Beginner Off-Road Trails Near White Salmon, Washington

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…
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Total Miles
124.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

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…
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Total Miles
3.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
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

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…
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Total Miles
5.9
Tech Rating
2 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…
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Total Miles
12.5
Tech Rating
2 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…
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Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

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…
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Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / 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…
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Total Miles
7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / 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…
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Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
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

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…
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Total Miles
9.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
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…
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Total Miles
8.5
Tech Rating
3 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…
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Total Miles
6.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

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…
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Total Miles
17.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

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…
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Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

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…
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Total Miles
3.8
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…
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Total Miles
6.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / 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,…
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Total Miles
17.9
Tech Rating
3 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

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

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,…
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Total Miles
19.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / 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

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

Cispus Valley

Cispus Valley is a gravel road mixed with loose dirt, it runs through the Gifford Pinchot National. There are a lot of potholes on this road, some are small and others are very big and…
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Total Miles
3.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

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

Layser Cave Sky Climb

Within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, this route begins at Forest Road 23, climbing 1500', where it dead ends at an amazing viewpoint. At the 1.5 mile mark, the route opens up to a parking…
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Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Lone Tree Mountain

Within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, this route begins at Forest Road 23, climbing 2600'. This route is a beautiful drive with lush forests along the climb, somewhat overgrown, especially late fall, ending at a…
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Total Miles
8.4
Tech Rating
2 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…
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Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Ames Creek

Ames Creek road is an easy gravel road that runs through the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. There are a couple of potholes both big and small, some sneak up on you if you're going fast.…
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Total Miles
3.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi