Check the alerts on the Washington State Department on Natural Resources site.
The long days of summer are a great time to ride in Washington state. Low elevation means you won’t run into snow in the winter, but be cautious on a rainy day or recent rains that may make the roads difficult to ride.
The Forest has some SERIOUS climbs, and the summer gravel is not as compact as winter gravel. The winter gravel can get a bit muddy.
Expect logging roads and a forest in different states of growth, from young saplings to mature trees of 60 t0 80 years old. The Forest also has a number of multi-use trails for hikers, horse back riders, mountain bikers, and ATV’s.
Rock Candy Mountain Trailhead. Pit Toilets. If you park within the Capital State Forest you will need a Washington State Discover Pass.
We made a major revision to this route in August 10, 2023 due to a stream/creek crossing that was not crossable. We also changed the name from Evergreen Gravel to Capital State Forest.
We recommend a red blinky light with rear looking radar detector like a (i.e. Garmin Varia). These types of devices are super helpful in notifying you of vehicles approaching from behind you. They will alert you to a vehicle way sooner than you hearing it.
Have you ridden this route? Got a question? Join the discussion!