While well-developed with campsites, trailheads, water stops, and other amenities on the western side of Washington, the Palouse to Cascades Trail becomes more remote and difficult the farther east one travels from the Cascades.

The Palouse to Cascades Trail Coalition has been working with Washington State Parks to make upgrades to the trail, including repairing or rebuilding old trestles; installing tent pads; and placing portable toilets, water sources, and Wi-Fi hotspots.

The Coalition is also partnering with businesses along the trail to carry supplies for long-distance cyclists, hikers, or horseback riders who might need aid on their eastern Washington journey.

While work on the Beverly Bridge near Vantage was put on hold following the death of one of the workers in early August, a soft opening of the bridge is anticipated for November 2021.

The Coalition has been successful in creating camping in Ralston, working with State Parks and the Friends of the Tekoa Trestle on re-decking the Tekoa Trestle, and continuing to partner with small towns and businesses along the trail for more amenities in the future. 

Learn more at Palousetocascadestrailcoalition.org.

Find more stories about the Palouse to Cascades Trail in the OTO archives.

The post Palouse to Cascades Trail Upgrades appeared first on Out There Venture.

The historic Beverly Bridge will open to the public as early as October 2021. This connecting bridge over the Columbia River opens up a longtime dream trail — the Palouse to Cascades — across Washington State.

The Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail is a linear park comprised of most of the former 287-mile Milwaukee Road Railroad corridor.

Back in 2014, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission completed planning for the 34-mile section of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail (known until 2018 as the Iron Horse State Park Trail) between Malden and the Idaho border. Later on, in 2016, State Parks completed a planning process for the remaining sections.

The Beverly Bridge spanning the Columbia River, links the western half of the Palouse to Cascades Trail to the eastern half. Completed in 1909 and 1/2-mile-long, the original trestle was registered on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

However, due to safety concerns, the trestle was gated and closed, bisecting the PTCT into two sections. Trail users were forced to arrange a shuttle or risk a dangerous crossing at the nearest bridge, the I-90 bridge at Vantage.

In many ways, this a huge victory for Washington and trail enthusiasts. After the initial railroad went bankrupt in the mid-1970s and abandoned its lines in the Pacific Northwest in 1980, the bridge and adjoining right-of-way were taken over by the State of Washington in lieu of back taxes owed by the railroad. Soon after, the bridge was listed in the National Historic Registrar of Historic Places.

Now, forty years later, it’s the link that binds the State together, and opens a new era of cross-state trail fanatics.

Originally published as “Historic Bridge Opening To Improve Cross-State Trail” in the July-August 2021 issue.

For stories about other biking and hiking trails in the Pacific and Inland Northwest, visit the OTO archives.

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Do you have a moment to contact your Federal Rep? Here’s a good reason to do it:

“This is not a time to build [bike paths]. If we are going to invest in infrastructure, invest in infrastructure that actually makes the economy more efficient, such as roads that are needed.”
-Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009

Dear Friend,

Comments like those above are misguided. Please act now for active transportation funding.

Along with others, like Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), who offered an amendment to prohibit funding for walking and bicycling, Sen. Ensign does not realize that more trails means people walk and bike more and drive less. This translates into less congestion, healthier people, a healthier planet, more money available to our communities, and much, much more.

Moments ago, the U.S. Senate passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. Unlike the House of Representatives’ version of the bill, the Senate did not explicitly fund Transportation Enhancements (TE), the nation’s primary funding source for active transportation.

However, the Senate and House will work to reconcile their differences “in conference” over the next few days.

We must convince the Senate to protect TE in conference.

Please go here to get started.

This is exciting, because we know we can make an impact: After more than 15,000 of us signed Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s (RTC) petition to Congress and the president to explicitly fund active transportation in the recovery package, the House allocated $1.35 billion for TE.

Please give a few minutes of your time—I promise, together we can make a difference.

Thank you so much.

Kevin Mills,
Vice-President of Policy,
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

The post Legislation Needs Your Support appeared first on Out There Venture.

On Monday, October 20, there will be a big lunchtime rally at the STA Plaza to launch Spokane’s SmartRoutes 2010 campaign. In case you haven’t heard this is part of a big campaign to expand the pilot city project where the federal government would give certain cities $50 million dollars to induce a mode shift away from automobiles to “active transportation,” or cycling and walking. You can read about the 2010 campaign here at the Rails to Trails Conservancy website. Spokane has been at the forefront on this campaign, and transportation advocates here have worked hard to push for Spokane’s inclusion. Originally the goal was to target 40 cities, but almost 50 ended up applying to be included. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out in the current economic climate not every city is likely to get funding. So who is Spokane competing with? I’ve got the list here which includes two other cities from our state.

2010 Active Transportation Bill Cities:

Anchorage / Palmer / Wasilla, Alaska
Tucson, Ariz.
Alameda County, Cal.
Humboldt County, Cal.
Marin County, Cal.
Sacramento, Cal.
San Diego, Cal.
Metro Hartford, Conn.
Wahington, D.C.
Northern Del.
Jacksonville, Fl.
Miami-Dade County, Fl.
Volusia County, Fl.
Chicago, Ill.
Fort Wayne, In.
Central Indiana, In.
New Orleans, La.
Pioneer Valley, Mass
Mystic Valley, Mass.
Baltimore, Md.
Portland, Maine
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Metro Grand Rapids, Mich.
Twin Cities, Minn.
Columbia, Mo.
Greater Kansas City, Mo. / Ks.
O’Fallon, MoSt. Louis, Mo.
Billings, Mt.
Missoula, Mt.
Charlotte, N.C.

Manchester, N.H.
Camden, N.J.
Buffalo-Niagara, N.Y.
Columbus, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Eugene, Ore.
Portland, Ore.
Blair County, Penn.
Providence, R.I.
Alexandria/Arlington, Va.
Chittenden County, Vt.
Puyallup, Wash.
Seattle, Wash.
Spokane, Wash.
Madison, Wis.
Milwaukee, Wis.

Sheboygan County, Wis.

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