Tahuya State Forest

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.

Know before you go

Visit DNR's Recreation Page for temporary closure information before you go.

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.

>> Learn more about recreation in Tahuya State Forest.

>> Map of Tahuya State Forest.