Firebreak Five / Tillamook State Forest

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4.8/5 (18 reviews)
Banks, Oregon (Tillamook County)
Last Updated: 10/20/2022
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Trail Information

Highlights

Camping Category Icon Camping
Forest Category Icon Forest
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Mud Category Icon Mud
Rock Category Icon Rock
Snow Wheeling Category Icon Snow Wheeling
Firebreak Five is a trail that can go from mild to wild depending on conditions. In dry summer weather, most vehicles can navigate the entire trail by taking the easiest lines and combining good spotting and good driving. In the soggy winter months, certain sections of the trail, such as Waypoint 4, can become incredibly difficult or even impassable for all but trucks rolling on sticky tires, with front and rear lockers, or with little regard for possible drive-train damage. The changing conditions and challenges that voyagers along Firebreak Five face are all part of the adventure. Firebreak Five also has the distinction of being a "Jeep Badge of Honor." For those looking for a big challenge, there is an optional rock garden, and there are very difficult lines to take on the obstacles that will challenge even the most built rigs.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Firebreak Five starts in a dense forest before emerging into a long straight section paralleling a clearcut. There is a bail-out point at Waypoint 3 if the going is too challenging or the conditions are too poor to continue. The first major obstacle is at Waypoint 4, where several boulders and shelves are needed to climb to reach the next gravel road intersection. It can be very challenging to get up and over Waypoint 4 without very sticky or very large tires in wet conditions. Winching or potentially drive train-breaking vehicle hopping can happen in this section. However, vehicles with mild lifts and oversized tires can make it through with good spotting and driving in more favorable conditions. Like any trail in the Tillamook State Forest, Firebreak Five conditions can change dramatically depending on when the last maintenance was performed on the trail and when the last rain happened. During the rainy season (usually starting in September and lasting through June or July), any trail in the forest can vary from a very benign trail to a wild, highly technical trail in a matter of hours or days. The Tillamook State Forest periodically closes trails for various reasons, including inclement weather, storm damage, trail maintenance, fire restrictions, logging operations, and various other reasons. Trails can sometimes close with a locked gate or a barricade without notice. Additionally, trails may be closed by Tillamook State Forest official announcements, but the trails may not be gated off or have physical indications of the closure. The Tillamook State Forest official online blog is the best source of information about these announced and unannounced closures.

Trail Reviews

4.8/5 (18)
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Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 08/03/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Wow, a short but very fun trail. We ran this backwards after finishing Cedar Tree. The play area, Big Boulder Alley and Boulder Alley were great. It was very dry so the obstacles were not too tough, but still technical and fun. We’ll worth doing and really enjoyable. I can see why this would be really tough if wet.
Trail Review: Firebreak Five / Tillamook State Forest - Donna Kepf
Trail Review: Firebreak Five / Tillamook State Forest - Donna Kepf
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 07/11/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Another beautiful trail in the Tillamook forest. Conditions were perfect when we went, so the trail was not tough. I would imagine that it gets very difficult when it gets wet. Boulder alley and Big Boulder alley were fun! We ran it backward since we came out of Cedar Tree trail (which is probably the easier way). Will run it the other way next time we are up in Oregon. Great trail! (**Thanks TO team for the guides. Always nice to know what to expect) (2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - 3 inch lift on 35s)
Trail Review: Firebreak Five / Tillamook State Forest - William A Warne
Trail Review: Firebreak Five / Tillamook State Forest - William A Warne
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100
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 01/02/2023
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Just did Big Boulder ally yesterday and it was a blast!!!
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Official Crew
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53250
Open
Visited: 09/17/2021

The Tillamook State Forest has reopened all OHV trails thanks to lowered fire danger: http://tillamookstateforest.blogspot.com/2021/09/all-ohv-trails-open-effective-09162021.html
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Official Crew
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53250
Temporary Closure
Visited: 06/25/2021

Due to high fire danger, the Tillamook State Forest is closing all OHV trails as of 1am on Friday June 25th. At this time the gravel roads in the TSF are still open for OHV use but all the trails are shut down. http://tillamookstateforest.blogspot.com/2021/06/fire-danger-moving-to-high-effective.html

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