Trail Overview
Upper West Church is a 3.2-mile out-and-back route that begins at the intersection with West View and continues deeper into the forest along a narrowing single-lane road. The route features mild brush encroachment, several water bars, and increasing signs of erosion as it climbs. A landslide and numerous water bars make the road noticeably rougher than Lower West Church. Brush encroachment becomes more significant toward the end of the route, and a heavily rutted section near mile 2.6 adds additional challenge. The trail ends at a small turnaround surrounded by dense forest. Upper West Church is open from April 16th to December 24th to highway legal vehicles.
Difficulty
Upper West Church is moderately challenging and best suited for high-clearance 4WD vehicles. The primary obstacles are the numerous water bars, a landslide-affected section, and heavy rutting near mile 2.6. While there are no major rock obstacles, the combination of erosion damage, increasing brush encroachment, and narrowing road conditions requires careful driving. Wider vehicles should expect some pinstriping in the upper portions of the route. Weather conditions can significantly increase difficulty, particularly where ruts and water bars become slick. As with most trails in the area, bringing a chainsaw or equipment to clear fallen trees is recommended.
