Beginner Off-Road Trails Near St. Helens, Oregon

Powder horn

Easy scenic route through the woods that can be done in a 2WD with good clearance. There are wonderful views and plenty of side roads to check out and explore. There are also a few…
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Total Miles
10.3
Tech Rating
2 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…
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Total Miles
8.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Wi

Wage to Walker Ridge

This loop takes you through the primary logging routes of the Clatsop State Forest. Though it's a relatively easy drive, you'll be treated to a variety of scenery across the deep forests, open plains, and…
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Total Miles
15.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Salmonberry Railroad Tunnel Route

This route is an easy gravel road out and back route. The Beaver Slide Road dead ends at the Salmon Berry River where the road is washed out. There are many other logging roads that…
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Total Miles
10.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Porter Ridge

This trail is easy and comfortable, being mostly a narrow gravel road through a beautiful coastal forest. No hard obstacles, just use caution as traffic can be going in either direction and the road is…
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Total Miles
5.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

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…
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Total Miles
6.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Butler Creek Mainline

This is the main logging route into the heart of the Clatsop State Forest. This is an easy, scenic drive with numerous spurs to explore. Deadfall could be an issue in the shoulder seasons. Like…
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Total Miles
5.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

7 Up Ez

This is the easy side of 7 Up. It is fun and not as extreme as the hard side of 7 Up. Winding through the forest, there is a little bit of rutted-out dirt trial,…
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Total Miles
0.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Osweg Creek Loop

A quick little run right off of Sunset Highway (US Route 26) that traverses the lower portion of the Clatsop State Forest. Don't be fooled by the appearance of a loopback to the main road,…
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Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

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…
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Total Miles
6.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Lost Lake

This is a fairly short route that branches off from Nehalem River Road, taking you to the beautiful Lost Lake in the Oregon Coast Range. The road can get pretty washer boarded with some pot…
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Total Miles
3.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su

King of the Hill

This route starts from the Jones Creek Exit off the highway and immediately onto a dirt road. You will end up taking North Fork Wilson River Road, the first half of the route you are…
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Total Miles
8.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Cook creek Road

Cook Creek Road is an easy-going logging road. There are multiple cliff drop sides, but the terrain is very easy to navigate. There are multiple potholes but no real obstacles and the road is primarily…
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Total Miles
10.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Lower Nehalem Road Beach Route

This route is a nice backcountry route that leads from HWY 26 towards Nehalem Bay. The first section of this road is paved and then turns into 11 miles of gravel. There are a couple…
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Total Miles
10.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

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.…
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Total Miles
4.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp

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…
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Total Miles
6.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp

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…
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Total Miles
6.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Green Mountain Gravel Pits

This route takes you off the main Green Mountain Road, up Green Mountain Middle Road, and to a few gravel pit areas. The route provides a few views of the city of Colton and other…
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Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

River Road

This beautiful forested road rides alongside the North Fork of Tilton River. Leading deeper into the forest. Gentle roads become rougher and more pitted the deeper you travel. Pull off on one of the many…
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Total Miles
1.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / 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…
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Total Miles
7.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Su

Bridge Brook Drive

This long beautiful stretch is surrounded by a beautiful pasture that has consumed once logging land. Beautiful open skies and gently sloping hills are interrupted by a fairy tail-like tree cover housing a bridge that…
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Total Miles
1.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Weasel Spring Lane

Beautiful lush forest interrupted by logging fields. Lots of wildlife scamper around as you drive this easy-going un-kept logging road. Large open skies, deer, elk, and weasels make this area a joy to explore. Spring…
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Total Miles
1.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

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.…
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Total Miles
1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Platt Canyon Road

Platte canyon Road is a small spinoff from Cook Creek Road. It is primarily dirt and gravel with some heavy ascents and descents. Loose gravel can be tricky in spots and may cause some slide…
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Total Miles
7.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

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…
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Total Miles
4.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

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…
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Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

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…
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Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
3 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.…
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Wi / Fa / Su / Sp

Lake Overlook Camp Out Road

This magnificent land bridge places this one-car wide lane delicately at the top of a very steep tall cliffside. The road is mostly clear of landslide debris but large rocks are not far off the…
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Total Miles
1.1
Tech Rating
2 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…
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Total Miles
20.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi