Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Satus, Washington

Double Track is a very easy trail with views of the Tri-Cities, Washington. There are some small hill climbs along the way. This is a good trail for beginners. During the winter, you will encounter mud and snow, and it's very dry and dusty in the summer.
Learn more about Double Track

The trail features hard-packed dirt combined with fractured basalt gravel and runs along the ridge of the Saddle Mountains. It offers 360-degree views of the Columbia River to the west and the Hanford site to the east. The route consists of easy gravel roads with occasional whooped-out sections. Th...
Learn more about West Saddle Mountains Ridge

The Saddle Mountains Rim Tour trail offers a scenic off-road adventure with sweeping views of the Columbia Basin. This route features a mix of sandy washes, rocky climbs, and ridgeline trails, making it a fun challenge for high-clearance 4x4s. Spring brings vibrant wildflowers, while fall offers coo...
Learn more about Saddle Mountain Rim Tour

This is an out-and-back trail featuring a mix of dirt roads and fractured basalt gravel. In some areas, the road is narrow with no pullouts available. Below the cliffs, the Columbia River flows, while apple orchards and wineries are scattered throughout the valley of Columbia River and Crab Creek wa...
Learn more about Saddle Mountain Northwest Trail

This trail is on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife-owned land, and a Discover Pass is required to travel in the area. This is a dirt trail that is extremely dusty when dry and a muddy slog when wet. There are ruts approximately 12-18 inches deep that you must straddle, and there are areas w...
Learn more about Roza Creek Road

This trail is mostly dirt with some rock garden sections and minor wash/ruts. The trail steadily climbs to the top of a ridge with a 14 percent pitch at one point, but once you make it to the top of the ridge, the views are stunning. This trail ends at a fence row, and becomes the Skyline Trail, whi...
Learn more about Buffalo Ridge Road

From Washington State Highway 12, approximately 2.25 miles from the SR 410/Highway 12 junction, Oak Creek Road (FR 1400) begins traveling west. The road is primarily gravel with patches of larger rocks, potholes, and washboards. Travel speed ascending is slow-going due to the rough nature of the roa...
Learn more about Oak Creek FR 1400 to Bear Lake

Slow going over a rough road of basalt rock. This road rises steeply from roughly 1700' at the Oak Creek Wildlife office off of Highway 12 to over 4000'. There is a seasonal gate at the access point at the bottom. Bethel Ridge itself is snowbound from December to late June or early July. Check Fores...
Learn more about Bethel Ridge Tie 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

Jump Off Joe is a butte in the Horse Heaven Hills south of Kennewick, Washington, and is visible throughout much of the region. The roads leading up are public roads, but are primitive with no warning signs, and can be steep with sudden, sharp turns. It's a rather scenic drive through a portion of t...
Learn more about Jump Off Joe - North

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

Jump Off Joe is a butte in the Horse Heaven Hills south of Kennewick, Washington, and is visible throughout much of the region. The roads leading up are public roads, but are primitive with no warning signs, and can be steep with sudden, sharp turns. It's a rather scenic drive through a portion of t...
Learn more about Jump Off Joe - South

Newlands Road is a dusty roads with loose rocks. There are some uphill spots where loose rocks could be a problem, however for the most part it is just a dirt road. There are a few rutted areas that can be easily navigated.
Learn more about Newlands Road

Jackknife Ridge Road is a 13.9-mile point-to-point dirt and rock route that winds through Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park and the Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area, offering views of the Columbia River and multiple pull-offs along the way. Starting from the southern end, a locked gate requires a free pe...
Learn more about Jacknife Ridge Road

Reynolds Creek Tie is a 4.5-mile forest service road that drops down from 5,400' at Divide Ridge to 3,400' at Reynolds Creek Road and then follows the creek down into Cowiche, Washington. It is semi-maintained and rocky in places. This road is snowbound until mid-May to early June.
Learn more about Reynolds Creek Tie - C1201

This is a relatively easy trail that takes you beyond the Wild Horse Monument and into BLM land. Overall, this is a GREAT trail to learn the basics of off-roading in a fun and safe environment. The beginning of the trail undulates through a narrow desert canyon, with a few twists and turns. At about...
Learn more about Wild Horse Monument

Jump Off road is a 12-mile Forest Service road that crosses the Tieton River at Windy Point and climbs quickly up onto and follows along Divide Ridge to reach Jump Off Lookout. The first 3-4 miles were freshly graded and compacted but then the road devolved into the teeth-rattling basalt rock roads ...
Learn more about Jump Off - NF1302

McDonald's Crossing is a Historical section where wagon trains from the Oregon Trail crossed the John Day River from 1843 - 1863. In 1858, a Ferry was established here, and in 1866, a Bridge was built nearby. Two separate trails can be located on the steep hillside overlooking the river, well-mark...
Learn more about McDonald's Crossing

Lost Lake is an easy gravel road that runs through the Wenatchee National Forest. One of the camping spots has access to a dirt bike trail and is right at Lost Lake, which offers fishing and a couple of places to camp. When I was there the lake had an off smell, maybe someone left a dead fish somewh...
Learn more about Lost Lake

This is a dirt-based road on State of Washington land in the Wenas unit. A Discover Pass is required to enjoy this area. The trail is narrow, one lane, and two-track in some areas. There are places to pass, and the road dead ends with no access to Highway 12, so you must backtrack to Mud Lake Road t...
Learn more about Garrett Canyon Road

Double Track is a very easy trail with views of the Tri-Cities, Washington. There are some small hill climbs along the way. This is a good trail for beginners. During the winter, you will encounter mud and snow, and it's very dry and dusty in the summer.
Learn more about Double Track

The trail features hard-packed dirt combined with fractured basalt gravel and runs along the ridge of the Saddle Mountains. It offers 360-degree views of the Columbia River to the west and the Hanford site to the east. The route consists of easy gravel roads with occasional whooped-out sections. Th...
Learn more about West Saddle Mountains Ridge

The Saddle Mountains Rim Tour trail offers a scenic off-road adventure with sweeping views of the Columbia Basin. This route features a mix of sandy washes, rocky climbs, and ridgeline trails, making it a fun challenge for high-clearance 4x4s. Spring brings vibrant wildflowers, while fall offers coo...
Learn more about Saddle Mountain Rim Tour

This is an out-and-back trail featuring a mix of dirt roads and fractured basalt gravel. In some areas, the road is narrow with no pullouts available. Below the cliffs, the Columbia River flows, while apple orchards and wineries are scattered throughout the valley of Columbia River and Crab Creek wa...
Learn more about Saddle Mountain Northwest Trail

Double Track is a very easy trail with views of the Tri-Cities, Washington. There are some small hill climbs along the way. This is a good trail for beginners. During the winter, you will encounter mud and snow, and it's very dry and dusty in the summer.
Learn more about Double Track

The trail features hard-packed dirt combined with fractured basalt gravel and runs along the ridge of the Saddle Mountains. It offers 360-degree views of the Columbia River to the west and the Hanford site to the east. The route consists of easy gravel roads with occasional whooped-out sections. Th...
Learn more about West Saddle Mountains Ridge

The Saddle Mountains Rim Tour trail offers a scenic off-road adventure with sweeping views of the Columbia Basin. This route features a mix of sandy washes, rocky climbs, and ridgeline trails, making it a fun challenge for high-clearance 4x4s. Spring brings vibrant wildflowers, while fall offers coo...
Learn more about Saddle Mountain Rim Tour

This is an out-and-back trail featuring a mix of dirt roads and fractured basalt gravel. In some areas, the road is narrow with no pullouts available. Below the cliffs, the Columbia River flows, while apple orchards and wineries are scattered throughout the valley of Columbia River and Crab Creek wa...
Learn more about Saddle Mountain Northwest Trail