4a4c55
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Mike
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2023
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- Location
- near Seattle
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- 2010 BMW M3, 2020 Sahara JLU
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- #1
When we started Jeepin', we knew we wanted to go off-road. There are several different websites to use to find trails, and a couple of popular mapping sites. Even with those, it can be intimidating to choose a first-time trail. We found a trial in Carnation that was a great place to get into a little dirt without too many challenges.
Marckworth State Forest. Hop off WA-202 at the Stillwater Store and get onto Stillwater Hill Road. It becomes Kelly Road, and you will bear right onto Lake Joy Road. Follow that along until it forks off to Swan Mill Road. About one mile in on Swan Mill (which is still paved, but getting primitive) you'll see the sign for the Marckworth Forest. Now you're off road! This trial has some grade and lots of potholes, and the holes can be full of water in the spring. It's all easily passable in a stock Wrangler. It's also very wide so you can turn around almost anywhere if you chicken out or let other drivers (or riders) by. Several side roads are blocked or gated off, but you can drive all the way in to the northern-most one where you'll have to turn around.
Since it's a state forest, you'll want to make sure you have your Discover Pass.
Another great beginner trail is the North Fork Snoqualmie Road trail. It's just a bit more difficult than Swan Mill Road, but it isn't hard! A stock Wrangler will have no problems. Just as many potholes, but they're sometimes bigger (crossing the whole road) and in the spring you might be axle deep in water. The trail is very wide, and the first two miles or so climb quite a bit with modest exposure ... but excellent views.
From North Bend, go north on Ballarat Avenue. Turn right onto SE 108th Street, then left onto 428th Avenue SE. 428th will turn into North Fork Road SE and start climbing a bit. In a large turnaround among some gated properties, you'll see North Fork Road SE continue north with primitive pavement. Follow it uphill, and you're on the trail. After about 2 miles, you'll want to be sure you're on NF-5700. This forest road goes very deep into the woods -- more than 15 miles. I've not been to the end of it, since we ran out of time ... but it's quite wide and there are several crossing trails so turning around is possible at almost any point. The trail varies from potholed dirt pack to gravel-covered dirt; watch out for those potholes.
I hope these two easy trails help you get started!
Marckworth State Forest. Hop off WA-202 at the Stillwater Store and get onto Stillwater Hill Road. It becomes Kelly Road, and you will bear right onto Lake Joy Road. Follow that along until it forks off to Swan Mill Road. About one mile in on Swan Mill (which is still paved, but getting primitive) you'll see the sign for the Marckworth Forest. Now you're off road! This trial has some grade and lots of potholes, and the holes can be full of water in the spring. It's all easily passable in a stock Wrangler. It's also very wide so you can turn around almost anywhere if you chicken out or let other drivers (or riders) by. Several side roads are blocked or gated off, but you can drive all the way in to the northern-most one where you'll have to turn around.
Since it's a state forest, you'll want to make sure you have your Discover Pass.
Another great beginner trail is the North Fork Snoqualmie Road trail. It's just a bit more difficult than Swan Mill Road, but it isn't hard! A stock Wrangler will have no problems. Just as many potholes, but they're sometimes bigger (crossing the whole road) and in the spring you might be axle deep in water. The trail is very wide, and the first two miles or so climb quite a bit with modest exposure ... but excellent views.
From North Bend, go north on Ballarat Avenue. Turn right onto SE 108th Street, then left onto 428th Avenue SE. 428th will turn into North Fork Road SE and start climbing a bit. In a large turnaround among some gated properties, you'll see North Fork Road SE continue north with primitive pavement. Follow it uphill, and you're on the trail. After about 2 miles, you'll want to be sure you're on NF-5700. This forest road goes very deep into the woods -- more than 15 miles. I've not been to the end of it, since we ran out of time ... but it's quite wide and there are several crossing trails so turning around is possible at almost any point. The trail varies from potholed dirt pack to gravel-covered dirt; watch out for those potholes.
I hope these two easy trails help you get started!
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