Powerline #4B / Tillamook State Forest

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3.4/5 (16 reviews)
Banks, Oregon (Tillamook County)
Last Updated: 07/03/2022

Trail Information

Highlights

The Powerline #4B trail immediately plunges into a dense second growth forest thick with maples and fir trees dripping with moss and ferns. Depending on how recently the last rains passed through the Tillamook State Forest, visitors may be quite literally greeted with dripping moss and branches hanging low over the trail. A tight switchback points the trail southward toward the high tension power lines. After emerging from the dark and wet forest, the trail turns into a gravel access road that follows under the power lines on their march westward to bring electricity to the communities of the northern Oregon Coast. At the top of the ridge, 4x4ers are greeted with big views to the west across the patchwork of second and third growth timber, and clear cuts. Nine days out of ten, the distant ridges and mountains are veiled in clouds, rain, and mist, but on rare sunny blue sky days, the entire Devil's Lake Branch of the Wilson River Basin is on full display.

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Trail Navigation

Trail Reviews

3.4/5 (16)
Impassable
Visited: 12/26/2022

The trail’s entrance and exit are both blocked by many large rocks (purposely placed) so it’s not currently accessible. Trail is also labeled Happy Meal rather than Powerline 4B.
Open
Rated 5/5
Visited: 11/13/2021
Difficulty Accuracy: Spot On

Drove this route on Saturday 11/13/21 in a Silverado 1500 Trail Boss (crew cab, 6'6" box). We pretty much knew this going into it, but taking a full size truck on this trail is pretty questionable. The terrain is not difficult, but the space between the trees is very limiting. We had to fold the mirrors in, and still got some minor scratches on mirrors and side panels. Our friends in a 4 door Wrangler did not have any issue fitting through. Loads of fun overall.
Open
Visited: 10/02/2021
Difficulty Accuracy: Harder

I have no clue how the F250 and Ram 2500 guys who ran this trail in 2019 made it. I did it in a stock Z71 Colorado and it was extremely tight in some turns. The trail was wet and very muddy and I had to use my rear locker to get up the first steep turn. The midpoint where the guy with the Ram has a picture of is where I turned around. With the mud I'd have for sure slid into the roots, and the section past the turn was extremely rutted. The picture I took doesn't do it justice, each dip is probably 1.5-2ft deep
Trail Review: Powerline #4B / Tillamook State Forest - Paul Kaufmann
Trail Review: Powerline #4B / Tillamook State Forest - Paul Kaufmann
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Official Crew
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51750
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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51750
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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