Capitol State Forest ORV
Capitol State Forest covers 110,000 acres of DNR working forest in Thurston and Grays Harbor counties, southwest of Olympia in the Black Hills region of western Washington. The forest's motorized trail system, 89 miles of designated OHV-accessible routes, is served by two primary campgrounds that double as riding base camps: Middle Waddell OHV Campground and Porter Creek OHV Campground. The trail network runs through dense Pacific Northwest second-growth forest (Douglas fir, big-leaf maple, sword fern understory), on terrain that ranges from relatively flat valley-bottom routes to ridge-climbing technical sections with exposed volcanic rock. Motorcycles, ATVs, and 4x4s are all permitted on designated routes; width restrictions apply on some single-track sections. The system is open May 1 through November 30; winter and early spring closure protects the soft, rain-saturated soils of the western Washington lowland from compaction damage. A Washington Discover Pass is required for all trailhead vehicle access. Capitol State Forest's proximity to Olympia and the I-5 corridor, within 20 miles of the state capital, makes it the most accessible large-scale OHV destination for the Puget Sound south end market.