Find BLM or USFS trails...they're alot of fun, especially if you head to eastern Oregon.

 

Be careful NOT to venture onto a bunch of logging roads on privately held timber lands. In the recent past there have been changes that make it unwelcome and much more likely to lead to nasty repercussions, even if you are just 'trail walking' your rig for the scenery. Apparently liability issues led to a lot of crackdown.

 

Not to mention the outbreak of meth labs in OR and WA. My inlaws live near Gaston OR. and have heard some scary stories..
Jonathan

 

get this book

Photographing Oregon A guide to the natural landmarks of Oregon. ISBN 978-0-91198-18-1. Drive!

 

Go here: ... US Forest Service - Pacific Northwest Region ... order maps for your closest forests, and then go driving. Or go downtown to Powell's or a map store and buy them there.

Seriously, just go up in the National Forests and seek out the secondary, lightly traveled through routes and the dead end "tertiary routes" on Federal land. Normally these routes are the ones that do NOT follow the valley floors. They are often poorly or completely unmaintained, and you will see few vehicles. The NFS maps are truly excellent for exploring, but they do NOT show elevation, so you need either topo maps or something like Google Earth to study so that you can figure out stuff like, "will I encounter snow, and at what elevation?" We had massive snowfalls last winter and some of it remains way up high.....

Here is a great resource for current conditions in the mountains - it is a motorcycle forum but these guys take their big BMW Adventure bikes everywhere, and they are always chatting about routes, closures, and conditions: ... Pacific Northwet - Where it's green. And wet. - ADVrider

I do NOT recommend any ORV areas - the trail conditions will be way too rough for your car and the parks are full of morons...

You might be interested in the Back Country Discovery Route - some sections of the "roads" may be a little too rugged, but you will see some truly marvelous scenery. Maybe travel with another vehicle like a Wrangler for mutual security: ... Back Country Maps.

I encourage you to carry a gps, a SPOT with the optional tracking subscription, a minimum of survival gear (enough for an unexpected night in the woods), bear spray or a large caliber firearm, and recovery/ emergency gear for your Outback. Always file a trip plan with a friend or relation. It is really easy to get into serious trouble once you get away from the populated lowlands.

Or you could go to the coast and do some beach driving - there are many miles of sand that are open to the public. Wash your car and chassis completely ASAP after driving on the beaches!!!

Be aware that vast areas of Central and Eastern Oregon are privately owned range land, and with few exceptions the access points are gated and prominently posted. It's _very_ frustrating to be driving through miles of gorgeous scenery with inviting dirt roads branching off right and left, and be locked onto the highway corridor by a constant string of locked gates. You really need to focus on the National Forests for easy access.

You are really close to Primitive Enterprises in Portland (on the west side of the Williamette River), which specializes in Subaru off-pavement stuff like skid plates : ... http://www.get-primitive.com/ ... Order a set of plates and rally mud flaps, and you can pick them up in person and save the shipping charges.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

Indeed, preparation is wise. Bad things can and do happen, even when one is a little prepared.

 

Bump to the top....

Does anyone else here get more than a little peeved when someone asks for advice, you write a long reply that uses up maybe 20 minutes out of your life, and then the original poster never returns to the thread? I would kinda like an acknowledgement or even a "Thank you".

It's enough to make me want to stop typing .... well, maybe not. But it still bothers me. I like good manners.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

Remember it's the internet ..don't take things so seriously...Life is about living not texting/facebooking/tweeting...etc..
I've spent thousands of hours on here...wait til your moderating..:gasp:

I prefer a brew and conversation over the internet anyday..relax.:29:

 

Oregon outback king...been there doing that in an obw

Ok ..First of all I've been wheelin' my '03 outback all over the state and have had no issues .

These meth labs stories in the woods are a bunch of stories...I have yet to hear about them and I'm on several 4 wheelin forums...

Tillamook st. forest is a great place to explore in your outback..I've run even some of the most difficult trails...

Go in the off season like fall/winter/spring.. avoid the crowds
Get an OHV permit it's liek $10.50 avail. at almost an atv shop or grocery/gas station near TSF. IT's a big fine if you don't..!

MT. Hood has some new changes this year ..go to any Mt. hood ranger station and get the current MVUM maps..alot of roads are closed even if it's not gated or signed...Another big fine...!

Go Prepared ..bring everything ..Full size spare is a must!!
air compressor
skid plates(primitive) a must...
come along (hand winch)
tow strap
a jack

common sense..

above all have fun..

I'd be happy to lead ya around...I'm a native and have been around the state for almost half a century..

a few teasers..

 

I'd be happy to lead ya around...I'm a native and have been around the state for almost half a century..

Scooby,

Would love to hit ya up on that at some point. I'm up in Vancouver WA, been here all my life. Would be fun to go exploring with another trail loving O/B driver.

Have any events coming up some time soon? shoot me a PM, would like to keep in touch with ya.

 

I don't think they private logging land/roads are being closed because of "rampant meth heads"...I mean, they are certainly a cause, but not the sole cause. Gates are going up all over the forests here in the Willamette Valley due to people dumping garbage, tons of it. Also, it's the people going off the trail and making their own that causes a lot of road closures.

As for off roading, I blew my clutch just last weekend on the dunes over in Florence, I wasn't pushing it, especially not like my EA wagons. It was fun and luckily a nice jeep guy pulled me out.

Eastern Oregon is great for exploring.

 

Sandlake was fun.. Scooby's right about the Tillamook Forest too. We all went out there in 09' and had a blast. Did some technical trails and whatnot. Wouldn't mind doing that again!

 

My hard core off road back country family members have all switched to ATV's. When asked they all say the same thing - fixing a broken ATV is far far less expensive than fixing a broken 4x4 rig.LOL One of them even gave up his two time ground up built 4x4 short bed rig for a freebie Saturn wagon! He tows his ATV with the wagon and he goes places his crazy 4x4 truck would never go.

 

If they only had subarus....it would be their quad...



I have to laugh as I've taken my subarus to places most moddified 4x4 can't fit into . I've seen more broken jeeps, and other 4x4's on the trail ...our subies just keep driving by...and they sip gas for all day wheelin vs a v8 monster that is done before noon cos they are running low on fuel...lol

ATV's are for those who can't wheel...and are too weak to mtn bike..!

Most of us in the PNW like to drive there , have fun and drive back in the same rig..saves time and money...I haven't broken much in the decades of wheelin...and have never been stranded...

Seems to me big motor, big tires..= breakage..keep of the skinny pedal!!! How many cheap u-joints are ya go thru before you get some warn ones...!

the width of my gl is only..62" the outback is 67"

max width on this trail 72" hogsback at TSF I cleaned it without a spotter and these land rover guys couldn't get thru without serious body damage..lol

quad trail cleaned by my gl..

Notice how we fit on quad trails...bigger rigs have a harder time..
I love just turning and goin thru trees with no 3 or 5point turns..!
cherokees and landcruisers really suck at it..!

 

Those are some awesome pics. You're an adventurous soul.

 

Methinks we should organize an Oregon excursion at some point. My car isn't nearly prepared for some of the heavy duty stuff Scooby does, but I'd just like to go where most cars just don't or can't at least once in a while.

 

I'm in. I've never done a little off road trip anywhere. Think it would be a blast!

 

I'm thinking a weekend when it is hopefully a touch less wet, which should start happening soon.

 

Yeah won't be long. Still want to get my car covered in mud!

 

I'd be interested in a meet up / off road adventure.

 

The weather is starting to be decent. There's still enough rain coming and going to leave us a few gooey spots to think about. Gotta look at the calendar and see what weekends might be good.

 

one to pencil in...june

I've done this run for four years now ....it's awesome...! trails, sand dunes..., wild horses, antelope..!

I'll be there in my forester...(just got it , have to break it in right)

4th Annual Christmas Valley, Oregon 4x4 offroad campout and trail ride

 

I've done this run for four years now ....it's awesome...! trails, sand dunes..., wild horses, antelope..!

I'll be there in my forester...(just got it , have to break it in right)

4th Annual Christmas Valley, Oregon 4x4 offroad campout and trail ride

Scooby, looks like a fun trip. Is there enough to do to make the drive from Vancouver worth it for a stock (aside from General AT2's) 01 LL bean outback?

 

Sounds like a neat trip, but not sure I'm brave enough with my rock stock car to venture where it seems they might be going. Not to poo-poo that trip, but I was thinking more like a day trip for a starter. I also would like to stay on the 'wet side' of things for right now. I like some of the views around the Willamette Valley, and I know there's tons I haven't yet seen.

 

I'm in with ya! I was looking at the site and everyone's vehicles there it looks like are built just for off roading.. Mine is also stock and just want to get it muddy and enjoy some nice views. :29:

Thanks for the site Scooby! I did find some awesome waterfalls around here I want to visit now!

 

Hey hey! Im in Tualatin OR! Are we talkin Suby road trip?!?!? All I gotta say is....YES

 

I've got another run we can do on the east side of Mt.Hood .
I know all the trails/ backroads. The snow melts out there first...

Otherwise it's Tillamook state forest.

Valley of the giants is good. A a ton of nice waterfalls, you can drive all way to the coast.

All rigs welcome a full size spare is must!

call me anytime I go out every weekend exploring, mud, sand, snow, gravel, dirt....
503-314-7535

 

Awesome thanks! I need to get a full size spare tire first then I'll get in touch with ya.

 

I got some stock 17in conti's that i took off my OB....still got about....maybe 15k left in them. If you want one. You can have one. But you would still have to buy a steely for it.

Unless a new full size spare is recommended...

 

OK folks, the weather is good and looks like maybe its gonna stay that way.
Next weekend is Mother's Day, so I don't expect an outing then - but the next two weekends could be a good time to take a little trip in the country.

I'd like to suggest somewhere on the 'rim' of the Willamette Valley, basically anywhere between 44° 21' and 45° 21' latitude. I'd like to tap Scooby as the expert on potential trails we can go on, with an easy to moderate passage. Maybe someplace with a chance at a modest mudhole on the side for those that want to 'play dirty' at some point. I know nothing about permits we might need, so anyone who knows what that might entail please chime in.

 

I'm from Eugene so the Willamette valley would be perfect. The next open weekends I have is the 26th and 27th then June 2nd and 3rd.

After that my weekends are pretty booked as its Mountain Bike Season!

 

In a curious twist of fate, despite no organized response here and thus no attempt on my part - I have the next couple of days off. Wonder if I should call Scooby? Anybody else possibly up for a day trip?

 

I'm heading out again today yamhill county...spent two days wheelin' at Mt.Bachelor..
call me asap if ya wanna go...503-314-7535

The reason I don't plan events here ...folks usually come up with some excuse not to go.. Or think I'm to hardcore...lol I do all levels of trips not just rock crawling..There are always options..