Elbe Hills
RIDE SUMMARY
| Trail Description: | ORV Trail |
| Best During: | All year long |
| Trip Distance: | 11.5 miles |
| Ride Time: | 3-4 hours |
| Elevation Gain: | 1386 feet |
| Overall Rating: | Skilled |
| Remember how much fun it was when you were rolling in the mud? Elbe hills is just like that, when you where having so much fun that even your parents did not dare stopping you even if though you were so dirty that you had to strip in the mud room. |
|
From your home, drive as if you were heading to the Nisqually Entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. At the town of Elbe, head east on State Route 706 for 6.3 miles, then turn left (directly across from the Rainier Lions Club sign). Drive up a narrow road for 0.6 mile to the end of the pavement and turn left on a State Forest road (unsigned). After 0.7 mile pass the first of two spur road' which branch off to the left. At 1.9 miles from the end of the pavement the road divides; go right for another 0.6 mile to a seconc intersection, and this time go left. In 0.1 mile reach a 3-way intersec tion at the entrance to Elbe Hills 4-Wheel Drive Area. Go left, ther take the first right. Drive through the campground to a parking area at the far end (2,250 feet). Please get the map (zipped with waypoints and route), it is an place where you can easy get lost. |
| 0.0 | Pedal back out of the campground to the 3-way intersection. |
| 0.1 | At the 3-way intersection go left, heading down Beaver Creeck Valley for the next 4.4 miles on the Busy Wild Road. The road rolls through forests and clearcuts, paralleling the jeep-trail route and passing several access trails. |
| 4.5 | Turn right off the Busy Wild Road on the Rainier Vista Trail (2,621 feet) and head south along the crest of a forested ridge The trail starts by climbing but soon settles down, roller coaster fashion, to a series of short climbs and descents. |
| 5.6 | After a steep, sliding descent, the Rainier Vista Trail ends in small clearcut. Go left on the Gotcha Trail (2,480 feet). The Gotcha Trail is a less steep version of the previous trail. Here you have time to add a bit of finesse to your root riding techniques. |
| 6.8 | Gotcha Trail ends (2,300 feet). Go straight ahead on the Swam Trail. |
| 7.2 | Swamp Trail ends (2,400 feet). Keeping to the left, continue ahead on the Mainline Trail. |
| 7.7 | At the upper edge of a large clearcut, pass an access to the Busy Wild Road (2,600 feet). Once again stay left on to Mainline Trail, which heads back into the trees. |
| 8.5 | Intersection and a choice (2,380 feet). This log goes left an follows Busy Wild Trail for the next 2.7 miles. This trail is rough and steep with very muddy sections and starts off by climb) steeply, followed by a long descent. If you have had enough fun continue straight ahead on the Mainline Trail, which is 2 miles shorter. |
| 11.2 | Busy WildTrail ends (2,380 feet). Go left on the Mainline Trail. |
| 11.8 | Turn left and climb sunshine trail. Continue straight for a final 0.2-mile descent back to the Busy Wild Road. |
| 12.0 | Go left on Busy Wild Road back to the 3-way intersect ion, th take a right. |
| 12.2 | Loop ends at the campground. |