Bill Chipman Palouse Trail:
Idaho, Washington
Trail Map
  • Get Personalized Driving Directions!
  • Find Trail Side Shops with Google Search!
  • See Users’ Geocoded Photos!
  • Get a Print-Friendly Map and Get Outdoors!
Description:
This pathway makes a great non-motorized transportation route between two college towns as well as a great place to take kids for walks, bicycling or in-line skating. It is almost flat, and is wide enough for all users to share and enjoy. It is an unusual public amenity in an area of very hilly land and most valleys plugged with roads.

The trail parallels a four-lane highway the entire distance. While you always hear the highway noise, the trail wanders back in forth in terms of distance from the road providing some relief. It crosses Paradise Creek numerous times providing an opportunity to watch the birds and other wildlife that thrives near the water. There are portable toilets and emergency phones at mileposts 1.5 and 5.0 (measured from Pullman). The trail continues going east through a portion of the University of Idaho campus but does not go into Moscow downtown.

There are plans for both Pullman and Moscow to build loop trails in each city that connect to this trail.
... Click to read more
Parking & Trail Access:
To get to the east end in Moscow, take SR 270 into Moscow and turn north at Perimeter Road and park in the Palouse Mall shopping center parking lot. Cross back over SR 270 and turn west onto the path. All of the property to the south of SR 270 is part of the University of Idaho and is closed to public parking. To get to the west end, take SR 270 into Pullman and turn south on Bishop Boulevard, the first light going into town from the east. Turn left in about two blocks into a small parking area. The trail begins at Bishop Blvd.
... Click to read more
... Click to read more
Reviews: [0 trail ratings]
[View all reviews for this trail]
[register/login to Submit a Review of this Trail]
Not much traffic noise
By D. Thomas on July 17, 2004
"Although the trail does parallel the 4-lane road, we have to say that with the wind blowing, we barely heard any traffic noise. There is a nice buffer of green space between the trail and road on most of the pathway which was visually appealing along with providing a ""comfort-zone"" for riding. The green hills and wildflowers added to the beauty. Overall, we had a great ride on this path. Thank you Rails-to-Trails!"
A MUST
By Kathleen Donnelly on May 10, 2004
"The Chipman Trail is an amazing 8-mile trail between Pullman, WA, (WSU) and Moscow, ID (UI), through the rolling Palouse. It is pristinely paved with minimal traffic and winds its way along a stream for a short time, past solo trees and a few horses or cows depending on the season. It has beautiful purple, yellow and white wildflowers along with high wheat fields at the peak of the season. It's a fabulous journey east and can get a bit windy for those heading West, which makes the journey even that more exhilarating. I've left Washington state for Washington, DC now and I must say one of the things I miss is my daily blade on the Chipman Trail.

Enjoy and say ""Hi"" to the Palouse for me! :)"
Browse Trails by Activity: