West Saddle Mountains Ridge

Total Miles
5.3

Technical Rating

1

Easy

Best Time

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Trail Type

Full-Width Road

Accessible By

Trail Overview

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. There are many opportunities to test your bravery with steep hill climbs featuring basalt gravel and sand.

Photos of West Saddle Mountains Ridge

West Saddle Mountains Ridge
West Saddle Mountains Ridge

Difficulty

Hard-packed gravel allows for easy driving, with many places to pull over and let others pass.

History

The Saddle Mountains were formed 15 million years ago by a volcanic eruption that covered hundreds of square miles in Eastern Washington. The depth of the basalt flow varies between 390 and 790 feet. The Saddle Mountains are part of a large geological formation known as an anticline, which is an elongated upward fold in the Earth's crust. This anticline slopes steeply on the north side, toward the Crab Creek drainage, and gently to the south.

Technical Rating

1

Status Reports

There are no status reports yet for this trail.

West Saddle Mountains Ridge can be accessed by the following ride types:

  • High-Clearance 4x4
  • SUV
  • SxS (60")
  • ATV (50")
  • Dirt Bike

Access Description

Head onto WA 243 south towards Mattawa. Entering the town of Mattawa, turn left onto Road R and go 3 miles to the BLM sign. There is a working winery/farm near the entrance; make sure you stay left.

West Saddle Mountains Ridge Map

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