Eastern Washington Expeditions
Washington Backcountry Discovery Route – Section 2
Hosted by Eastern Washington Off Road & Overland
Report by Clay Graham. Photos by Clay & Odo Graham / CegPics.com

Around 10:30 AM on Wednesday July 14 2021 the Eastern Washington Expeditions group finished the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route Section 1 (Click for report) in Packwood and fueled up for section 2.

As we went over White Pass we stopped to see the views. The first stop was at US-12 Observation Site: Mt. Rainer – Goat Rocks and then at Clear Creek Falls Overlook.

We turn off US12 onto Bethel Ridge Road (FS1500) and stopped for a break. We aired down and had lunch.

After lunch we headed on up to the top of Bethel Ridge and turned up FS324 and ran it to 4W325 where we stopped for the view of Rimrock Lake and the surrounding mountains.

We moved up 4W325 and stopped for another look off the ridge at a known photo op place. No one felt comfortable about driving to close to the edge of the cliff.

We moved on down the trail. The mud hole area was dry making it easier to get through. We may our way to Bethel Ridge’s Devils Table Viewpoint. At this point Foxracer head to break off and head for home back in Western Washington.

The remaining three Jeep headed on down through Oak Creek Wildlife Area and out at Nile. We saw a big herd of elk on the way.

At Bethel Ridge Road (FS1500) we aired back up and headed home. Two of the Jeeps stopped off at the Wood Shed for cold drinks.

Saturday July 17th we meet back up at the Wood Shed with only two Jeeps. We picking up some supplies at Eagle Rock Grocery / Wood Shed and head up SR410, then up FS1701, and then onto FS1711. We found a wide place to stop and air down.

We ran FS1711 to the top of the ridge where we left the Forest Service and entered Oak Creek Wildlife Area again. We drove up on top of Cleman Mountain took a break to see the view. My sons told me we pasted TrailRecon on the way.

After a short break we moved on. We turned down into the Wenas Wildlife Area. We made our way to the bottom to find out the WDFW closed the road out to the pavement. There was a detour sign but not pointing where. You have keep going to the next to the next road and turn down it.

After closing the gate we headed up North Wenas Road on the pavement a few miles. We turned up going toward Umtanum Ridge. Up around the corner there is another gate you have to open and close behind you. We made our way to the top of Umtanum Ridge and took another break for the view. We looked back at Cleman Mountain we had crossed. The white dot on the ridge to the north is the Manastash Ridge Observatory. The Steward Mountains beyond that.

We headed on up the ridge watching dust devils everywhere. We stopped for another view once we reached the Umtanum Ridge towers. There was another group doing the WABDR taking a break there. They said they were taking the WABDR south.

We ate lunch at the towers and then headed down to Ellensburg. We aired up at the north end of Durr Road and then headed into the City of Ellensburg. In Ellensburg we topped off our fuel tank to hit WABDR Section 3 (Click for report).

Here are some photos of the EWE Washington Backcountry Discovery Route – Section 2: