Top Pacific Northwest Overland Routes

The Pacific Northwest packs rainforest, volcanic peaks, high desert and coastline into a few days' drive. These are the routes we point people to most often from our shop in Monroe, Washington, with the season and prep each one needs. Conditions change every year, so check fire closures, snow and road status before you go.

1. Washington Backcountry Discovery Route (WABDR)

• What it is: roughly 575 miles of mostly dirt and gravel from the Oregon border to Canada, crossing the state's east side of the Cascades.
• Difficulty: moderate, with rocky and rutted sections.
• Best time: July to October, once the high passes melt out.
• Highlights: views of Mt. Adams and Rainier, dense forest giving way to dry eastern foothills.
• Prep: download the official BDR GPX tracks and carry a Discover Pass or Northwest Forest Pass where required.

2. Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route (ORBDR)

• What it is: a long north-south route from the Nevada border through high desert, the Cascades and the Columbia Gorge region.
• Difficulty: moderate to challenging, with long stretches between fuel stops.
• Best time: mid-June to October.
• Highlights: volcanic peaks, alpine lakes and remote high-desert camping.
• Prep: wildfire season can close sections, so check for updated tracks before leaving.

3. Olympic Peninsula loop

• What it is: forest roads and highways linking rainforest valleys, mountain viewpoints and Pacific beaches.
• Difficulty: easy to moderate.
• Best time: year-round, but expect heavy rain from fall to spring.
• Highlights: Hoh Rain Forest, Hurricane Ridge, the coast between Kalaloch and La Push.
• Prep: Olympic National Park fees apply, and ferries from the Seattle side book up on summer weekends.

4. Gifford Pinchot National Forest roads

• What it is: a network of forest service roads around Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams, easy to string into a weekend loop.
• Difficulty: easy to moderate, with some rough spurs.
• Best time: June to October.
• Highlights: volcanic landscapes, huckleberry fields and plenty of dispersed camping.

5. Bonus: Magruder Corridor, Idaho

• What it is: about 100 miles of single-lane dirt road between the Selway-Bitterroot and Frank Church wilderness areas.
• Difficulty: remote, with no services along the way.
• Best time: July to September.

PNW overlanding tips

• Plan for rain. Even summer trips can turn wet west of the Cascades. Keep bedding and electronics sealed.
• Passes and permits. Washington state lands need a Discover Pass, many national forest trailheads need a Northwest Forest Pass, and campgrounds book through recreation.gov.
• Navigation. Download offline maps (Gaia GPS or onX Offroad) and carry a satellite messenger; cell coverage disappears quickly. Our navigation guide covers the options.
• Recovery. Carry traction boards, a shovel and a tire repair kit. See our recovery gear checklist.

A camper built for these roads

Cascadia Overland Co. designs its campers in Monroe, Washington, around the wet, steep and remote roads on this list. The Frontier wedge pop-up and Summit wide-body pop-up are light, clamp-on campers that fold down low for tight forest roads. The Apex is our insulated slide-in pop-up for shoulder-season and winter trips. Compare our campers, or read our winter overlanding guide for cold-weather trips.