Carrier Road Connection (Chama Natural Preserve)

The Chama Natural Preserve provides an important connection point for four nearby trails—Shelter Bypass Trail, Richland Riverfront Trail, Keene Road Trail, and Sacajawea Heritage Trail. Although it isn't an official trail, there is a 1.25-mile connection using a dead-end road, Carrier Road, with almost no traffic that runs along the north side of the preserve.

On the northwest end of this road (which services a drywall distributor, an asphalt plant, and some City of Richland public works facilities), there are connections to the Shelter Bypass Trail and the Keene Road Trail. On the southeast end of the road, there are connections to the Sacajawea Heritage Trail and the Richland Riverfront Trail.

To access the Chama Natural Preserve, turn south from Aaron Drive onto Jadwin Avenue and head south onto the bridge crossing over the Interstate. After crossing the railroad tracks at the stop sign, Carrier Road, turn to the right or left (dead-ends in both directions). To the left, Carrier Road continues for a short distance until just before Highway 240 where there is a small parking lot and the entrance to a paved connector trail.

The trail goes south towards the Yakima River and just before reaching the river, it travels up and over the railroad tracks. Heading down again, it passes under Highway 240. On the east side of the underpass the trail goes back up to a junction where it meets the Sacajawea Heritage Trail.

Turn left to head towards Kennewick and Columbia Park. Go right to head towards Pasco and the Richland Riverfront Trail. To reach the Richland Riverfront trail, continue straight when the trail splits and follow it under the Interstate. The left fork meets the Sacajawea Heritage Trail and crosses into Pasco via the pedestrian walkway on the Interstate 182 Bridge. The Columbia Point Marina Park is on the north side of the Interstate, which is the southern terminus for the Richland Riverfront Trail. The park has a playground, open fields, bathrooms, and parking.

Turning right from Jadwin Avenue onto Carrier Road, the road heads down a short hill and follow it through the right turn at the bottom of the hill (don’t go straight as there is no outlet), which parallels the railroad track. After a short distance, there is a parking lot (with a port-a-potty). This area is used for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, but the paved road can be used to transition between the trails at either end.

At the east end of the road, there is an entrance to a connector trail that leads to a junction. Turning right, head south to cross the Yakima River and connect with the Keene Road Trail. Or turning left, follow the pathway under the Interstate where it becomes the Shelter Bypass Trail.

To connect to the Tri-Cities bicycle routes from the connecting road, Carrier Road, turn north onto Jadwin Avenue. At Arron Drive continue north on Jadwin Avenue and after about a block a short pathway connects to the bicycle routes in the City of Richland and the broader Tri-Cities area.

The Chama Natural Preserve, a 276-acre park located on the Yakima River in central Richland, with more than 11 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Parking and Trail Access

From Arron Drive in Richland turn south onto Jadwin Avenue (Beaver Bark is on the southwest corner of the intersection) and head to the stop sign at Carrier Road. Jadwin Avenue provides the only access to this area, so all roads from this point on are dead ends. Turn left to reach the small parking lot at the east end of the road (mainly used by fishermen) or turn right to reach a larger parking lot at the west end of the road used by hikers, bikers, horse riders, fishermen, etc.), which normally has a port-a-potty.

Additional parking can be found along the four trails (Shelter Bypass Trail, Richland Riverfront Trail, Keene Road Trail, Sacajawea Heritage Trail).