Tahuya State Forest

Updated February 4, 2010

About the area
Tahuya State Forest is a 23,000-acre working forest located on the southeastern portion of the Hood Canal west of Belfair in Mason County. This popular year-round destination area attracts more than 200,000 recreational users each year. Tahuya offers recreation opportunities for a variety of activities including off-road vehicle riding (ORV), horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, hunting, camping and other uses.

Tahuya is primarily a destination area for ORV riders. Each year more than 150,000 motorized recreationists and 50,000 non-motorized recreationists visit the forest.

(Please note: Due to budget constraints, DNR is reducing services at many of its recreation facilities. However, there may not be amenities such as outhouses, picnic tables, signs, or garbage service. Please pack-out what you pack-in. Some gates may be locked, and access will be by foot only.)

Campground information
Select one of the following links for site maps of each facility. 

• Tahuya River Horse Camp — Reservation required to camp. To make reservations, send an email to reservetsf@dnr.wa.gov (preferred method), or call 360-802-7075. Include the following: name, phone number, email address, group size, requested dates, requested site number(s), and if bringing horses or ORVs.
• Kammenga Campground — Campground closed indefinitely due to budget cuts. Gates and restrooms are locked. Walk-in access only.
• Camp Spillman — Campground closed indefinitely due to budget cuts. Gates and restrooms are locked. Walk-in access only.

Holiday hours:
The gates at these three campgrounds open at 9 a.m. on the Wednesday before the holiday weekend and close at noon the following Wednesday for these holidays:

• Memorial Day Weekend
• Fourth of July Weekend
• Labor Day Weekend

Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis

Trail access

• Tahuya State Forest motorized multiple-use trails — open year-round unless posted otherwise Mission Creek Trailhead — open year-round
• Elfendahl Pass Staging Area — open year-round, self-contained camping allowed, no reservation required
• Sand Hill Parking Area — open year-round, no camping allowed
• Kammenga 4x4 Trailhead — open year-round
• Elfendahl Pass 4x4 Trailhead — open year-round

Lake access
(State lowland lake fishing season runs from April 24 - October 31. For more details, view the fishing regulations on the Washington Department Fish and Wildlife’s Web page: http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regs_seasons.html)

• Aldrich Lake — Open April 15 - September 15 for fishing access. Day use only. No overnight camping. Walk in only.
• Howell Lake — Open April 15 - September 15 for fishing access and day use. Walk in only.
• Twin Lakes — Open April 15 - September 15 for fishing access. Walk-in access only. Day use only. No overnight camping.
• Robbins Lake — Open April 15 - September 15 for fishing access and day use only. Walk in only.

New trail information

• Red diamond indicates single track use only.
• Blue diamond indicates two track use.
• Yellow diamond indicates the 4x4 trail system.

Use caution on all trails. Recent storms and management activities may produce hazardous conditions.

Other general information

• No motorized use after dark.
• No overnight camping at the Sand Hill Gravel Pit or any other undesignated sites.
• Always ride with a partner.
• 95% of all ORV accidents are speed related.
• All ORV vehicles must display current ORV tags when using the trail system.
• All ORV regulations are strictly enforced.

Know before you go
Warning — Sand Hill Pit
To ensure safety of riders, portions of the Sand Hill Pit in the Tahuya State Forest may be temporarily closed for ORV use, due to rocks occasionally being removed from the pit. The forest offers alternative sites to unload and access trails during temporary closures. Take care as you ride near this area and follow all directional signs and notices.

Parking Notice — Elfendahl Pass Staging Area
Please use only one space when parking in this area. We are currently developing a parking plan for this area that involves designating some of the parking spaces for self-contained camping and other parking spaces for day-use parking only. The gravel area above the paved lot is open to overflow parking and self-contained camping. These rules will be strictly enforced.

Timber Harvest — Recreational Trails
Multiple timber harvests can and do occur within the Tahuya State Forest.  During an active timber sale, trails are temporarily closed or rerouted around the sale boundaries to ensure safety for all involved.