Ride Stats
- Trail Description:
- Road (maintained), Trail (ORV)
- Best During:
- April to October
- Trip Distance:
- 21.6 miles
- Ride Time:
- 4 to 6 hours
- Elevation Gain:
- 2,359 feet
- Overall Rating:
- Skilled
Trail Log
- 0.0
- Elevation 300 feet. Bike back to Waddell Creek Road and turn left heading north.
- 0.4
- Turn left at the 3-way junction.
- 1.7
- The road divides. Stay left now on the C-Line road. Follow this gravel road for the next 6.8 miles passing all spur roads along the way.
- 8.5
- Road C-4000 branches off to the right. Go right follow C-4000 for 2.5 miles.
- 11.0
- Three roads branch out. Follow the middle road that leads to the summit.
- 11.3
- Reach the summit of Capitol Peak (2,659 feet). Enjoy views of Puget Sound, the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges, and the Pacific Ocean. When ready, find the path on the east side of summit and decend. In a short distance you will see the ORV trail.
- 12.4
- Trail comes to road C-4000. Don't cross. Instead follow the road for about 1/2 mile looking for trail on right side.
- 13.0
- Trail heads downhill to the right.
- 13.2
- 4-way trail intersection. Take the trail to the right (Mt. Molly Loop Trail #40).
- 15.1
- Cross road and continue on trail.
- 17.6
- Trail reaches road again. Follow the road uphill for a couple hundred feet and then turn right back on the trail.
- 19.0
- Trail crosses the C-Line road. Continue on Trail.
- 19.4
- Cross road D-4400. Trail begins a steep climb.
- 20.0
- Climbing ends. Follow the trail all the way back to the Middle Waddell Campground.
- 21.6
- Reach campsite and wipe off mud.
More Info
Department of Natural Resources
Central Area Office
1405 Rush Road
Chehalis, WA 98532
(360) 748-2383
(800) 527-3305 (Select the Central Area Office from the phone menu options)
Mountain Bike Resource - Trails - Capitol Peak 1 Ride Summary
Ride Description
Capitol Forest is a huge (91,000 acres) "working forest" managed by the Department of Natural Resources. Within this forest are two separate trail systems. The northern system is for off-road vehicles while the southern is for hikers and horses. Ready for the good news, both are open to mountain bikes. This ride, along with the Capitol Peak 2 & Rock Candy Loops, takes advantage of the northern ORV trail system as the southern trails tend to be more muddy. This is not too say that you won't have your fair share of mud on these rides. If you come any time other than summer, plan to get dirty. The trails are typically closed during the wet winter months, usually November 1st to March 31st. These dates vary depending on the weather conditions so make sure to check MBR for updates during the late Fall, Winter and early Spring.
Directions To Trailhead
From I-5 take exit #95 (about 8 miles south of Olympia). Head west towards the town of Littlerock for 3 miles. Continue straight through town until you reach a "T" intersection in .8 miles. Turn right heading north on Waddell Creek Road. In about 3.2 miles turn left into the Middle Waddell Campground and park.
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