A bit of a landmark moment for Carbon Offroad attending this week-long Trail Jamboree.... The 2025 Trail Jamboree was the first event that we attended on US soil.
The PNW4WDA — or Pacific Northwest 4 Wheel Drive Association, if you have the time to read it all — holds an annual Trail Jamboree. Initially catering purely to Jeeps, this event now caters to a whole range of off-road vehicles — even our Bush Bronco from Jim Vreeland Ford.
Camping is at the Jim Sprick Community Park in Naches, WA, and even the drive there is scenic enough to take your breath away. It is a huge camping area centred around a great permanent stage, tower, and buildings (showers and restrooms, YES!) along with communal outdoor seating and dining. Arriving to find the camp area already filling out nicely with all manner of setups, there were plenty of cool rigs to check out even before hitting the trails. Backing onto the Naches River, the surrounding forest and mountains are the stuff of postcards.
The team organising the Jamboree had everything running smoothly; all the information was there, as were the warm welcomes to this weary traveller from Down Under. Along with the trail rides, the PNW4WDA also provides dinner on some nights as part of the package, and OH MY GOODNESS was each one more mouthwatering than the last! It was a great chance to mingle with other attendees and hear stories of incredible trail runs and maybe the odd misadventure.
Vendor Day is another unique feature that really is a fantastic idea. Sponsors and vendors have the chance to show off their wares, chat with people about their rigs and what they enjoy doing, and make new friends. Attendees get to take their time looking over a huge range of off-road products while sharing a tasty lunch or a cheeky donut.
With more trails over the next couple of days and travelling with various groups, it becomes very clear that the off-road community is exactly that — a community. People from all walks of life (and countries, haha) are able to simply enjoy their shared passion and bond over the sights, challenges, and experiences along the way. A lot of people ask why they should join a club in the age of social media groups. My answer is always simple: not only does it make it easier to structure the group and its events through committees and responsible members, but clubs also provide a vital tool in the fight to maintain access to public areas. The chance to explore such stunning parts of the country should not be taken for granted, and by joining a club, you are contributing in one of the best ways possible to the fight to retain that access.
A special thank you to the Rainier Ridge Rams for a delicious, belly-stretching potluck dinner, and to Angie and the team for putting the Trail Jamboree together. You all made this traveller feel very welcome, and I know that meeting so many people will lead to long-lasting friendships and a continued love for what we do....
James
