Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Cascade Locks, Oregon
Washington Backcountry Discovery Route Section 1
This route covers all of section 1 of the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route (WABDR), from Carson to Packwood. Weather and route conditions can vary significantly from one area to the next, especially in early spring… Learn more about Washington Backcountry Discovery Route Section 1
Total Miles
124.5
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Big Lava Bed Trail
This easy gravel route follows NF-65, NF-60, Carson Guler Road. A few interesting stops along the way include Panther Creek Falls, Goose Lake, Guler Ice Caves, and plenty of camp spots on the route. Also… Learn more about Big Lava Bed Trail
Total Miles
20.6
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Mount Defiance - NF 2821000
Mount Defiance road scrambles 1600'+ out of the hills West of Hood River, Oregon to the summit of Mount Defiance and the edge of the Mark O Hatfield Wilderness. The summit tops out at just… Learn more about Mount Defiance - NF 2821000
Total Miles
3.6
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Lolo Pass
Historic Lolo Pass is a scenic drive that connects the Sandy River area to Lost Lake and Hood River. Spectacular valley views open up to reveal the western side of Mt. Hood. The driving surface… Learn more about Lolo Pass
Total Miles
12.5
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Campers Pass
A casual long relatively straight stretch of off-roading experience perfect for testing independent suspension. Found at the end of Szydlo Road, just north of the town of Stabler, Washington. Follow this trail for beautiful mountainside… Learn more about Campers Pass
Total Miles
6.1
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp
McGee Creek Overlook
This short spur provides access to the McGee Creek Trailhead. Driving past the hiking trailhead, immediately ascends into a short and slightly technical climbing section. Once clear of these ruts and rocks, the road becomes… Learn more about McGee Creek Overlook
Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Muddy Fork Road
The trail system is intricate and intercepts other trails, making it never-ending. It is paved, but during the winter months, when it has snowed, this trail system is a blast! Make sure you have recovery… Learn more about Muddy Fork Road
Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Wi
Creek Gravel Grumbler Road
This is a gentle, mostly un-maintained road that sits along the continuation of the path after Northeast Sunset Falls Road. It is easily assessable from the town of Moulton Washington. The trail is relatively silty… Learn more about Creek Gravel Grumbler Road
Total Miles
6.2
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp
Still Creek Road
If you're looking for a quintessential PNW trail to run or a fun alternate to highway 26, this is it. Dense forests shroud you as you parallel a flowing river, crossing mossy rock bridges a… Learn more about Still Creek Road
Total Miles
9.1
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Clinger Trail Hood NF
Very narrow dirt trail in a heavily forested area. Not recommended for larger or full-size vehicles, the trees are very overgrown, except pinstriping. There were some low-hanging trees and one across the trail. Bring equipment… Learn more about Clinger Trail Hood NF
Total Miles
5.9
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Pepper Creek
Pepper Creek is an easy gravel road that runs through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, it offers a couple of small camp spots, but the main attraction is the hikes, Both Curly Creek Falls and… Learn more about Pepper Creek
Total Miles
6.1
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Sherar Burn Road
This trail begins easy and mild, but the further up and back you travel, the more rocky and overgrown it becomes. Erosion ruts and potholes are present throughout the trail - some ground clearance is… Learn more about Sherar Burn Road
Total Miles
8.5
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Lookout Mountain Road - FR 4410000
An easy dirt road that takes you through the Mt. Hood National Forest. It connects to several other trails in the area, and leads to a few trailheads for hiking and biking. The trail can… Learn more about Lookout Mountain Road - FR 4410000
Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Trillium Lake Loop
Just South of Trillium Lake, this is an easy dirt loop trail through the Mt. Hood National Forest. Trail debris (trees) may be present on the trail. If traveling North, you may catch glimpses of… Learn more about Trillium Lake Loop
Total Miles
6.4
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su
Mud Creek - Forest Road 309
Short offshoot trail from the Trillium Lake Loop that dead ends at the Jackpot Meadows / Salmon River Trailhead. At the time of tracking, the trail was heavily overgrown - not sure if the Forest… Learn more about Mud Creek - Forest Road 309
Total Miles
3.8
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Keeps Mill South
This is an access route to a remote campground along the edge of Mount Hood National Forest. The terrain is mixed gravel and pavement along NFS roads until the last few miles down into the… Learn more about Keeps Mill South
Total Miles
17.3
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Eastside
Eastside is an easy gravel road mixed with dirt, there are a few potholes both small and big, and some of them really sneak up on you. The road runs through Gifford Pinchot National. After… Learn more about Eastside
Total Miles
7.7
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Su
OHV Abbott Road Quarry
This sneaky hidden side trail opens up to another bigger quarry play area. It's short; it's sweet. But good to know how to find it since you can pass right over it. There is a… Learn more about OHV Abbott Road Quarry
Total Miles
0.2
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Quarry Head Trail
This is a trail to the small quarry before the main quarry. Rough roads cut by winter snow may make 4x4 a requirement. Winter months bring deeply rutted snowbanks that will force you into potholes.… Learn more about Quarry Head Trail
Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp
La Dee Flats
Area consisting of many 4x4 and ATV trails that branch off of main roads. The road itself is gravel with many potholes. During the winter, snow will cover a majority of the area allowing for… Learn more about La Dee Flats
Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Abbott Road 6410 Quarry Split
Turn to follow Abbott road towards the quarry. Here the difficulty kicks it up a notch. Deep ruts and pits are hard to judge in the winter months due to puddling. Most are safe; some… Learn more about Abbott Road 6410 Quarry Split
Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Abbott Road 4610
This road takes you up the mountain past the La Dee Flats staging area out towards the quarries. The staging area has raised loading docks for loading and unloading trailers. Goes past the La Dee… Learn more about Abbott Road 4610
Total Miles
6.8
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp
Thoughtful Lunch Trail
This is a super easy, dirt and mud trail that leads to a beautiful viewpoint and camp spot. Gorgeous tree covered hills with large devastating burn patches show the harsh reality of the forest fires.… Learn more about Thoughtful Lunch Trail
Total Miles
1
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi
Keeps Mill North Access
This short connector route drops down 1000 feet into the White River Canyon from NFS 48 and the historic Barlow Road. The first two miles are flat and easy, but the last mile or so… Learn more about Keeps Mill North Access
Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Yellow Jacket Creek
Yellow Jacket Creek is a combination of paved, dirt, and gravel roads. While there were some bumps and a couple of potholes, I would consider this very mild terrain. As we climbed up the mountain,… Learn more about Yellow Jacket Creek
Total Miles
17.9
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Pinto
Pinto road runs through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and it is a gravel surface road, with a couple of potholes. The road is very easy and enjoyable, you will enjoy sections of rock faces,… Learn more about Pinto
Total Miles
19.2
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa
Little Badger Creek
A dusty but well-maintained dirt trail that crosses through a nature preserve and continues into the Hood National Forest ending at a lush little forest campground with a creek running through it. The trail starts… Learn more about Little Badger Creek
Total Miles
7
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Fossil creek
This is a unmaintained forest service road. It it is gravel, but has very deep potholes and deep ruts, a high-clearance rig is advised with good approach break over and departure angle. in the winter… Learn more about Fossil creek
Total Miles
8.1
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Wi
Big Creek
The eastern end of Big Creek Trail is extremely overgrown with many tree branches in the trail. It will definitely leave pinstripes along an SUV or High-Clearance 4x4. It is a one-way road, with room… Learn more about Big Creek
Total Miles
4.2
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Green Mountain Road
This is one of the main roads heading up to Goat Mountain. There are many spur roads you can take off of Green Mountain Road; just make sure to check the status of gate closures.… Learn more about Green Mountain Road