HISTORY of the TRAIL Columbia Plateau
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landscape under a sea of lava. lava. of sea a under landscape ago buried the eastern Washington Washington eastern the buried ago by the cataclysmic Ice Age floods. Age Ice cataclysmic the by basaltic lava about 15 million years years million 15 about lava basaltic world’s largest volcanic fields eroded eroded fields volcanic largest world’s story to tell. Huge outpourings of of outpourings Huge tell. to story will see stark reminders of one of the the of one of reminders stark see will The trail area has an amazing geologic geologic amazing an has area trail The scabland. Trail visitors visitors Trail scabland. channeled the snowshoeing. unique landscape known as as known landscape unique the into bird watching, cross-country skiing and and skiing cross-country watching, bird of flood events eroded the lava surface surface lava the eroded events flood of riding, in-line skating, nature viewing, viewing, nature skating, in-line riding, burst. Dozens and perhaps hundreds hundreds perhaps and Dozens burst. include hiking, bicycling, horseback horseback bicycling, hiking, include when an ice dam in northern Idaho Idaho northern in dam ice an when and open for public use. Activities Activities use. public for open and of today’s Great Lakes was unleashed unleashed was Lakes Great today’s of miles in Franklin County are deveoped deveoped are County Franklin in miles A volume of water comparable to some some to comparable water of volume A Lincoln County and Cheney and 15 15 and Cheney and County Lincoln of basalt buttes, basins and canyons. canyons. and basins buttes, basalt of Currently, 23 miles of the trail between between trail the of miles 23 Currently, Washington, carving out a landscape landscape a out carving Washington, right-of-way in eastern Washington. Washington. eastern in right-of-way to ever occur raced across eastern eastern across raced occur ever to park located on an abandoned railroad railroad abandoned an on located park the largest documented floods of water water of floods documented largest the mile corridor and 3,876-acre day-use day-use 3,876-acre and corridor mile recently as 13,000 years ago), some of of some ago), years 13,000 as recently is a 130- a is The Columbia Plateau Trail Plateau Columbia The Much later, during the Ice Age (and as as (and Age Ice the during later, Much HISTORY OF THE TRAIL TRAIL THE THE OF OF HISTORY HISTORY Columbia Plateau State Park Trail South (main) Office Washington State Parks Go Prepared 100 S.W. Main St. P.O. Box 541 Planning is key to an enjoyable Washtucna, WA 99371 day trip along the Columbia (509) 646-9218 Columbia Plateau Trail. Part of the appeal Riverside State Park of this unique trail is that it offers a (north portion only) break from the hustle and bustle of 9711 W. Charles Road Plateau Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026 every day life and an opportunity to (509) 465-5064 State Park Trail enjoy the wide open spaces of eastern State Parks information: Washington. (360) 902-8844 Crossroads are rare. Public facilities are Reservations: Online at www.parks.state.wa.us scarce and summer temperatures often or call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688 exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The trail Other state parks located in the general area: Palouse Falls State Park also features 18 railroad trestles, all of which offer interesting viewing but lack decking Connect with us on social media and guard rails (most are closed to use). www.twitter.com/WAStatePks Trail users should carry the 10 essentials: www.facebook.com/WashingtonStateParks extra food and water, maps, a compass, www.youtube.com/WashingtonStateParks flashlight, sunglasses, first-aid kit, pocket www.instagram.com/WAStatePks knife, waterproof matches and a fire starter. Share your stories and photos: Adventure Awaits.com Travelers may need other supplies as well, depending on the length of their trek. 123456 123456 S If you would like to support Washington State S Parks even more, please consider making a 2022donation when renewing your license plate tabs. 2021 You also may place a check in a donation box 123456 COLVILLE when you visit stateS parks. SDonations123456 are a significant part of the State Parks budget and Crystal Falls are needed to keep2024 your parks open and operating. For2023 more information, visit www.parks.state.wa.us/donations 20 Washington State B Parks and Recreation Commission 395 P.O. Box 42650 Olympia, WA 98504-2650 Columbia River (360) 902-8500 2 www.parks.state.wa.us • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Mount Spokane State Park Commission members: Ken Bounds Mark O. Brown Spokane River 206 Sophia Danenberg Michael Latimer Spokane House Steve S. Milner Diana Perez Riverside/Little Spokane River Centennial Trail Lucinda S. Whaley Agency director: Don Hoch Spokane Plains Battleeld SPOKANE C All Washington state parks are developed and Columbia Plateau Trailhead Idaho maintained for the enjoyment of all people. Columbia Plateau To request this brochure in an alternative format, please call State Park Trail (360) 902-8844 or the Washington Telecommunications Relay Service at (800) 833-6388. P&R 45-52002-01 (02/21) 28 www.parks.state.wa.us 90 1 95 Steptoe Battleeld Steptoe Butte State Park D COLFAX WASHTUCNA 26 1 27 1 95 Palouse Falls State Park 63 261 1 2 CLARKSTON 1 2 E Lewis and Clark Trail Camp William T. Wooten 29 MOUNTAINS TRAILS AND FACILITIES The 3.75-mile trail section from Fish Lake Trailhead Fish Lake Trailhead, milepost 365 Cheney Trailhead, to Cheney Trailhead has an asphalt trail surface Getting there milepost 361.25 and is great for hiking, bicycling and inline skating. Westbound I-90 traffic: Take exit 270 (Four Lakes/ Getting there The remaining 19.25-mile trail section from Cheney Cheney), travel 5.4 miles and turn left on Cheney Westbound I-90 traffic: Spokane Road. Go three miles and take a right Take exit 270 (Four Lakes/ Trailhead to Martin Road Trailhead has a crushed- onto Fish Lake Trailhead. Cheney), travel 6.5 rock trail surface and is useable by horseback Eastbound I-90 traffic: Take exit 257 (Cheney/ miles and turn left riders, mountain bikers and hikers. Both trails are Tyler), turn right and travel 12 miles. Turn right on on Cheney Spangle ADA accessible. Directional signs to trailheads Cheney Spokane Road. Go three miles and turn Road. Go one mile are provided on I-90, state routes and county right onto Fish Lake Trailhead. and turn left onto Cheney Trailhead. roads. The mileposts represent the distance from Parking, a picnic shelter, tables, restrooms and an Eastbound I-90 Portland. Trailhead locations are as follows: informational kiosk; drinking fountain is at milepost 361.5. traffic: Take exit 257(Cheney/Tyler), turn right and travel Distance in miles between trailheads Future trail to Spokane by City of Spokane 10.9 miles. Turn right on LINCOLN Fish Lake Cheney Spangle Road. Amber Martin Snake River Ice Cheney 1 ACCESS POINTS Fish Lake Cheney COUNTY Trailhead Go one mile and turn left onto Lake Road Junction Harbor Turnbull National Fish Lake 1. Fish Lake 108.8 123.1 Wildlife Refuge Cheney Cheney Trailhead. Martin Road 2 2. Cheney 3.75 11.75 19.25 105.05 119.35 Trailhead 90 Trailhead Parking (including equestrian units), restroom, picnic 3. Amber Lake 15.5 11.75 7. 5 93.05 107.35 4 SPOKANE shelters, tables and an informational kiosk. COUNTY 4. Martin Road 23.0 19.25 7. 5 85.8 100.1 Amber Lake 5. Snake River Junction 108.8 105.05 93.05 85.8 14.3 Sprague 3 Amber Lake Trailhead 6. Ice Harbor 123.1 119.35 107.35 100.1 14.3 Amber Lake Trailhead, Lamont Trailhead milepost 349.25 Getting there Ritzville 23 Westbound I-90 traffic: Take exit 270 (Four Lakes/ ADAMS Cross State Trail COUNTY Cheney), travel 8.3 miles and turn left on Mullinix Milwaukee RR Overpass Road. Go 9.5 miles and turn right on Pine Springs Columbia Plateau WHITMAN COUNTY Road. Travel 1.4 miles and take left onto Amber Lake State Park Trail Benge Twelvemile Lake Trailhead Benge Trailhead. Eastbound I-90 traffic: Take exit 245 (Sprague/ Cow Creek Trestle Harrington), turn right and travel .6 mile. Turn right Tunnel on Fourth Street and go one block. Turn right onto 218 B street and travel three blocks. Turn right onto First Washtucna 26 Washtucna Trailhead Street (turns into Sprague Highway) and travel 2.6 Trail Admin. Area Hooper Siding Visitor Center Washtucna Trestle miles. Turn right onto Williams Lake Road (Williams Kahlotus Trailhead Park office Tunnel 17 Lake Road turns into Martin road and then turns Kahlotus 261 into Mullinix Road). Go straight and follow signs. Travel 16.5 miles and turn left onto Pine Springs Box Canyon Trestle Wilson Canyon Trestle Road. Travel 1.4 miles and turn left onto Amber Lake Farrington Trailhead Lower Monumental Dam Trailhead. Windust Park Tunnel 15 Bouvey Canyon Trestle Tunnel 14 Burr Canyon Trestle Parking (including equestrian units), equestrian FRANKLIN highline, restrooms and an informational kiosk. COUNTY Snake River Junction Trailhead Proposed future development 5 (facilities available) Snake River Martin Road Trailhead, Levy Landing Park Shaded area undeveloped. 6 Ice Harbor Dam Trailhead (facilities available) No facilities currently available, milepost 342 Ice Harbor Dam unless noted. Getting there Pasco Trail Connection to Sacajawea State park Westbound I-90 traffic: Take exit 270 (Four Lakes/Cheney), travel 8.3 miles and turn left on Mullinix Road (Mullinix road turns into Martin Road). Go 21.2 miles and turn right onto Martin FOLLOWING THE OLD RAILWAY Road Trailhead.