Beginning at Cheney, Washington, the trail runs to the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers at Pasco, passing through five counties in the southeastern part of the state. The trail is mostly gravel, except for a 3.75 mile portion between the Cheney and Fish Lake trailheads. Recreational uses include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, in-line skating on paved portions, and wildlife viewing. The close proximity of the railroad to the paved portion makes this section of the trail a popular spot for railfanning.[1][2]
Access pointsedit
The trail follows the Palouse River for a portion of its course.
Proceeding from the northeast toward the southwest, major access points include:
The rail bed was constructed by the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway Company in the early 1900s. That line's successor, the Burlington Northern Company, abandoned the line in 1987, paving the way for the state to acquire 130 miles of right-of-way, from milepost 235.0 near East Pasco to milepost 365.0 near South Cheney, in 1991. State Park management began in 1992.[2] Standing remnants of the trail's railroad past include the historic Burr Canyon Trestle built in 1908.[1]
Natural featuresedit
Scablands in the vicinity of Cow CreekThe trail runs along the lower Snake River—10 miles (16 km) above its confluence with the Columbia River. The trail lies over 100 feet (30 m) above the river at this location; the railroad trestle to the upper right is part of the trail.
Wildlifeedit
The northern portion of the trail passes through a habitat of primarily ponderosa pine/grassland mixed with exposed basalt cliffs and areas of meadow and shrub-steppe. It bisects the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, an area of northeastern Washington on the eastern edge of the Columbia River Basin which encompasses approximately 16,000 acres (6,500 ha) of the channeled scablands.[3] The numerous erosion-created potholes have formed over 130 marshes, wetlands and lakes which attract a wide range of waterfowl; more than 200 different kinds of birds have been recorded in this area. Other wildlife inhabiting the reserve include elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, coyotes, badgers, porcupines, muskrats, and beavers.[4]
Geologyedit
The Columbia Plateau Trail, seen to the right, drops down 400 feet (120 m) in altitude as it descends through Devil's Canyon to the Snake River.[5]
As it crosses the Columbia River Plateau, the trail passes through the unique geological erosion features of the channeled scablands created by the cataclysmic Missoula Floods that swept periodically across this portion of eastern Washington as well as other parts of the Columbia River Plateau during the Pleistocene epoch. The trail follows one of the many paths taken by the Missoula Floods as they cut through the Columbia River Basalt. Notable geologic features which the trail passes include the Cow Creek scabland, the point at which the Palouse River departs its former course (captured by ice-age flood erosion), Washtucna Coulee (the abandoned course of the Palouse River scoured wide by the floods), Devil's Canyon (a dry, straight, 4-mile-long (6.4 km) former flood channel which descends to the Snake River),[5]giant current-created ripples formed by the flood currents in the low lands along the Snake River, and the Walker Bar, created by the outflow of the floods.[6]
Referencesedit
^ ab"Columbia Plateau Trail State Park". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
^ ab"Columbia Plateau Trail Management Plan". Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. June 5, 2006. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
^. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Archived from the original on February 6, 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
^"Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
^ abHennings, Cassandra. "The Devil's Canyon". Ice Age Floods Explorer. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
^Bjornstad, Bruce (2006). On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods: A Geological Guide to the Mid-Columbia Basin. Sand Point, Idaho: Keokee Books. ISBN978-1-879628-27-4.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Columbia Plateau Trail.
Columbia Plateau Trail State Park Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Columbia Plateau Trail State Park North Map Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Columbia Plateau Trail State Park South Map Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
April 08, 2024
columbia, plateau, trail, columbia, plateau, state, park, trail, mile, long, foot, wide, corridor, eastern, washington, state, maintained, part, washington, state, park, system, rail, trail, runs, along, abandoned, right, former, spokane, portland, seattle, ra. The Columbia Plateau State Park Trail is a 130 mile long 210 km 20 foot wide 6 1 m corridor in eastern Washington state maintained as part of the Washington State Park system The rail trail runs along the abandoned right of way of the former Spokane Portland and Seattle Railway Columbia Plateau State Park TrailThe trail between the Martin Road and Amber Lake trailheadsLength130 miles 210 km LocationEastern WashingtonEstablished1991DesignationWashington state parkTrailheadsFish Lake 47 31 19 N 117 30 57 W 47 52193 N 117 51593 W 47 52193 117 51593 Ice Harbor Dam 46 15 12 N 118 52 40 W 46 25323 N 118 87765 W 46 25323 118 87765 UseHiking biking horseback riding in line skatingSightsTurnbull National Wildlife Refuge Snake River railroad tunnels and trestlesSurfaceVarious asphalt crushed rockMaintained byWashington State Parks and Recreation CommissionWebsiteColumbia Plateau Trail State ParkIce Harbor DamFish Lakeclass notpageimage Location of trailheads in Washington Contents 1 Route 1 1 Access points 2 History 3 Natural features 3 1 Wildlife 3 2 Geology 4 References 5 External linksRoute editBeginning at Cheney Washington the trail runs to the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers at Pasco passing through five counties in the southeastern part of the state The trail is mostly gravel except for a 3 75 mile portion between the Cheney and Fish Lake trailheads Recreational uses include hiking mountain biking horseback riding in line skating on paved portions and wildlife viewing The close proximity of the railroad to the paved portion makes this section of the trail a popular spot for railfanning 1 2 Access points edit nbsp The trail follows the Palouse River for a portion of its course Proceeding from the northeast toward the southwest major access points include Fishlake trailhead Milepost 365 Cheney Trailhead Milepost 361 25 Amber Lake Trailhead Milestone 349 25 Martin Road Trailhead Milestone 342 Lamont Trailhead John Wayne Pioneer Trail intersection no trailhead Benge Trailhead Washtucna Trailhead Trail Administrative Area in downtown Washtucna Kahlotus Trailhead amp Visitor Center 46 38 41 77 N 118 33 17 67 W 46 6449361 N 118 5549083 W 46 6449361 118 5549083 Snake River Junction Trailhead Ice Harbor Dam Trailhead 46 14 58 N 118 52 46 W 46 24944 N 118 87944 W 46 24944 118 87944 Sacajawea State Park PascoHistory editThe rail bed was constructed by the Spokane Portland and Seattle Railway Company in the early 1900s That line s successor the Burlington Northern Company abandoned the line in 1987 paving the way for the state to acquire 130 miles of right of way from milepost 235 0 near East Pasco to milepost 365 0 near South Cheney in 1991 State Park management began in 1992 2 Standing remnants of the trail s railroad past include the historic Burr Canyon Trestle built in 1908 1 Natural features edit nbsp Scablands in the vicinity of Cow Creek nbsp The trail runs along the lower Snake River 10 miles 16 km above its confluence with the Columbia River The trail lies over 100 feet 30 m above the river at this location the railroad trestle to the upper right is part of the trail Wildlife edit The northern portion of the trail passes through a habitat of primarily ponderosa pine grassland mixed with exposed basalt cliffs and areas of meadow and shrub steppe It bisects the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge an area of northeastern Washington on the eastern edge of the Columbia River Basin which encompasses approximately 16 000 acres 6 500 ha of the channeled scablands 3 The numerous erosion created potholes have formed over 130 marshes wetlands and lakes which attract a wide range of waterfowl more than 200 different kinds of birds have been recorded in this area Other wildlife inhabiting the reserve include elk mule deer white tailed deer coyotes badgers porcupines muskrats and beavers 4 Geology edit nbsp The Columbia Plateau Trail seen to the right drops down 400 feet 120 m in altitude as it descends through Devil s Canyon to the Snake River 5 As it crosses the Columbia River Plateau the trail passes through the unique geological erosion features of the channeled scablands created by the cataclysmic Missoula Floods that swept periodically across this portion of eastern Washington as well as other parts of the Columbia River Plateau during the Pleistocene epoch The trail follows one of the many paths taken by the Missoula Floods as they cut through the Columbia River Basalt Notable geologic features which the trail passes include the Cow Creek scabland the point at which the Palouse River departs its former course captured by ice age flood erosion Washtucna Coulee the abandoned course of the Palouse River scoured wide by the floods Devil s Canyon a dry straight 4 mile long 6 4 km former flood channel which descends to the Snake River 5 giant current created ripples formed by the flood currents in the low lands along the Snake River and the Walker Bar created by the outflow of the floods 6 References edit a b Columbia Plateau Trail State Park Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Retrieved January 20 2016 a b Columbia Plateau Trail Management Plan Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission June 5 2006 Retrieved January 20 2016 Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge Profile U S Fish and Wildlife Service Archived from the original on February 6 2007 Retrieved February 10 2015 Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge U S Fish and Wildlife Service Retrieved February 10 2015 a b Hennings Cassandra The Devil s Canyon Ice Age Floods Explorer Retrieved September 20 2018 Bjornstad Bruce 2006 On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods A Geological Guide to the Mid Columbia Basin Sand Point Idaho Keokee Books ISBN 978 1 879628 27 4 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Columbia Plateau Trail Columbia Plateau Trail State Park Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Columbia Plateau Trail State Park North Map Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Columbia Plateau Trail State Park South Map Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Columbia Plateau Trail amp oldid 1183373451, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
