We ran this route (and then some!) in our 2023 Subaru Ascent last weekend. Camped up on top of Bethel Ridge (at the hidden viewpoint) the first night, then found Manastash Ridge Observatory and camped there the 2nd night. Then backtracked to the end of the WA BDR that took us to Ellensburg. I recognize the roads of your entire video! It was dry for us too and very dirty. We had zero issues though, our vehicle (and tires!) did fantastic. No slipping or overheating. The views up there are incredible!
Ross Crocco - Only reason we left the trail was because we were tired 😄 They are endless. So glad you liked the video! Thank you for watching and commenting!!! ❤️🐞
Thank you for posting all the directions and the real time map! Moving back to WA next year and I’m trying to explore as much of its beautiful wilderness as possible! :)
You’re welcome! Trailsoffroad.com is helpful too. Lots of Facebook groups have trail rides and discuss conditions of the trails. We feel WA has some of the best wheeling in the country! Different landscapes, availability of different off-road surfaces, free ORV Parks, etc. Snow, mountains , rocks, mud, sand, etc I have a whole channel dedicated to showing off WA’s awesome off-roading 😂
Shanning Porter - You’re so welcome! And you’re always so nice so Thank You for being such a great supporter of Joe and I! Always look forward to hearing from you!! ❤️🐞
I've run this annual for a couple years and I'd say you did a pretty good job catching the experience on camera. It is indeed very rough and dusty. So much so, once a year is about all I like to do. Nile to Wenas and the plateaus above Liberty can be just as rocky, it's our volcanic origins.
Bullshitkorner - We love watching your vids and of course TomCat! Thank you for watching and commenting on ours too!! Maybe we’ll cross paths one day 🤞 ❤️🐞👻
Fantastic video. I just recently went up there for the first time too a couple weeks ago. I camped near where you backed the Jeep on top of the ridge (@5:03). Fantastic spot. Love seeing your adventures. So many beautiful views up there. Did you see a bunch of free range cows on the 1500 on the way up? I had to slow down a few times for the moo moos to meander off the road. God that road on the ridge is so rocky, like literally a troll must live near by and throw rocks in the road and laugh at the people bouncing their way along the trail. So many adventures so little time!!
Scott Alpine - so you know exactly what I’m talking about with that rocky road 😂 I bet it is little trolls throwing rocks 🤣🤣 And we passed the big rock quarry where he was getting his ammo! 😃 I didn’t see any cows. We only saw one deer in terms of wildlife. That would have been cool to see some moo moo’s 🐄 We saw some people camping on the way up to the ridge. They were right on the road and we felt bad about throwing dust all over their campsite with our Jeeps 😬 Someone asked if I wanted to go back I said Not To That Rocky Road, but I may have to go troll-hunting 🤣 Thank you for watching and commenting!!! May see you on the trail one day!!! ❤️🐞
It’s a Bug’s Life I definitely did not regret airing down on that road. I wanted to head down the BDR further but I had my dad with me and watching an 80 year old fella get bounced around seemed like a bad idea. I shared your video to him and he was pretty thrilled seeing some of the spots we were just at. Love your vids. If you guys haven’t already you should pop in the Naches Tavern and get a burger, they are fantabulous.
@@GoatOffroad As an FYI, there is an alternate (if you hadn't made the the turn on 324/5) that is relatively smooth and ends in the same place. As I tire of the rocky & dusty part, I run up to Bethel Ridge with friends to show it to them but then backtrack to the alternate for a smoother & quicker ride back North. I ran that and then the section of the WABDR from Nile to Wenas and it was even MORE rocky.
Very nice. I'll put that on the list. I'm curious to see how my LC would handle the overheating and the rough road. It has a radiator fan the size of a Dutch windmill and a hydraulic suspension. I still haven't really pushed it yet. Thanks for taking us along. Stay safe and keep on wheeling.
Visible at 3:52 is one of the outcrops that Bug will be on at 4:57. Interesting to back onto it as only thing the mirrors show is air..... lot's of air.
Sometimes I miss my xj but then the overheating issues reminds why we parted ways 😆 but none the less it climbed like a mountain goat when everything was working right.
Y'all two are Hilarious! Absolutely loved the episode! The scenery there is amazing and Y'all take some breath taking photos! I can't wait till I can make it up there with one of my old Dodges one day and try those trails. Thank you so much for putting the trail information in the video! Can't wait for the next episode!
Duddie's Adventure - Aww Thank You!! ☺️ So glad you liked the episode and we plan on showing our trails in more detail now. We want to show people how to get to the trails and how easy/difficult they are. Besides the rocks and that long steep hill, (which isn’t a part of it) Bethel Ridge trail gets a rating of 1-🐞. 😂 1-🐞: ANY car can do Bethel Ridge.
Don’t know what that one XJ that was over heating has for a radiator but I tried a three row in my 88 XJ and it was worse than stock. I put a single row, 1 inch wide tube, radiator from NAPA in it and it seldom goes over 200 to 205. I also wired in a relay and switch to run the A/C fan as an accessory fan if needed. I never overheat.
It didn't help that I forgot to turn off the A/C at the start of the 1500 road. It does OK at highway speeds. Have since installed a high flow water pump and fan override.
Absolutely!!! Bethel Ridge doesn’t have to be an all day trip. If you go to AllTrails it will show you that’s it’s an Out&Back ORV Trail that’s 9.5 miles long! It’s beautiful! You can make it!
Dan Hambrick - it’s coming Dan! Life has been crazy but I’m taking the axle in Monday and then I’ll leave the Jeep with them when they’re ready. Hoping I can film some of it but I don’t know 🤷🏼♀️ Soon Dan Soon! 😄 We’re excited to have lockers, etc too!! 🙌
Paul - Welcome Paul! Welcome to Bug’s Life where my fiancé Joe and I explore the PNW in our 2000 XJ. It’s basically a stock Jeep with a little lift and we want to show other people that they too can enjoy the mountains in their “everyday XJ”! Or YZ or ZJ or Toyota or Ford 😂😂
@@GoatOffroad when you get to the clearing at the top of the ridge, look to your right, and you'll see this huge slanted Butte structure or plateau. It's an awesome sight.
Watch "UNEXPECTED OFF-ROAD RECOVERY" here: ua-cam.com/video/dwDZvBPHYMc/v-deo.html
Watch "WOULD YOU TRY RIDGE RAM IN THE MUD?" here: ua-cam.com/video/xfZEgdTRDwY/v-deo.html
We ran this route (and then some!) in our 2023 Subaru Ascent last weekend. Camped up on top of Bethel Ridge (at the hidden viewpoint) the first night, then found Manastash Ridge Observatory and camped there the 2nd night. Then backtracked to the end of the WA BDR that took us to Ellensburg.
I recognize the roads of your entire video! It was dry for us too and very dirty. We had zero issues though, our vehicle (and tires!) did fantastic. No slipping or overheating.
The views up there are incredible!
Beautiful Area. Looks like endless trails too. I enjoyed watching.. Thank You two....
Ross Crocco - Only reason we left the trail was because we were tired 😄 They are endless. So glad you liked the video! Thank you for watching and commenting!!! ❤️🐞
Thank you for posting all the directions and the real time map! Moving back to WA next year and I’m trying to explore as much of its beautiful wilderness as possible! :)
You’re welcome! Trailsoffroad.com is helpful too. Lots of Facebook groups have trail rides and discuss conditions of the trails.
We feel WA has some of the best wheeling in the country! Different landscapes, availability of different off-road surfaces, free ORV Parks, etc. Snow, mountains , rocks, mud, sand, etc
I have a whole channel dedicated to showing off WA’s awesome off-roading 😂
@@GoatOffroad I’ll take a look at the website and I agree! I’m definitely looking forward to the revisiting all the beauty of WA!
This is one of my favorite trails/areas to be. I love it there! Thanks for posting.
Really liked this. Beautiful scenery. Thanks for posting.
Shanning Porter - You’re so welcome! And you’re always so nice so Thank You for being such a great supporter of Joe and I! Always look forward to hearing from you!! ❤️🐞
Very nice trail, stunning mountain scenery, I liked a lot.
SportTruck - So glad you liked it! Thank you for watching and commenting! ❤️🐞
I've run this annual for a couple years and I'd say you did a pretty good job catching the experience on camera. It is indeed very rough and dusty. So much so, once a year is about all I like to do. Nile to Wenas and the plateaus above Liberty can be just as rocky, it's our volcanic origins.
RainGoat Pathfinder - Thank You for watching and commenting! I agree, once a year will be good enough for me too! 😄
Yea yall are very fortunate to have such beauty available to explore. Thanks for sharing
Major Weakness - we try to enjoy and explore as much as possible ☺️
Absolutely breathing video again! I love your adventures. I get to see things I'd never see at home. Thanks for the shout out..love you guys ❤️🍦🙏
Project Dan H - nothing but love for ya!!! 🥰🍦❤️🐞👻 and more to come!! 🤣
You stopped short? THAT'S MY MOVE!
Mark Pfeifer - 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Yes I would like it out there, reminds me of home, so much amazing camping out your way
Bullshitkorner - We love watching your vids and of course TomCat! Thank you for watching and commenting on ours too!! Maybe we’ll cross paths one day 🤞
❤️🐞👻
Fantastic video. I just recently went up there for the first time too a couple weeks ago. I camped near where you backed the Jeep on top of the ridge (@5:03). Fantastic spot. Love seeing your adventures. So many beautiful views up there. Did you see a bunch of free range cows on the 1500 on the way up? I had to slow down a few times for the moo moos to meander off the road. God that road on the ridge is so rocky, like literally a troll must live near by and throw rocks in the road and laugh at the people bouncing their way along the trail. So many adventures so little time!!
Scott Alpine - so you know exactly what I’m talking about with that rocky road 😂 I bet it is little trolls throwing rocks 🤣🤣 And we passed the big rock quarry where he was getting his ammo! 😃
I didn’t see any cows. We only saw one deer in terms of wildlife. That would have been cool to see some moo moo’s 🐄
We saw some people camping on the way up to the ridge. They were right on the road and we felt bad about throwing dust all over their campsite with our Jeeps 😬
Someone asked if I wanted to go back I said Not To That Rocky Road, but I may have to go troll-hunting 🤣
Thank you for watching and commenting!!! May see you on the trail one day!!! ❤️🐞
It’s a Bug’s Life I definitely did not regret airing down on that road. I wanted to head down the BDR further but I had my dad with me and watching an 80 year old fella get bounced around seemed like a bad idea. I shared your video to him and he was pretty thrilled seeing some of the spots we were just at. Love your vids. If you guys haven’t already you should pop in the Naches Tavern and get a burger, they are fantabulous.
@@GoatOffroad As an FYI, there is an alternate (if you hadn't made the the turn on 324/5) that is relatively smooth and ends in the same place. As I tire of the rocky & dusty part, I run up to Bethel Ridge with friends to show it to them but then backtrack to the alternate for a smoother & quicker ride back North. I ran that and then the section of the WABDR from Nile to Wenas and it was even MORE rocky.
Very nice. I'll put that on the list. I'm curious to see how my LC would handle the overheating and the rough road. It has a radiator fan the size of a Dutch windmill and a hydraulic suspension. I still haven't really pushed it yet. Thanks for taking us along. Stay safe and keep on wheeling.
Dutch windmill should keep ya safe! 😂 Thank you for watching and commenting! I'm glad you liked the video! ❤
You should be fine. I've run this several times on hot & dusty days in a largely stock 2002 Nissan Pathfinder.
Visible at 3:52 is one of the outcrops that Bug will be on at 4:57. Interesting to back onto it as only thing the mirrors show is air..... lot's of air.
wilsonwmaddox - that’s a great catch Wilson!! Was a great trail you took us to. 🥰
Can’t wait to get that electric fan override working 🥵
Lots of fun guys!
wyattoneable - was an amazing time! ❤️🐞
Nice XJ. Looks like fun there. Jeeps sounds awesome...
Glad you liked the video!!! Thank you for watching and commenting!
I'm excited to hopefully run into you guys some day great vidio
That would be fun!! I’d like to put together a fan ride this Spring before the build begins
Sometimes I miss my xj but then the overheating issues reminds why we parted ways 😆 but none the less it climbed like a mountain goat when everything was working right.
Work on a Jeep is never done 🤣 Fan override, lockers, brake swap, and on and on. But it’s our hobby and we love it! ❤️🐞
Awesome video of Bethel Ridge Trail I like the great Views of Rimrock Lake from the top 👍
Thank you very much!
Y'all two are Hilarious! Absolutely loved the episode! The scenery there is amazing and Y'all take some breath taking photos! I can't wait till I can make it up there with one of my old Dodges one day and try those trails. Thank you so much for putting the trail information in the video! Can't wait for the next episode!
Duddie's Adventure - Aww Thank You!! ☺️ So glad you liked the episode and we plan on showing our trails in more detail now. We want to show people how to get to the trails and how easy/difficult they are.
Besides the rocks and that long steep hill, (which isn’t a part of it)
Bethel Ridge trail gets a rating of 1-🐞. 😂
1-🐞: ANY car can do Bethel Ridge.
@@GoatOffroad Love it! 1- Bug Rating! Awesome! I can't wait to see more episodes!
Awesome! You guys always find pretty spots!
CJtheRocker - Thank You!! ❤️🐞
Don’t know what that one XJ that was over heating has for a radiator but I tried a three row in my 88 XJ and it was worse than stock. I put a single row, 1 inch wide tube, radiator from NAPA in it and it seldom goes over 200 to 205. I also wired in a relay and switch to run the A/C fan as an accessory fan if needed. I never overheat.
Wes Hawkins - that’s exactly what we’re going to do for ours! Electric fan override switch for all of our XJ’s 😁
It didn't help that I forgot to turn off the A/C at the start of the 1500 road. It does OK at highway speeds. Have since installed a high flow water pump and fan override.
Hey I would love to do this trail too! Just got my first jeep XJ and almost have it ready to explore!
man, there was a lot of swearing going on in that tunnel. Good thing you "beeped" it out. :)
Kallam Kruse - 🤣🤣🤣 Maybe should save that audio for our swearing in later videos 🤔🤔
That’s not a bad idea. Thanks!! 🤣
Sooo... it would seem that the designated navigator for this trip may have failed to mention the track at 9:20 is a 23% grade. My bad.
wilsonwmaddox - that hill was crazy 😂
Looks like fun on the trail!
Ozzstar's Cars - Thank you! We had a blast! Very cool channel; you got a new subscriber!! ❤️🐞
@@GoatOffroad thanks 👍
Great video guys, incurable scenery!👍
Glad you enjoyed it We're extremely fortunate to live here!
Cool video. Do you think we could make this in a stock grand cherokee?
Absolutely!!! Bethel Ridge doesn’t have to be an all day trip. If you go to AllTrails it will show you that’s it’s an Out&Back ORV Trail that’s 9.5 miles long!
It’s beautiful! You can make it!
I’ve got to try that next august
Definitely! Trailsoffroad. com has great details and directions if you need them 👍
Going to have to head up sometime
It's beautiful!
Wow!That was beautiful country.Are you guys still doing an axle swap?
Dan Hambrick - it’s coming Dan! Life has been crazy but I’m taking the axle in Monday and then I’ll leave the Jeep with them when they’re ready. Hoping I can film some of it but I don’t know 🤷🏼♀️
Soon Dan Soon! 😄 We’re excited to have lockers, etc too!! 🙌
Hi Bug my name is Paul I'm new here I like your jeep very nice I like your videos thank you for doing them I subscribed
Paul - Welcome Paul! Welcome to Bug’s Life where my fiancé Joe and I explore the PNW in our 2000 XJ. It’s basically a stock Jeep with a little lift and we want to show other people that they too can enjoy the mountains in their “everyday XJ”!
Or YZ or ZJ or Toyota or Ford 😂😂
Awesome video. Thanks for sharing it
Our hunt camp is on top of Bethel ridge
Bet it's beautiful!
beating the snot out of that jeep on those rocks at high speed lol....
We weren’t going fast; It was rough going slow 🙁
Thought about you @ProjectDanH and @Bullshitkorner while out on the trail!!! ❤️🐞
3:38 🤪
Hole - ya ain’t right 🤣
those trees would be a bit of work for the average saws people carry with them on the trail
Bullshitkorner - absolutely. Trails were already made for us to go around.
@@BackCountryWrenching love your Jeep vids bro. Long time fan. 🍻
Is camping aloud on bethel ridge?
I’m sure there is. There are apps that will help you find campgrounds around there 😊
Think I could make it through there in an F250?
Absolutely!!! Check trailsoffroad. Com for details for the trail 👍
Did you see devils table while you were up there?
Not sure 🤔
@@GoatOffroad when you get to the clearing at the top of the ridge, look to your right, and you'll see this huge slanted Butte structure or plateau. It's an awesome sight.
Great video thank you!
I'm new here what lift and tire size do you have on your XJ
chopperchuck - Welcome! 🥰 We bought it with a 3.5” lift and we bought 32” milestars.
Phenomenal trip!
Torsee - Thank You!!! 😊