Little Naches Offers Year 'Round Outdoor Fun
Washington’s Central Cascade Mountains Is Home to Major ORV Park
Dec 21, 2008
The Little Naches area is especially popular with dirt bikers and “Jeepers,” as off-road Jeep enthusiasts are called here.
But this multi-use facility is also popular with mountain bikers, horseback riders, hikers, fly fishermen and just plain campers who want to relax away their cares in a beautiful mountain setting. In the wintertime, snowmobilers, snowshoers and cross-country skiers take over, though campgrounds are closed then.
Due to a rough winter in 2008-2009, in which roads washed out and trees fell over roads, the Forest Service had closed the Little Naches area to all activity above the Kaner Flats campground. The area reopened in mid-June, with the Forest Service warning people could still find snow and downed trees on trails.
Park Located in Naches Ranger District
The popular ORV park is located on the Wenatchee National Forest’s Naches Ranger District just off SR 410, which links Yakima and Chinook Pass. Turn on Forest Service Road 19 about three miles west of Cliffdell.
Trails range from easy to difficult. The Wenatchee National Forest has ranked the difficulty of the trails, and types of vehicles allowed on each trail. A listing of trails in the ranger district is available online. Trail maps also are available at the Naches Ranger District headquarters in Naches. They’re also posted at the campgrounds.
Campgrounds fill up fast on long holiday weekends in the summer. It’s not unusual to see tents pitched next to $250,000 motor homes. Some of the campgrounds, especially in the upper areas, are primitive. They may not have toilet facilities or potable water available. Campers need to bring enough water to last for their stay. The Forest Service does not charge folks who stay in the primitive campgrounds.
Where Deer and Elk Roam
Wildlife is abundant. Elk and deer have been known to wander through the campgrounds during the night. Campers who drive the back roads at dusk are almost guaranteed to see these animals grazing in the meadows or walking through the forests to the river for water. In the daytime, squirrels and chipmunks provide hours of entertainment as they leap from log to tree. Dirt-bikers who ride the more remote trails have reported seeing bears, wolves, and even an occasional cougar.
Wildflowers are abundant in the summer time. A guide to identifying them is handy to have. Wild strawberries grow everywhere. However, they’re pretty tiny; gathering enough for strawberry shortcake would take hours.
Take time to visit Raven Roost, a 14-mile drive up a bumpy gravel road which ends with a stunning view of Mt. Rainier. The viewpoint is shared with a couple of satellite stations. The last half mile is particularly steep and full of large potholes, but the view is worth the effort. The Norse Peak Wilderness is below the overlook; vehicles of any kind are not permitted in the wilderness area.
The ride is popular with mountain bikers who have the strength and stamina to conquer the terrain.
Related Article
- Federal Campgrounds About in Washington State - provides information on campgrounds offered by the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and Army Corps of Engineers in the Evergreen State.
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