Yacolt Burn State Forest - Tarbell Trail

The Tarbell Trail is the big loop through the Yacolt Burn State Forest, a 25-mile circuit with nearly 4,800 feet of cumulative elevation gain that connects four trailheads and passes through the full range of what this recovering landscape has to offer. This is the backbone of the trail system here, and doing the full loop is a proper long day or a relaxed overnighter.

The recommended direction is counter-clockwise from the Yacolt Burn Trailhead. You start with a gentler climb along Cold Creek for 7 miles to Grouse Vista, then push 5 miles further to Hidden Falls on Coyote Creek, the best rest stop on the route. From the falls, the trail climbs to the Silver Star trail junction before descending through second-growth forest to Rock Creek Campground, then 2.2 miles back to close the loop.

The variety here is the real selling point. You move through dense creek-bottom forest, open ridges with mountain views, wildflower meadows, and the recovering burn landscape that gives the forest its name. Hidden Falls is worth the trip all by itself. Multiple access points (Yacolt Burn, Grouse Vista, Rock Creek Campground) let you break this into manageable sections. The Appaloosa Trail cuts across the middle, creating a shorter loop option. Trail maintenance is strong, with WTA work parties active every year.