The News Wheel
5 Comments

4 Best Off-Road Parks in Washington State

Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size Text Size Print This Page

Best places in the Evergreen State to take your off-road truck, SUV, or ATV

With so much open space, mountains, and National Forests, off-roading in Washington is easy for drivers of all skill levels. We’ve compiled a list of four great spots, but the possibilities are endless. Make sure your vehicle is up to the task before you go, as some of these trails are less forgiving than others.


Serious Road Trip Ahead: Couple embarks on 1,500-mile LEAF trip


Walker Valley ORV Area

Hours of Operation: Daytime only

Location: Peter Burns Road, Mount Vernon, WA 98274

Cost of Admission: $11.50 for One Day Discover Pass (Pass only required for street-legal vehicles)- $35 for Annual Discover Pass

Types of Vehicles allowed: Motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, 4x4s, dune buggy, bicycles

This park offers 78 miles of trail in the beautiful Cascade mountains that range from easy to difficult. It’s only an hour north of Seattle, so it’s easy for a day trip. The area is open year-round but camping is not allowed. Make sure to fill up your gas tanks right after you get off I-5.


Evans Creek Trailhead

Off-Road parks in Washington evans creek

Hours of Operation: 24 hours – Closed Seasonally

Location: From Buckley, WA take State Highway 165 south for about 18 miles toward Wilkeson and Carbonado. The entrance to the ORV area is on the left (north) side of the road.

Cost of Admission: $5 per vehicle per day

Types of Vehicles allowed: Street-legal 4×4 and motorcycle/quads only. Must have a drivers license.

This trailhead in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest offers 40 miles of trails for your off-road vehicle and even has a campground nearby. The site is well maintained by clubs and volunteers. Check the Forest Service website to make sure it’s open before you pack up and drive all the way out there!


Elbe Hills ORV Park

Hours of Operation: Open year-round

Location: 6.3 miles east of Elbe on SR 706

Cost of Admission: Free!

Types of Vehicles allowed: 4×4 vehicles

This park is managed by the Department of Natural Resources and has about 8 miles of 4×4 trails maintained by volunteers. The campground nearby is free, but reservations are required. Check out the Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association website for a detailed description of each trail and contact information for the campground.


Naches Pass Trail

Off-Road parks in Washington naches peak

Photo: pfly, Pfly

Hours of Operation: 24 hours – Open to wheeled vehicles only from July 15th to November 15th

Location: NF – 7065 Road (Western Trailhead)

Cost of Admission: National Park Pass required for western half, no pass required for eastern half

Types of Vehicles allowed: Wheeled motor vehicles only, East of FS1913 road is not suitable for 4×4 vehicles (motorcycles only)

This trail is 15 miles long and consists of damp dirt and mud with the occasional slimy log in the way. This is one of the top trails for off-road scenery, and the trail is crossed by several logging roads if you get too scared or need to get off the trail. Camping is available as well.


Visiting Washington? Learn the best ways to navigate through Seattle