Columbia Plateau State Park Trail

The Columbia Plateau State Park Trail is a converted rail line running roughly 130 miles through Eastern Washington, stretching from Fish Lake near Cheney toward the Snake River region south of Pasco. The route has an asphalt surface in the northern section and transitions to compacted gravel further along, with rest stops placed throughout.

The route traces the original 1908 railway line of the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railroad, which ran steam and diesel locomotives for more than fifty years. After the railroad ceased operations, the former line was eventually transformed into a recreational trail.

The trail passes through Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, where visitors can observe 200 bird species, deer, elk, moose, and various small mammals.

The northern section offers a paved surface that is easy to navigate for various users, while the southern portion becomes gravel and can be more challenging in wet conditions. Visitors should choose appropriate footwear and use the rest areas to break their journey into manageable segments.

The route preserves 18 railroad trestles and 5 tunnels, with one of these tunnels stretching nearly 0.8 miles. These remnants of the railway infrastructure give hikers a direct encounter with early 20th century engineering.