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Blue Mountains are attractive to people year-round, and no less
an attraction than in the wintertime, when snowmobiling
enthusiasts and cross country skiers head for the hills.
The main
access from Pomeroy into the Blue Mountains is State Route 128.
Route 128 starts at the intersection of Main and 15th streets in
Pomeroy and goes south for 16.5 miles to the forest boundary,
where it becomes Forest Road 40.
There is
a parking area at the boundary of the Umatilla National Forest
with 25 spaces and it is wide and convenient. Rose Spring
Sno-Park, a short distance further south offers another 30
parking spaces.
The
groomed snowmobile trail from Rose Spring to the Misery
Junction,
which is at an elevation of 6,200 feet, runs south for 16 miles
and offers views of the Pataha and Tucannon drainages.
The mountains
have special marked trails for snowmobiling, and back roads
offer a challenge as well. Signs with a snowmobile or
other insignia are generally located at the trailhead and show
the type of use for which the trail was designed. Orange
trailblazers mark the trail, especially where it is hard to
follow, and orange directional markers are used at junctions and
at major changes of direction.
Among the trail roads in the mountains, their location and miles
marked, are the Mountain Road, 16 miles south of Pomeroy, which
has 8.2 miles of trail. Old Wagon Road, if it has been
been plowed, is the alternate route.
Iron Springs Road, 17 miles south of town, runs 8.3 marked miles
and has telephone lines running parallel to the road. The
trail has changing views of the Pataha drainage.
The Clearwater to Mt. Misery marked trail begins 24.2 miles
south of Pomeroy and runs for 8.2 marked miles, with steep large
drifts from Cougar Spring to Sunset Point. Use caution on
this trail that offers spectacular views of Upper Tucannon
River.
The Cloverland Road to Mt. Misery trail begins 34.4 miles south
of Pomeroy, runs 6.9 marked miles, with some drifts and side
slopes between Wenatchee and Misery.
Enclosed
emergency shelters are located at Mt. Misery and Teal campground
to aid snowmobilers. In the event someone is ever lost or
injured, the Garfield County Sheriff's Posse can be relied on
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