In the mid-1800s, a road was made from Walla Walla to Fort Steilacoom through Naches Pass. But it was too difficult for early settlers. It has stayed available for motorized recreation, but has fairly restrictive seasons due to the elevation, and the effects of motorized vehicles on trails (especially when the snow melts). Lower Naches Trail (West Side) is only open July 15th through November 15th. The East Half (#1175 and #684) is open June 15th through November 15th unless posted otherwise.
Steep hill climbs, tricky off-camber terrain on Lower Naches, deep ruts, rocky sections and roots with holes dug right in front of them are pretty much what you can expect to run afoul of here. The good news is that there are multiple trail spurs connecting to FS roads, so if you get in trouble, getting off the trail won’t be too difficult. The trail can be pretty congested at times, and there aren’t a lot of pullouts to let other vehicles pass.
Get details including directions, staging areas, maps, and difficulty levels in the UTV Guide to WA State.
