Trail Overview
Butler Creek Mainline offers an easy and scenic 5.4-mile driving experience for offroaders looking to explore the dense greenery of Oregon's Clatsop State Forest. Serving as the primary logging artery into the heart of this coastal forest, the route is well-suited for stock SUVs and high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles alike, featuring a mild technical rating of 2 with no major obstacles other than occasional potholes and washboards. Starting at an elevation of about 475 feet and climbing to nearly 800 feet with a total elevation gain of roughly 614 feet, the well-maintained gravel road winds past towering evergreens and lush undergrowth.
Because this remains an active logging area, drivers should remain alert for heavy equipment and log trucks, making a CB radio a highly recommended tool for safety, with channel 13 historically used by local crews. Shoulder seasons can bring unpredictable weather, meaning deadfall from high winds may occasionally block the path or its numerous offshoot spurs. Airing down tires is recommended to smooth out the ride over the hard-packed gravel, and explorers will find ample opportunities to branch off onto side spurs to further immerse themselves in this temperate rainforest environment.
Access Description
This route goes through an active logging area in Clatsop State Forest. Yield to all heavy logging equipment and log trucks. Utilizing a CB radio tuned to channel 13 is highly recommended to communicate with working crews and monitor truck traffic. High winds during the shoulder seasons can result in deadfall blocking the road.
