Whether you’re looking for a new place to ride in your home state or visiting for the weekend, Washington’s probably got more variety than you realize. From forests to mountains to miles of backcountry roads to open dunes, we bet you can find something you’ve never experienced before in off-road Washington.
If you’ve never been to Washington before, be aware that much of the land is protected, and they have strict guidelines for what machines can go where. Familiarize yourself with Green Dot roads, and we’ll try to fill you in on some of the details as we go, but make sure you know specific trail restrictions before you start asking for time off from work.
Location: East of Mount Vernon near Big Lake, Skagit County
Size: 3,200 acres; 36 total trail miles, including 6 miles of 4×4 trail
Style: Dense forest, rocks, roots, ruts, mud, and technical obstacles
Machines: Motorcycles and ATVs on designated trails; UTVs/SxS and 4x4s on signed 4×4 trails and DNR roads only
Experience Level: Intermediate to expert on the full-width routes
Cost: Free to ride; ORV tab required. Discover Pass for the tow/street vehicle: $10/day or $45/year
Walker Valley packs a lot of technical terrain into its full-width loop. The 4×4 routes run through thick forest with rocks, roots, ruts, and mud, and gatekeeper obstacles keep unprepared machines out. Most of the 36-mile system is narrower motorcycle or ATV trail, so UTV riders need to stay on signed 4×4 routes and DNR roads. Make sure you’re prepared because those rocks can be hard on your undercarriage. Add a SuperATV skid plate before you test the tougher lines.
Location: Southwest of Belfair, Mason County
Size: 23,000-acre forest with about 84 total trail miles, including a 7-mile 4×4 trail system
Style: Wet forest, dirt, rocks, water crossings, mud, and a 4×4 play area
Machines: Motorcycles and 48-inch ATVs on designated trails; UTVs/SxS and 4x4s on signed 4×4 trails and DNR roads only
Experience Level: Intermediate to advanced on the full-width routes
Cost: Free to ride; ORV tab required. Discover Pass for the tow/street vehicle: $10/day or $45/year
Tahuya’s dedicated 4×4 loop delivers dense woods, shallow water, slick dirt, and optional obstacles like rock gardens. It is one of western Washington’s most dependable low-elevation ride areas, but most of the larger network is limited to 48-inch ATVs. UTVs belong on signed 4×4 trails and DNR roads. The wet terrain can stop a machine in a hurry, so make sure you bring a Black Ops Winch for recovery.
Location: Northeast of Vancouver, Clark County
Size: 90,000-acre forest; roughly 6 miles of 4×4 trail plus 14 miles of 48-inch ATV trail from Jones Creek
Style: Wet forest, rocks, roots, ruts, ledges, and steep climbs
Machines: Motorcycles and 48-inch ATVs on designated trails; UTVs/SxS and 4x4s on signed 4×4 trails and DNR roads only
Experience Level: Intermediate to advanced on the full-width routes
Cost: Free to ride; ORV tab required. Discover Pass for the tow/street vehicle: $10/day or $45/year
Yacolt Burn gives UTV riders a short but challenging full-width loop, while Jones Creek adds 14 miles of 48-inch ATV trail. The 4×4 routes climb through wet forest with rocks, ruts, roots, and sharp ledges. They are also the only designated trail segments open to most side-by-sides. Stay protected on tight trails with SuperATV nerf bars and rock sliders. They help shield your machine’s vulnerable sides when the trail squeezes you against rocks and trees.
Location: Nine Mile Falls, west of Spokane
Size: 600 acres
Style: Hard-packed trails, ponderosa pine, hill climbs, play areas, and jumps
Machines: ATVs, UTVs/SxS, dirt bikes, motorcycles, 4x4s, and sand rails
Experience Level: Beginner to advanced
Cost: Free to ride; ORV tab required. Discover Pass for the tow/street vehicle: $10/day or $45/year
Riverside State Park ORV Area is a compact riding zone near Spokane with hard-packed trails, wooded loops, hill climbs, play areas, and a separate beginner section. It welcomes UTVs and offers a broad skill range that is hard to find in Washington’s width-restricted trail systems. Traffic can come from several directions in this busy park, so SuperATV side and rearview mirrors make it easier to keep track of the riders around you.
Location: West of Yakima near Tampico, Yakima County
Size: More than 75,000 acres
Style: Green Dot roads, loose rock, steep climbs, pine forest, creeks, and off-camber routes
Machines: ATVs, UTVs/SxS, 4x4s, and motorcycles on signed Green Dot roads and approved routes
Experience Level: Beginner to advanced, depending on the route and conditions
Cost: Free to ride; ORV tab required. Discover Pass for the tow/street vehicle: $10/day or $45/year
Ahtanum covers a huge stretch of pine forest west of Yakima. Its Green Dot roads lead to steep climbs, rocky sections, creek valleys, campsites, and wide mountain views, with enough room for a full weekend. Conditions and gates change with weather, so make sure you stay updated with current maps. Long, rough climbs put extra stress on the driveline, so upgrade to Rhino 2.0 Axles to give you more confidence when the route gets rocky.
Location: South of Wenatchee and north of Ellensburg, primarily in Kittitas County
Size: 71,500 acres with 109 miles of Green Dot roads
Style: Forest roads, open ridges, dirt, rock, dust, and high-country views
Machines: 4x4s, ATVs, UTVs/SxS, and motorcycles on signed Green Dot roads
Experience Level: Beginner to intermediate; conditions become tougher with snow and rain
Cost: Free to ride; ORV tab required. Discover Pass for the tow/street vehicle: $10/day or $45/year
Naneum Ridge favors long scenic rides over technical obstacle hunting. Its 109 miles of Green Dot trails cross pine forests, open ridges, and high country between Ellensburg and Wenatchee. Several first-come campsites make it easy to build a weekend around the route network. A SuperATV windshield cuts wind and dust on long Green Dot road rides and makes cold mornings easier to handle.
Location: About 4 miles south of Moses Lake, Grant County
Size: 3,000 acres of dunes plus 3,000 acres of seasonal mud flats
Style: Rolling sand dunes, bowls, jump lines, open riding, and seasonal mud flats
Machines: ATVs, UTVs/SxS, dirt bikes, motorcycles, 4x4s, dune buggies, and sand rails
Experience Level: All levels; dune awareness is essential
Cost: Free; current ORV registration/tabs or a temporary Washington permit required
Moses Lake trades trees for 3,000 acres of open sand, bowls, hills, and jump lines. The dunes stay open all year, and the adjacent 3,000-acre mud flats open July 1-Oct. 1. There are no shaded areas or bathrooms, so make sure you arrive prepared. You don’t want to hit the dunes without a SuperATV half windshield. It helps push sand over your head without trapping as much heat as a full windshield.
Location: About 7 miles northeast of Pasco, Franklin County
Size: 3,920-acre open OHV area within a 19,600-acre complex
Style: Loose sand, sagebrush trails, open dunes, and primitive roads
Machines: Motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs/SxS, and 4x4s; current registration and a 6-foot whip with a red/orange safety flag required for OHVs
Experience Level: Intermediate to advanced because of deep sand and remote conditions
Cost: No fee; current state registration/tabs or stickers required
Juniper Dunes is the most remote destination on this list. BLM’s 3,920-acre open OHV zone combines loose sand, sagebrush trails, open dunes, and primitive roads, and there are no services or facilities. It’s right next to an Area of Critical Environmental Concern, so make sure you know where you are at all times in Juniper Dunes. You’ll be way out there, so bring water, tools, recovery gear, and a tire-repair kit. A SuperATV cargo rack gives you more room to carry the supplies this ride demands.
Between the technical loops suitable for UTVs, the long Green Dot roads, and the open dune systems, there’s plenty to keep you entertained all across the state. With seasonal changes, you’ll need to make sure you stay up to date on current width requirements and Green Dot routes before you load up the trailer.
For all the rest of your vehicle’s prep, head over to SuperATV. We’ve got the gear you want to make every ride memorable for the right reasons.
Disclaimer: This article was written by an employee of SuperATV. The views, opinions, and recommendations expressed in this blog are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of SuperATV. This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as safety advice or official technical guidance. Modifying vehicles and using aftermarket parts can impact performance and safety. Readers are responsible for ensuring proper installation, compatibility, and safe operation. SuperATV makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information and assumes no liability for any actions taken based on it.
