Explore the best rated trails in Palouse, WA. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Ed Corkill Memorial River Trail and Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail. With more than 15 trails covering 4332 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Wife and I went on our first exclusive trip just to complete the entire trail both ways. We completed over three days and enjoyed every minute of it. Scenery is beautiful. Loved riding easy grade paved trail along rivers, lake, and hills. Would highly recommend this ride.
Trail runs along the river from Julietta to Kendrick. Paved and flat. Runs by the wheat processing facility which was interesting as well. We did it twice for fun.
A nice ride. The hub is a good place to start.
Rode different sections of this trail in our cross country trip on recumbent trikes. We had difficulty sinking in the sand, thick gravel , getting stuck several times and got stuck in thick mud. If it had appropriate surface, it could be a premiere trail.
The description led me to believe there was a 15-mile paved "southern segment" between Ice Harbor Dam and Snake River Junction. Consulting, Google Maps, it appeared that the trail north of Levey Park would be paved (as I assumed was indicated by an unbroken, green line). Unfortunately, these assumptions led to a disappointing biking outing. Levey Park is terribly dilapidated and neglected and the trail heading both north and south of Levey Park is fairly intense gravel and not really accessible unless you have a fat tire bike and enjoy motoring through gravel. The scenery is great but it is not a biking trail.
We took electric scooters and did 16miles of this trail was so beautiful seen 6 deer 5 turkeys will glad go back and explore more
Our family group ranged in age from eight to seventy-two. We spotted a car near Garcia and began our trip at Hyak. On a near 90 degree day, the tunnel was a cool and inviting place. We learned the hard way that our lights were inadequate. A good bike mounted light would have made this leg of the trip more enjoyable.
We found the surface of the trail gravel too course to ride comfortably even with our down hill direction on the trail. The loose coarse aggregate did push our front wheels sideways from time to time which required a lot of concentration. That hindered our enjoyment of the scenery.
Overall, we had a good time on the trail until the end. The road to the Garcia connection to the trail was is such poor condition that we chose not to risk damage to our cars and parked about a mile away. That road back to the parked car was extremely difficult to travel on a bike with two of us losing control of our bikes with one set of scuffed knees and elbows. This could be a trail that makes the hall of fame if the State of Washington would provide a better surface.
I did 22 miles total from Moscow to Troy. Palouse headwinds both ways so be advised. But it’s paved and in good condition. There is a section where maintenance did mow and left the tall grass trimmings laying on the trail for a couple miles. Not a big deal as the sun is drying it and it will be gone soon.
The total one way distance from just east of Moscow to the end in Bear Creek canyon is 16 miles and is entirely paved. It is really fun, despite being uphill from Moscow but there is a "summit" halfway and then it is downhill both ways... The one odd thing we found is that the vault toilets are on the trail and not necessarily at the trailhead. We figured that maybe this was done to minimize vandalism. Despite this trail paralleling the highway, it was still alot of fun.
However, since it has been a few years since the last review, please note that the gravelled section at the end of the trail in Bear Creek Canyon is washed out. The paved trail ends and then there is a 10' section of gravel and then a steep gully down to the weeds and creek side. There is a hiking path that has been pioneered but it is not rideable due to rocks, boulders, sloughing and debris. It also does not appear that the paved trail will ever be built further as the cost of just reestablishing the railbed is prohibitive.
We loved this trail!! I would say it ranks up there with Hiawatha for scenery. We saw a cow moose and calf and SO many birds. The first time we did this trail, we started at Cataldo then about a mile or so into the trip there was a moose and calf in the left in the swamp. Beautiful, breathtaking scenery and in October the colorful leaves and weather are simply divine. ¿
The other reviews of this hike are many years old, so I thought an update was in order. We hike this trail at least once a month year round. The trail is 5.2 miles total out and back. It is a gravel/dirt surface and fairly flat. The trail goes through the Palouse River canyon with steep basalt walls. It is a dramatic change from surrounding hills. It is unusual not to see wildlife. We have seen deer, coyotes, eagles, hawks, ducks, geese, vultures and numerous small birds. Like many converted rail routes we have hiked there are several apple and plum trees. The trail ends where the railroad crossed the Palouse River. A tunnel is visible across the river, but is collapsed inside. The covered bridge that was further on burned a few years ago. There are several gates on trail to contain cattle which are rarely present. There is a nice parking area at the trailhead at the end of a dirt road. The signage could be better; use your GPS or just follow the road north past the scrapyard and gravel piles.
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