Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Arlington Heights, Washington

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S. Skagit Hwy to Gee Point

The first 17 miles of this trail is ideal for beginners, due to its mellow, packed gravel roadway, 1.5-vehicle width, and few sections of potholes. Therefore, it can be run in any type of vehicle.…
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Total Miles
25.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

The Ferns on French Creek

A short trail that takes you to an awesome camp spot near a small waterfall and creek. Old-growth type forest lines the trail and the last section to the camp spot is lined with ferns.…
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Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

North Mountain Trail

The North Mountain Trail is an out and back in Mount Baker National Forest. It passes through private land so be mindful if camping. There are a few campsites along the trail, with the most…
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Total Miles
9.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Trail Ridge Road

Trail Ridge Road is an easy, windy, single-width Forest Service gravel and dirt road that takes you up and around the Baker Lake area. It is a mostly well maintained dirt road with minimal potholes,…
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Total Miles
10.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Baker River Road

Baker River Road is a combination of paved, dirt and gravel roads at varying points. This is an easy and not rutted out and back trail that drives around multiple locations of Baker Lake, including…
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Total Miles
9.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

NF Road 1131

This National Forest Road leads up to the Boulder Ridge Trailhead. This trail was full of twists and turns and was unmaintained and quite overgrown. Guaranteed to leave pinstripes. It was dirt and gravel with…
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Total Miles
5.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

North fork road

This is a relatively easy trail. It consists of mostly compacted dirt with some loose gravel sections and a few concrete sections with bridges. This trail is good any time of year, but particularly beautiful…
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Total Miles
14.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Riverside

Very easy gravel trail with one water crossing. This trail was washed out, but has since been repaired. Unmaintained in the winter. This trail follows the river for most of the trail. Nice place to…
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Total Miles
6.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Bacon Creek

A typical maintained forest road, with lots of potholes and overgrown parts. Beautiful plants and trees, very green and lush as most trails are in this area. Parts of this trail run parallel to the…
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Total Miles
5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su

Middle Fork/Goldmeyer Rd

This road follows the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River up to the trailhead for Goldmyer hot springs (reservations are required and can be made online), Dingford Creek, and many more. The first half of…
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Total Miles
5.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Mine Creek Rd

Take some time to get away from the city and escape to the hills with this quick, rocky run. Stop for a picnic at Mine Creek, or take a shooting break in one of the…
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Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Garcia Road

This road accesses the Palouse to Cascades, or Iron Horse trail, as well as a number of other trailheads and forest service roads. While the main road is relatively tame, there is a small 4x4…
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Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Mason Lake/Talapus Lake Trailhead

Easy trails right off Interstate 90! These trails cut through thick, beautiful forests and end at epic trailheads that take you into the SW corner of the Alpine Lake Wilderness Area. The trail is potholed…
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Total Miles
6.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Tinkham Road (NF-55)

This road runs parallel to I-90 and can be entered from the East or West. You can hop back onto the interstate at either end making it a great side detour. While any 2 wheel…
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Total Miles
5.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa

Overlook of Seattle Campsite

This trail is hardly a trail and more of some backwoods exploring through an old logging and quarry site. The best part of this loop is the campsite is well worth the short trek. Due…
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Total Miles
8.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Su

Olympic National Forest, Quilcene Range

This is a well maintained single lane gravel road that becomes pavement if continuing south further from the trail. It can be driven by any 2wd or 4wd vehicle. It offers a large climb and…
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Total Miles
5.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

West Harrison to 20 Mile Bay

West Harrison forest service road in British Columbia is a well used route. There are many recreational sites and wild camping locations along the way. The road, while easily driven, is rough with many areas…
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Total Miles
30.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Yakima Pass

Yakima Pass runs through the Wenatchee National Forest. It is a gravel road with a considerable amount of potholes, both big and small, so be aware that you will get tossed around. There is a…
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Total Miles
5.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Roaring ridge lookout

Roaring ridge lookout is an in-and-out trail leading to a scenic lookout with a nearly 360deg-view of the surrounding area. Half way up the trail, you get a panoramic view of Lost Lake. This is…
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Total Miles
3.4
Tech Rating
2 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Slippery Creek Road

This is a primitive dead-end logging road. There are a few pull-off for day camping and quite a few spectacular views of Mount Rainier. Where the road dead-ends, it was dug out, so could be…
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Total Miles
6.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Hamma Hamma Trail with View of The Brothers

This is a non-technical drive through the forest up to a viewpoint overlooking the valley and The Brothers. Viewpoint has space for about 5 rigs to pull over and take a lunch break. There a…
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Total Miles
13.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

FS70 Greenwater to Cliffdell

You will find FS70 just outside of Greenwater heading east off of SR410. This road is paved for the first 10 miles. There are many camping spots along the way. When you reach the sno-park,…
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Total Miles
34.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

Stampede Pass - Crystal Springs to Greenwater

Crossing the Snoqualmie National Forest and private Weyerhaeuser land from I-90 to WA-410 is an easy and fun adventure. This route is closed in the winter due to snow. Following a series of Forest Service…
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Total Miles
29.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Cle Elum Valley Road

Wide, graded, and well-maintained gravel road accessing the Cle Elum Valley and its numerous alpine lakes and trailheads North of Cle Elum Lake. Watch your speed as there are many blind corners and a good…
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Total Miles
11.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Cabin Creek Road (NF-41)

As you start on Cabin Creek Road, from the Stampede Pass side, you'll begin to ascend about 900 feet over 4.5 miles that will lead you along some beautiful views looking east over the mountains…
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Total Miles
9.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Lonesome Lake FS75

Start this trail by turning onto Crystal River Ranch Road in Greenwater, WA. This is an easy-to-travel, gravel logging road that takes you up to Lonesome Lake. The trip is about an hour one way…
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Total Miles
15.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Amabilis Mtn Summit

You'll find this trail right off I-90 via the Cabin Creek Road exit. The entire trail is a single lane gravel and dirt road, with places to pull over every now and then. Should be…
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Total Miles
5.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Kachess Overlook

This is an easy road that winds its way up the mountain past a waterfall and streams to find an incredible view of Lake Kachess and French Cabin Creek Basin. The road is covered in…
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Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

East Kachess Road 4818

This is a beautiful trail around the east side of Lake Kachess. Wrapped in tree cover, this road provides access to a number of additional trails and campsites, as well as views of the lake.…
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Total Miles
4.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

National Forest Development Road 310

Short and easy out and back track that leads to an epic open area campsite that would fit 2-3 vehicles. Enjoy stellar views of Mt. Rainier with the benefit of good windbreak trees surrounding the…
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Total Miles
0.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa