Newbie looking for easy trails in WA

Hi all,

I have been following Tacoma World for last several months and helped me a lot upon purchasing a new truck. I finally decided to join this great forum. This is my first post.

I purchased Tacoma 2015 AC 4x4 base model, manual, 4 cylinders approximately two months ago. I am now looking for trails in WA.

Here is my background:

• My Tacoma is stock regarding the off road capabilities. Stock tires.
• I have no prior off road 4x4 experiences. I drove VW beetle 2001 Turbo manual for 14 years prior to Tacoma.
  
• I am looking for easy trails that my wife and I can go by ourselves and enjoy the views. I am not looking for anything challenging or demanding. Just want to explore off roads where my beetle could not explore.
  
• I live in Seattle area. I plan to travel mid-end of September. Day trip, no camping.

I have found the following links.

http://www.nwjeepn.com/WAtrails.htm

https://www.trails.com/

I am interested in Huckleberry Ridge. Tahuya and Cle Elum Valley might be other candidates. A few questions for you guys.

• Do you recommend Huckleberry Ridge? If not, what do you suggest?
• How/where can I get the information regarding the map and open/closure information? I can subscribe the maps from trails.com. Do you recommend that, or can you suggest something better?

Thanks in advance.

 

Welcome to the board!

Regarding trails, it all depends on what you're looking to get out of them. With a stock truck you're mostly looking at Forest Service roads, with that said you're in luck, the PNW has a ton to offer.

For starters you might want to go explore off Stampede Pass off i90. It's my go to place, enjoy.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Sea...66944d59a!2m2!1d-122.3320708!2d47.6062095!1m0

 

If you want to venture a little more but still have amazing views and mostly no gates, check out beckler road off hwy 2. Tons of great views.

Down around seattle you will run into a lot of closed forest service roads.

Also I wouldn't do Tahuya in a stock truck.. Definitely not

 

Thank you guys for the very helpful info. I would love to try both trails soon!

 

Why not? Zach and I were in our stock 4bangers and did fine ( for the most part) lol

Definately wouldn't suggest checking out any trails outside of FSRs alone if you wanted to wheel your truck though.

Like others said though some nice forest service roads to somewhere with a view would be totally doable.

 

From the spot I linked, great panoramic of the Cascades and Rainier.

 

Tronsen Ridge Trail on Table Mountain off SR97 south of Bluwett Pass is a fun easy trail with great views. I've done it in a stock Tacoma with stock tires. There are lots of places to camp if you change your mind.

Beware, in my experience a jeep trail rated "easy" was pretty intense in a stock truck.

The US Forest Service website has info on roads and trails; open, closed etc. You can also call the ranger station for the area. I'm planning a trip to Table Mountain sometime soon but I always stay at least one night.

 

I didn't know there were forest service roads at Tahuya? The trails that we went on last time I wouldn't do in a stock 4 banger. One guy did it in a stock 6cyl but he was a TRD OR. Tons of flexing

 

After seeing this, I feel like I should try some trails this coming weekend! Very nice photo.

I believe I found Tahuya was rated EASY in the jeep link and that's why I mentioned the name. In winter, my wife and I usually go to Lake Quinault in Olympic National Park and Tahuya is on our way - we typically enter the ONP from the south west side.

I guess I should have some experiences before thinking of Tahuya. I used to ride a dirt motorcycle and traveled some trails when i was in my home country, Japan. You cannot be over-prepared when you travel alone. Just not worth to take a risk without knowing what I and my Tacoma can do.

 

The Cle Elum, Naches and Liberty Areas are similar to Stampede, they also have decent 4x4 trails as well, but first get to know your truck. Beckler Rd is good also as others have mentioned.

If you're by yourself, go prepared. And trust your gut, if it looks like you couldn't get back out, don't go in!

Have fun! Start looking for snow.......

 

Glad I stumbled upon this thread!! I've had my truck for a while but really haven't gotten it dirty as often as I'd like. Time to change that. These trails/roads look like a good way to get started. Beckler Road campground is an hour from my house in Mill Creek(according to Google Maps). Think I'll start there. Thanks for the info!

 

Is there a map/book/gazetteer anyone would suggest? I've got an outdated but really good one for all the best motorcycling roads in WA. Anything like that?

Edit: Just found this but it's 3 years old:

$27 Wild Roads Washington: 80 Scenic Drives to Camping, Hiking Trails, and Adventures

http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Roads-Washington-Camping-Adventures/dp/1570618151

 

Honestly my best tool has been bing maps/google earth. Look around small towns for forest service roads. I know there are a ton in Darrington, around skykomish (basically anywhere up hwy 2), a lot back hwy 20 by concrete etc..

If you want trails look at nwjeepn.com

 

I went to Stampede Pass area last Saturday. Thank you for suggesting me some trails! It was my first off road riding w/ my Tacoma ever. It was fun, though I was lost. It took 4 hours to get back to I-90, even though original plan was 2 hours of off road riding.



Original plan was Stampede Pass>NF5483> NF112>NF5480>Stampede Pass>I-90. But somehow Stampede Pass>NF5480>back trace NF5480>Stampede Pass>NF52/NF54/NF41>I-90. The photo below is at the end of NF5480, I think. Did not see NF5481 in the map and had to go back



My hand-copied google map did not help to navigate. I am thinking about purchasing SD card for trails from Garmin as I have an old Garmin GPS. My stock 2.7L Tacoma was just fine. I will try another trail soon!

 

If you have a smart phone download either motion x gps or OsmAnd maps, both are very good to navigate.

 

Go to the Forest Service HQ nearest and pick up a motor vehicle use map.

 

Thinking I might go up to Skykomish tomorrow and drive up Beckler Rd. a bit. Get my truck dirty. I'll hit the FS HQ up there and grab a map or two.

 

My favorite road is fs Rd. 6520 (right when it turns from pavement to gravel, up to the right) then take 6524 all the way up (splits off to the right). There was a gate put in just before the top last year but not sure if its locked.. Still good views on the way up

 

Thank you Sir!! I'll check it out. I see you're in Snohomish. I'm just over in Mill Creek. I'm out in your neck of the woods a bit though. Usually on my motorcycle.

 

Yessir! Been here for 17 years now haha I know a lot of good FS roads up north here. Also look into going up to Darrington. FS 24 is fantastic on a clear day. Take that all the way back, then left on 2430, then right on 2435. Take that to the top of the mountain