Not your standard state park, Columbia Plateau Trail State Park is a 4,109-acre, 130-mile-long rail-bed trail that traces the 1908 original path of the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railroad. The trail begins in Cheney and heads towards the Tri-Cities area offering explorers a wide variety of activities. In the summer, it’s popular for hiking, biking, horseback riding and even in-line skating. Once the snow covers the trail in the winter, it’s the perfect destination for those looking for an easy snowshoe or cross-country ski route.
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
Trumpeter Swans at Turnball National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife viewing is a very popular attraction along the Columbia Plateau Trail as almost five miles of the trail pass through the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge. The protected area includes more than 18,000 acres inhabited by deer, elk moose, the famed trumpeter swans and more than 200 bird species. If you’re planning a trip, the best times for wildlife viewing are early morning and evening. To catch the most wildlife, visit during a migration period. Spring migration occurs from mid-March through mid-May, while fall migration is from September through November. If you want to plan a trip to just see the wildlife refuge, you’ll find directions and more information on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife website. The attraction is only a 40 minute drive from Spokane.
David Blaine captured a bike ride along the Columbia Plateau Trail
Hiking
Don’t even know where to begin? Washington Trails Association outlined a six-mile hike along the Snake River portion of the Columbia Plateau Trail. The hike is excellent in the spring when wildflowers are blooming and provides a great opportunity to explore the desert lands of Eastern Washington.
In the early 1900s, the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway Company constructed a rail bed in the area. The company, which never actually connected the line from Portland to Seattle, operated the railway for more than 50 years. It was said that the owner, James Hill, promoted the railway as a Seattle connection only to mislead competing railroad developers. State Parks eventually acquired the land in 1991. While exploring the trail, be on the look out for remains of reservoirs and homes of former railroad employees.
Park Hours:
The park is open year round from 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Discover Pass:
Vehicles must display the annual Discover Pass or daily permit when visiting this park.
Location:
Park address:
100 SW Main Street
Washtucna, WA 99371
Columbia Plateau Trail North address:
Riverside State Park
9711 W. Charles Rd
Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026
(509) 465-5064
Columbia Plateau Trail may be accessed by several trailheads by following the signs after exiting I-90.
Westbound I-90: Take exit 270 (Four Lakes/Cheney) to access Fish Lake Trailhead (8.4 miles from I-90), Cheney Trailhead (7.5 miles from I-90), Amber Lake Trailhead (19.2 miles from I-90) and Martin Road Trailhead (29.5 miles from I-90).
Eastbound I-90: Take exit 245 (Sprague/Harrington) to access Martin Road Trailhead (8 miles from I-90) and Amber Lake Trailhead (21.1 miles from I-90). Take exit 257 (Cheney/Tyler) to access Cheney Trailhead (11.9 miles from I-90) and Fish Lake Trailhead (15 miles from I-90).
Visit the Columbia Plateau Trail page on our website for a full list of entry points.
Maps:
To print trail maps for the Columbia Plateau Trail before you go, download them here from our website.
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Photos courtesy of David Blaine (Snapshot image), USFWS (Trumpeter Swan)
