| All 4x4/ATV trails are open to hikers, horses, mountain bikes, motorcycles, ATV’s, and jeeps. They are typically winding and steep with large rock steps and so are often very difficult for horses, mountain bikes, and motorcycles. |
| Cle Elum Valley 4x4 Trails - 301, 302, 303, 304, and 305 |
4W301 Fortune Creek
RATING – 2 – because of water bars and
creek bed.
MILES - 6.5 miles
Elevation Low – 3400’
Elevation High –5800’
Gain – 2400’
Trail Access –
Take I-90 Exit 80, and go north through
Roslyn, onto Highway 903 north to Lake Cle
Elum, north along the lake to the end of
county road at Salmon La Sac, then north
on Forest Service Road 4330 about 7.5
miles to trailhead (on east side of Forest
Service road 4330).
Description-
The first half takes you through mining
claims and meanders up a hillside; there are
views of Huckleberry Mountain to the south.
After crossing near the creek bed, you head
uphill until you come to a fork in the trail–
the right fork will take you to Gallagher Head
and the left goes to Van Epps Pass
(4WD302). 4W301 continues past
Gallagher Head Lake; Hawkins Mountain is
to the northwest. As you go past the lake,
the trail conditions change from open rock to
clay based dirt. Numerous side roads off of
this trail go into mining claims. Dispersed
camping is available.
RATING – 2 – because of water bars and
creek bed.
MILES - 6.5 miles
Elevation Low – 3400’
Elevation High –5800’
Gain – 2400’
Trail Access –
Take I-90 Exit 80, and go north through
Roslyn, onto Highway 903 north to Lake Cle
Elum, north along the lake to the end of
county road at Salmon La Sac, then north
on Forest Service Road 4330 about 7.5
miles to trailhead (on east side of Forest
Service road 4330).
Description-
The first half takes you through mining
claims and meanders up a hillside; there are
views of Huckleberry Mountain to the south.
After crossing near the creek bed, you head
uphill until you come to a fork in the trail–
the right fork will take you to Gallagher Head
and the left goes to Van Epps Pass
(4WD302). 4W301 continues past
Gallagher Head Lake; Hawkins Mountain is
to the northwest. As you go past the lake,
the trail conditions change from open rock to
clay based dirt. Numerous side roads off of
this trail go into mining claims. Dispersed
camping is available.
4W302 – Van Epps Pass
RATING: 2 – expect stock vehicles
undercarriage to drag.
MILES – 3 miles
Elevation Low –4000’
Elevation High –6000’
Gain –2000’
Trail Access –
Accessed from 4WD301
Description -
From the Y with 4W301, you are going to do
a switchback across a logging road and
crawl through rocky terrain for about 1/4
mile and turns into rough trail. Pass a series
of old side roads that are blocked. Stay on
the main trail, and pass the junctions with
4W303. The vistas are awesome from the
top of the pass. Just over Van Epps pass,
the soil conditions change to moss and
grass – can be very slippery in wet
conditions. The trail ends at an old mine
site. Use extreme caution around the old
structures and mine opening.
RATING: 2 – expect stock vehicles
undercarriage to drag.
MILES – 3 miles
Elevation Low –4000’
Elevation High –6000’
Gain –2000’
Trail Access –
Accessed from 4WD301
Description -
From the Y with 4W301, you are going to do
a switchback across a logging road and
crawl through rocky terrain for about 1/4
mile and turns into rough trail. Pass a series
of old side roads that are blocked. Stay on
the main trail, and pass the junctions with
4W303. The vistas are awesome from the
top of the pass. Just over Van Epps pass,
the soil conditions change to moss and
grass – can be very slippery in wet
conditions. The trail ends at an old mine
site. Use extreme caution around the old
structures and mine opening.
4W304 - HAWKINS MOUNTAIN
RATING – 2 + because of last hillclimb.
MILES – 1.3 Miles
Elevation Low - 4600’
Elevation High – 5400’
Gain – 800’
Trail Access - This trail spurs off of 4W301
near Gallagher Head Lake.
Description - The trail travels uphill the
entire way and climbs into an alpine basin.
The last hillclimb is unsuitable for most stock
vehicles. The wildflowers are beautiful in the
late spring and early summer. Year-round
creek runs through the meadow. Do not
drive in the meadow! Meadow damage will
result in this trail being closed!
RATING – 2 + because of last hillclimb.
MILES – 1.3 Miles
Elevation Low - 4600’
Elevation High – 5400’
Gain – 800’
Trail Access - This trail spurs off of 4W301
near Gallagher Head Lake.
Description - The trail travels uphill the
entire way and climbs into an alpine basin.
The last hillclimb is unsuitable for most stock
vehicles. The wildflowers are beautiful in the
late spring and early summer. Year-round
creek runs through the meadow. Do not
drive in the meadow! Meadow damage will
result in this trail being closed!
4W303 Van Epps Loop
RATING – 2
MILES - .7 Miles
Elevation Low –5100’
Elevation High –6000’
Gain – 900’
Trail Access –
Trail is accessed from 4WD302
Description -
This loop is easy but brushy and has a little
mine site on the side of the hill that you can
go to. It starts and ends on 4W302 and
provides an alternate route to Van Epps
pass. Be aware of your location; the trail
comes close to the Wilderness boundary
where vehicles are prohibited.
RATING – 2
MILES - .7 Miles
Elevation Low –5100’
Elevation High –6000’
Gain – 900’
Trail Access –
Trail is accessed from 4WD302
Description -
This loop is easy but brushy and has a little
mine site on the side of the hill that you can
go to. It starts and ends on 4W302 and
provides an alternate route to Van Epps
pass. Be aware of your location; the trail
comes close to the Wilderness boundary
where vehicles are prohibited.
4W305 -MINE TO MARKET
RATING – 2+ because of narrowness and
sidehill
MILES – 2.5
Elevation Low – 3200’
Elevation High – 5200’
Gain – 2000’
Trail Access –
Take I-90 Exit 80, and go north through
Roslyn, onto Highway 903 north to Lake Cle
Elum, north along the lake to the end of
county road at Salmon La Sac, then north
on Forest Service Road 4330 about 6 miles
to trailhead (on east side of F.S.R. 4330).
Description –
Like many jeep trails, this is an old mining
road that switchbacks up the southwest side
of Huckleberry Mountain and dead-ends at
an old mine below Hawkins Mountain. No
real camping opportunities. NOTE: in 2006
the bridge at the beginning of this trail,
which was built and maintained by a mining
claim holder, was condemned. As of this
printing, the Forest Service was negotiating
with the claimant to replace the bridge.
Check with the Cle Elum Ranger Station
before running this trail.
RATING – 2+ because of narrowness and
sidehill
MILES – 2.5
Elevation Low – 3200’
Elevation High – 5200’
Gain – 2000’
Trail Access –
Take I-90 Exit 80, and go north through
Roslyn, onto Highway 903 north to Lake Cle
Elum, north along the lake to the end of
county road at Salmon La Sac, then north
on Forest Service Road 4330 about 6 miles
to trailhead (on east side of F.S.R. 4330).
Description –
Like many jeep trails, this is an old mining
road that switchbacks up the southwest side
of Huckleberry Mountain and dead-ends at
an old mine below Hawkins Mountain. No
real camping opportunities. NOTE: in 2006
the bridge at the beginning of this trail,
which was built and maintained by a mining
claim holder, was condemned. As of this
printing, the Forest Service was negotiating
with the claimant to replace the bridge.
Check with the Cle Elum Ranger Station
before running this trail.
Difficulty Rating 1 through 5 –
1-Stock Vehicle – no body damage - stock tires
2- Stock Vehicle – body and undercarriage damage possible
3 – Modified Vehicles advised (lockers and lift). Body damage possible.
4 – Modified Vehicle advised in dry / required in wet – Advanced 4x4 skills recommended. Body damage likely.
5 – Modified Vehicle required – Advanced 4x4 skills needed. Body damage likely.
1-Stock Vehicle – no body damage - stock tires
2- Stock Vehicle – body and undercarriage damage possible
3 – Modified Vehicles advised (lockers and lift). Body damage possible.
4 – Modified Vehicle advised in dry / required in wet – Advanced 4x4 skills recommended. Body damage likely.
5 – Modified Vehicle required – Advanced 4x4 skills needed. Body damage likely.