting to test your vehicle's suspension travel. After the recent logging, Humps and Bumps is now the second Jeep Badge of Honor in Washington State. Along with being a great choice for entry-level rock crawling, the trail also runs directly by the 4X4 Skills Area of the park, giving you a great opportunity to park your vehicle and watch your buddies push their rigs to the max. With so many options along this trail, this is one you won’t want to miss. Walker Valley ORV is comprised of 3,200 acres, with twelve 4X4 trails, and several more ATV and dirt bike trails. The trails offer many challenges like rocks, roots, and ruts. These obstacles will change from season to season, with the addition of snow and rain, which can also produce large puddles and muddy stretches. From the mild to wild, Walker Valley ORV provides something for everyone.

In and around the town of Greenwater, all the way up to the entrance of "Mt. Rainier National Park" and the Crystal Mountain Ski area, there is a network of interconnected Forest Service roads that can make for a day of fun and adventure. While most of these roads are not true "Jeep Trails", they do present some spectacular scenery with their stunning views of Mt. Rainier and the surrounding mountain valleys. These roads are also a great way for a novice to get to know their vehicle if they are new to the sport, or a way to just explore and see what lies around the next corner. The spring flowers are really nice, and most bloom well into mid-summer. There are dispersed camping spots all along these roads that are free to use, though you can expect no facilities.