Capitol Forest Adventure

Not far from home lies Capitol State Forest, a playground of gravel roads, tight trails, and muddy off-shoots just waiting to be explored. I used to come up here more often, but life got in the way. Now, I’m making time—especially since I’m building my Jeep for a Mexico trip. Capitol Forest is perfect for shake-down runs to test upgrades and get a feel for the rig in real conditions.

Recently, I also became a trail guide for OnX OffRoad. I mapped a route in the forest, submitted it to the app, and now others can safely explore the same area without getting lost—a small way to share the joy of off-roading responsibly.

On this outing, I left the westside of Olympia, drove Delphi Rd out to Waddell Creek Rd, and followed it to the forest entrance. The road in is paved, but quickly transitions to gravel with a few puzzling paved patches—logging quirks, I guess. Most of the forest is gravel logging roads, with narrower, muddier off-shoots branching off. I checked out a few, but stuck to the main lines this trip—safety first when you’re solo.

On a previous trip with my son, we tackled one of the mud runs. My Jeep ran open differentials front and rear on 33-inch BF Goodrich KO2s. His 1st-gen Toyota, with dual transfer case and locked axles, now runs 37-inch Yokohama mud tires. That mud run was unforgettable.

Capitol Forest isn’t just about trails—it’s about views, hidden camping spots, and getting hands-on with your rig. If you go, pack out your trash and help clean up what others have left behind. The forest is a gift, and we need to preserve it for generations to come.

Ready to see the full adventure, including the mud run and hidden spots we discovered? [Read the full story here.]