Pacific Northwest Backroad Adventures

Day One

After getting our Jeeps loaded up for a three day adventure, we headed East over Snoqualmie Pass to Cle Elum. After a quick fast food lunch and fuel, we headed over the Wenatchee National Forest Information Center to purchase a forest service map of the area. These maps have been hard to come by on the west side of the cascades, so I made the purchase plus a few other National Forest maps in Washington state. They were three dollars cheaper than in the local sporting goods retailers.

After obtaining the map, it was time for route finding from Cle Elum over Manastash Ridge to Highway 410. Unfortunately, we were unable to locate a gravel road that wasn’t on private property that did not require extensive back tracking to Ellensburg to reach our goal. Because of the time of the day, we noted some designated four wheel drive trails that would link us to our destination.

Our plan was to have waypoints and actual mileage points for this article, however my son’s GPS unit would not cooperate so we had a good lesson in route finding via a forest service map and compass.

If you were to use Washington Byways Tour 43 - Quartz Mountain as your guide, you would start at the end of the tour as outlined in the book. To add some detail, you will get off at any Cle Elum exit from I-90 and find First Street (the main road through town). From First Street, head south on Stafford Ave (one of only few traffic lights) to South Cle Elum. Take a right on Madison Ave and then a left on 6th St and then a right on Marie Ave. Marie Ave turns into Westside Dr. once you leave town. You’re looking for South Cle Elum Ridge road (FS Rd 4510) which will be on your left. This is where I zeroed my odometer (Caution: the distances stated are only approximate, my Jeep odometer runs fast and shows more miles than actually traveled).

We switched back up out of the valley on a single lane gravel road with occasional views to the valley below and the mountains to the north. At about 7 miles there will be junction with FS 119. Follow it to the right toward Taneum Campground.

At 12 miles, we passed a junction with FS 33 where it turns to pavement (and a school bus turn around). Travel a short distance further and take a right on FS 3330 toward Quartz Mountain.

At 23 miles, follow FS 3120 toward Buck Meadows, then shortly thereafter take a left on FS 109 then a right on FS 3111.

At 32 miles, take a left on FS 31 toward Ellensburg, then a right on FS3104.

At approximately 34 miles, we reached four wheel drive trail 4W307 that heads up the hill to the left. I would estimate 4W307 with a Trail Rating of 3.0 (see Trail Rating Guide). There were only a few tight sections through the trees where a 80 series Land Cruiser or similar sized vehicle would have to be cautious when squeezing through.

At approximately 39 miles, we reached an area called Tripod Flats. There are large open meadows where it seems many people end up camping. From here, there were multiple directions we could travel. To continue further, with the exception of the trail we chose, a short wheelbase 4×4 with lockers and a solid roll cage would be recommended.

We headed left down Trail 687, then onto Trail 686, then to Trail 685 (all rated as “more difficult”, probably a Trail Rating of +4.0 for SWB vehicles). A shorter trail but definitely more challenging then the first trail we traveled.

We came out on FS 589 which led us to FS 1708 (Milk Creek Road) and down to Highway 410 at 51 miles.

After a very dusty 50 miles, we decided to make camp at the Crow Creek Campground off of the Little Naches River. We set up camp, had a quick washdown in the creek, ate dinner and settled in for the night. Surprisingly, not many people for a Friday night.

Cascade Overland Adventure: Intro | Day One | Day Two | Day Three

Pages: 1 2 3 4

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 30th, 2006 at 10:45 pm and is filed under Adventures. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.