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The trail is located at Central Washington on the northeast region of Ellensburg in Kittitas County. The trail is easy and mostly traverses on a roadbed which becomes rocky as it passes through the north section of the pass. The Colockum Pass, where the mountain road goes through, stands at an elevation of 5,373 feet. It was an emigrant and freight route linking The Dalles, Oregon, Ruby Mines, and the British Columbia in Canada.
The south side on an ascent to the pass is less scenic than the descent which is bound to the north that offers spectacular views of the Columbia River and the North Cascades. You may get a map for this off-road trail at the Wenatchee National Forest South Half or some information about the trail at the Kittitas County.
The whole trail can be traversed in 2 hours over a 30-mile stretch of land. To get to the trailhead, go toward Ellensburg. From the north of Kittitas and northeast of Ellensburg, proceed to the Brick Mill Road which is the eastern section of the Colockum Road. Follow the northeast bound route over the pass where you will then start the trail from that point. If you are taking the road from the north at Wenatchee to get to this trail, start from the Wenatchee Avenue on the Malaga-Alcoa Highway on the southeastern section along the Columbia River. You will then reach the Colockum Road on this highway.
The rest stops are at some roadside areas and at the campground of Colockum State Wildlife Area. From the Colockum Road where the trail starts, take the graveled road for 2.2 miles as it ascends from the Kittitas Valley and through sagebrush volcanic hills and roadsides lined with clusters of aspen and pine trees. Move further for 14 miles and the trail approaches the Colockum State Wildlife Area and the Half-Way Station.
Proceed 2 miles further as the canyon road drops to the Tarpiscan Creek onto Columbia where the road then forks right. Down by the river the road proceeds to the Colockum Road where you will pass an excellent vista of Central Washington. From this descent, the trail continues to Wenatchee on the Malaga-Alcoa Highway. From here you may take a detour to the left toward Kingsbury Road to view the Kingsbury Canyon. The trail then leads to Moses Carr Road in 5 miles where you will turn right down onto the Malaga-Alcoa Highway.
write by evans