Naches OHV Area
The Naches OHV riding area in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest covers a complex of designated OHV routes along the Naches River drainage in Yakima County, the eastern Cascades slope south of Ellensburg and north of Yakima, where the ponderosa pine zone gives way to the transition forest of the mid-elevation Cascades. The Naches corridor is one of the most storied 4WD routes in Washington State: the historic Naches Trail, used by Oregon Trail emigrants making the final Cascades crossing in the 1850s, traverses the same river canyon and ridge terrain that OHV riders use today, giving the riding area a historical dimension few other Washington OHV zones can claim. The trail system covers the Naches River drainage and the surrounding ridge terrain at elevations from 2,000 to 5,500 feet, with the full range of Cascades eastern-slope terrain: open ponderosa pine parkland on the lower south-facing slopes, Douglas fir and mixed conifer at mid-elevation, and subalpine meadow terrain approaching the Cascade crest. 4x4 trucks and Jeeps are well represented given the historic route's heritage, with ATVs, UTVs, and dirt bikes rounding out the user mix. The Naches Ranger District (509-653-1401) manages current trail designations and seasonal gate schedules. Dispersed camping is available throughout the national forest under standard 14-night limits. The area is shared with horse packers and hikers on some corridors, the Naches Trail in particular, so multi-use trail awareness is important during peak summer weekends.