Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Kittitas, Washington

The south trail through the Colockum Wildlife Area, just west of Vantage, WA, is a great introduction to off-road driving with rewarding views throughout. The route is mostly dirt and gravel, with sections of loose rock on the hill climbs that keep things interesting without being overly technical. ...
Learn more about Green Gate Access - South Road

Parke Creek Road is a 5.3-mile point-to-point trail beginning in the Kittitas Valley and ascending to an intersection with Beacon Ridge Road just beyond a gate. A Washington State Discover Pass is required for access. The gate may be legally passed through; please leave it as you found it (open or c...
Learn more about Parke Creek Road

The North Cross Trail in the Colockum Wildlife Area offers an approachable and scenic introduction to off-road driving just west of Vantage, WA. The route connects West Road to Bitterroot Road, following a mix of packed dirt, loose rock, and occasional rutted sections that keep things interesting wi...
Learn more about Green Gate Access - North Road

The Colockum Wildlife Area west of Vantage, WA, offers an excellent introduction to off-road driving, especially along the western approach. This trail features a mix of well-maintained dirt roads with some loose rock and mild ruts, making it ideal for beginners or anyone looking for a relaxed day o...
Learn more about Green Gate Access - West Road

Cooke Canyon Road in Naneum Ridge State Forest offers a fun and scenic off-road climb that’s approachable for most high-clearance vehicles. The trail begins with a smooth, well-graded dirt surface, though the first mile is a private road. Be sure to respect the posted 15 mph speed limit as you pass ...
Learn more about Cooke Canyon Road

Bitterroot Road in the Colockum Wildlife Area delivers a true off-road experience with a mix of loose rock, rutted dirt, and steep, off-camber sections next to Chinamans Hat demand careful tire placement and confidence behind the wheel. As you climb higher into the hills west of Vantage, the terrain...
Learn more about Green Gate Access - Bitterroot Road

The Colockum Wildlife Area west of Vantage, WA, offers a great introductory off-road experience with wide, well-traveled dirt and gravel roads that are generally smooth but can include some washboarding and loose sections depending on the season. The trail gradually climbs through open shrub-steppe ...
Learn more about Green Gate Access - East Road

Although this trail is a fairly short drive from Ellensburg, you will soon feel like you've been transported to the old west. Once you leave the paved Umtanum Road and get onto Durr Road you will find that it is unmaintained dirt with loose rock. You will have some great views of the snow-capped mou...
Learn more about Durr Road to Umtanum Creek Camp

Tyee Road is a moderate dirt and gravel route in Naneum Ridge State Forest, linking Cooke Canyon to Coleman Canyon as part of Washington DNR’s Green Dot Road System. It’s primarily used by high-clearance 4x4s, ATVs, and dirt bikes, offering a practical connector for off-road travel in the Ellensburg...
Learn more about Tyee Road

This easy gravel road takes you through the Puget Sound Energy Wild Horse Wind Farm. A typical passenger car can handle this section with ease. Starting at the closed gate (season dependent), on the keypad, enter the pin code found on the gate itself to access the wind farm. Note, a free access perm...
Learn more about Windfarm Adventure

Hunt Creek Road is a 2.5-mile out-and-back trail beginning at an intersection with Quilomene Ridge Road and descending into a small valley, terminating at Hunt Creek. The trail features rutted sections near the beginning, followed by areas with sharp embedded rock. The route then transitions to a sh...
Learn more about Hunt Creek Road

This route is a continuation of Quiomene Ridge Road. The trail combines dirt, loose rocks with scattered mud puddles. All the mud puddles we traversed were up to one foot deep. The trail is much wider on this section of the Quilomene Ridge Road and than the section that takes you down to Quilomene B...
Learn more about Quilomene Ridge Road

The road descends from Observatory Road descending slowly. A few camping locations are seen at the beginning, and as you descend, activity of logging and fire control can be seen. The road continues down with some minor ruts but is overall in good shape. It ends in a wide area.
Learn more about Hanson Pond Road

Dawson Canyon Road in Naneum Ridge State Forest is a great introductory off-road route that gradually transitions from an easy forest drive into a more engaging climb. The lower section is a well-maintained logging road, wide, smooth, and accessible for most high-clearance vehicles. As you gain elev...
Learn more about Dawson Canyon Road

Little Caribou Road is a 3.3-mile out-and-back trail branching off Colockum Road and terminating at a junction with a closed road. The trail features sections of significant road damage due to runoff; what was once a smooth gravel road is now rutted with partially washed-away sections. Despite these...
Learn more about Little Caribou Road

This trail begins off the pavement of North Wenas Road, where you’ll find signage, a map, and posted rules. It climbs steadily into the hills, passing through a gate that must be closed behind you. Wildflowers are often abundant along the route. The trail eventually meets and follows a canyon for a ...
Learn more about Kelley Hollow Road

The Wenatchee area in Central Washington offers a scenic and moderately challenging off-road experience using Hanson Road, Observatory Road, and Hudson Road. This trail network winds through a mix of pine forest, shrub steppe, and open ridgelines with expansive views of the Yakima Valley and Mount R...
Learn more about Manastash Ridge Observatory Adventure

Brushy Road is a 4.2-mile point-to-point route within the Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area, offering expansive views of the surrounding landscape and access to many dispersed camping sites. The road can be wide in some sections, then narrow and rougher in others, with embedded basalt rock, moderate pothol...
Learn more about Brushy Road

Turning off Quilomene Ridge Road onto Little Brushy Road, the trail descends immediately. It is single-vehicle-wide with some challenging ruts and no good turnaround for the 2.5 miles to the grass meadow. There's one good water crossing with steep approach and departure angles. It's hard to avoid pi...
Learn more about Little Brushy Road via Quilomene Ridge Road

Cross Over Road is a 3.6-mile out-and-back gravel route branching off Brushy Road and following the side of a ridge before terminating at a road closure near Tekison Creek. The road maintains a gravel surface for its entire length. At 0.5 miles, a washout features a 2-foot step down as of February 2...
Learn more about Cross Over Road

The south trail through the Colockum Wildlife Area, just west of Vantage, WA, is a great introduction to off-road driving with rewarding views throughout. The route is mostly dirt and gravel, with sections of loose rock on the hill climbs that keep things interesting without being overly technical. ...
Learn more about Green Gate Access - South Road

Parke Creek Road is a 5.3-mile point-to-point trail beginning in the Kittitas Valley and ascending to an intersection with Beacon Ridge Road just beyond a gate. A Washington State Discover Pass is required for access. The gate may be legally passed through; please leave it as you found it (open or c...
Learn more about Parke Creek Road

The North Cross Trail in the Colockum Wildlife Area offers an approachable and scenic introduction to off-road driving just west of Vantage, WA. The route connects West Road to Bitterroot Road, following a mix of packed dirt, loose rock, and occasional rutted sections that keep things interesting wi...
Learn more about Green Gate Access - North Road

The Colockum Wildlife Area west of Vantage, WA, offers an excellent introduction to off-road driving, especially along the western approach. This trail features a mix of well-maintained dirt roads with some loose rock and mild ruts, making it ideal for beginners or anyone looking for a relaxed day o...
Learn more about Green Gate Access - West Road

The south trail through the Colockum Wildlife Area, just west of Vantage, WA, is a great introduction to off-road driving with rewarding views throughout. The route is mostly dirt and gravel, with sections of loose rock on the hill climbs that keep things interesting without being overly technical. ...
Learn more about Green Gate Access - South Road

Parke Creek Road is a 5.3-mile point-to-point trail beginning in the Kittitas Valley and ascending to an intersection with Beacon Ridge Road just beyond a gate. A Washington State Discover Pass is required for access. The gate may be legally passed through; please leave it as you found it (open or c...
Learn more about Parke Creek Road

The North Cross Trail in the Colockum Wildlife Area offers an approachable and scenic introduction to off-road driving just west of Vantage, WA. The route connects West Road to Bitterroot Road, following a mix of packed dirt, loose rock, and occasional rutted sections that keep things interesting wi...
Learn more about Green Gate Access - North Road

The Colockum Wildlife Area west of Vantage, WA, offers an excellent introduction to off-road driving, especially along the western approach. This trail features a mix of well-maintained dirt roads with some loose rock and mild ruts, making it ideal for beginners or anyone looking for a relaxed day o...
Learn more about Green Gate Access - West Road