isleofman
July 22nd, 2011, 02:28 AM
My son leaves for a year long stint overseas next week, and another trail together we must do!!!. This will be our farewell run and would LOVE for anyone here to join us. We will be going to Naches (http://nwjeepn.com/naches.htm) For now it is a day run. However, if I can find someone to feed and scoop poop for my other 4x4's, we might stay at the cabin in the meadow (see the link for details) (http://nwjeepn.com/naches.htm)and turn it into a 2 day event.
A few of the Jeep guys we run with will be going. They are very familiar with this trail so happy to lead the way (or not) if need be. The weather is looking fantastic. Let those Rovers come and play!!! No door handle injuries on this run :proud ignore the pic and read the description!
From our location in Bellevue, it is slightly over 2 hours to get there....happy to set up a meeting point and caravan over to the trail.
Naches Pass Trail (Nat'l Forest Service)
2 Hrs from Seattle. Maybe 15 miles total length.
Dispersed camping permitted on the trail, first-come-first-serve cabin at Government Meadows
Required NW Forest Pass for western part of trail if camping, stopping, or parking a tow vehicle
Restroom facilities about a mile from the trailhead.
Open mid-July to mid-November, verify w/ Enumclaw Ranger Station.
Map to Western Trailhead.
The Naches Trail has two distinct characters for the western and eastern sides. The western end of the Naches Trail has several steep climbs to get up to Government Meadows and the Naches Pass at its eastern end. The trail tends to be damp dirt with the occasional mud puddle and slimy logs as obstacles. It is crossed several times by gravel roads and toward the top the trail breaks through and skirts a few meadows. The eastern side of the trail is longer, drier, and dustier. The forest transitions from fir to pine as the trail works it's way back down off the mountain into the valley below. The trail here has very few puddles but many roots and the rocky bed make it very bouncy and slow going.
This trail "can" be traveled in 3-5 hrs non-stop. But it usually takes us half a day because of the things to stop and look at. I would say it is a very good beginner trail. It crosses the Cascades entirely on a continuous 4x4 route that follows the 1853 wagon train route of the Longmire wagon train. Near the pass it crosses the Pacific Crest Trail at Government Meadows where the wagon party camped before lowering their wagons over the 700 ft cliffs. A few years ago it was honored by BFGoodrich tires as one of the great American trails. This trail makes for a great multi-day entry to Manastash Ridge in the east which it almost connects to (5 miles of pavement driving to more trails). The trail head starts about a mile past the end of the pavement. There will be a "Y". Take the left route, it button hooks around , then go another 100 yrs, the start of the trail will be on the left (uphill side).
The western half of the trail is controlled and managed by the Enumclaw Ranger Station. The eastern half of the trail is managed by the Naches Ranger Station.
There is a gas station in Greenwater, WA, about 10 miles from the trailhead but it's hours are spotty. Second closest are the gas stations in Enumclaw, about 26+ miles from Greenwater, WA. There is also the Whistling Jacks gas station in Cliffdell, WA at the eastern end of the trail.
Forest Service - Enumclaw Ranger Station
450 Roosevelt Ave E
Enumclaw, WA 98022
360-825-6585
Forest Service - Naches Ranger Station
10237 US Hwy 12
Naches, WA 98937
509-653-1410
A few of the Jeep guys we run with will be going. They are very familiar with this trail so happy to lead the way (or not) if need be. The weather is looking fantastic. Let those Rovers come and play!!! No door handle injuries on this run :proud ignore the pic and read the description!
From our location in Bellevue, it is slightly over 2 hours to get there....happy to set up a meeting point and caravan over to the trail.
Naches Pass Trail (Nat'l Forest Service)
2 Hrs from Seattle. Maybe 15 miles total length.
Dispersed camping permitted on the trail, first-come-first-serve cabin at Government Meadows
Required NW Forest Pass for western part of trail if camping, stopping, or parking a tow vehicle
Restroom facilities about a mile from the trailhead.
Open mid-July to mid-November, verify w/ Enumclaw Ranger Station.
Map to Western Trailhead.
The Naches Trail has two distinct characters for the western and eastern sides. The western end of the Naches Trail has several steep climbs to get up to Government Meadows and the Naches Pass at its eastern end. The trail tends to be damp dirt with the occasional mud puddle and slimy logs as obstacles. It is crossed several times by gravel roads and toward the top the trail breaks through and skirts a few meadows. The eastern side of the trail is longer, drier, and dustier. The forest transitions from fir to pine as the trail works it's way back down off the mountain into the valley below. The trail here has very few puddles but many roots and the rocky bed make it very bouncy and slow going.
This trail "can" be traveled in 3-5 hrs non-stop. But it usually takes us half a day because of the things to stop and look at. I would say it is a very good beginner trail. It crosses the Cascades entirely on a continuous 4x4 route that follows the 1853 wagon train route of the Longmire wagon train. Near the pass it crosses the Pacific Crest Trail at Government Meadows where the wagon party camped before lowering their wagons over the 700 ft cliffs. A few years ago it was honored by BFGoodrich tires as one of the great American trails. This trail makes for a great multi-day entry to Manastash Ridge in the east which it almost connects to (5 miles of pavement driving to more trails). The trail head starts about a mile past the end of the pavement. There will be a "Y". Take the left route, it button hooks around , then go another 100 yrs, the start of the trail will be on the left (uphill side).
The western half of the trail is controlled and managed by the Enumclaw Ranger Station. The eastern half of the trail is managed by the Naches Ranger Station.
There is a gas station in Greenwater, WA, about 10 miles from the trailhead but it's hours are spotty. Second closest are the gas stations in Enumclaw, about 26+ miles from Greenwater, WA. There is also the Whistling Jacks gas station in Cliffdell, WA at the eastern end of the trail.
Forest Service - Enumclaw Ranger Station
450 Roosevelt Ave E
Enumclaw, WA 98022
360-825-6585
Forest Service - Naches Ranger Station
10237 US Hwy 12
Naches, WA 98937
509-653-1410