Barlow Pass Road

The rusted remains of mining equipment scattered along this deteriorating road tell the story of Monte Cristo’s brief gold rush glory days in the 1890s. Barlow Pass Road (Forest Road 4020) climbs through dense Pacific Northwest forest before dropping into the Sauk River valley, where you’ll ford multiple creek crossings and navigate washouts that have claimed more than a few oil pans. The road terminates at the Monte Cristo townsite, where concrete foundations and twisted metal are all that remain of what was once called the ‘Monte Carlo of the Cascades.’

This is a solid intermediate route requiring high-clearance 4WD and skid plates — the creek crossings can be knee-deep during snowmelt, and the final descent has sections steep enough to pucker. Best tackled June through September when snow clears, though early season means higher water. No permits needed, but the Forest Service has been letting this road deteriorate naturally, so expect it to get rougher each year. You’ll earn solitude few experience and a genuine ghost town worth the beating your truck takes.