The Columbia Plateau Trail runs 130 miles between Cheney, Washington, and Pasco, Washington, on an abandoned rail bed. There is a rough map of this trail on the Washington State Bicycling Map. There are also directions to a few trailheads in the Cheney area from this web site on Accessible Trails, and someone (see comments) sent a GPX track of the Cheney end of the trail, so that end is probably accurate. The Tri-City Herald also published an article on the Pasco section of the trail, which includes directions and camping information. Someone also mailed me a photo of the map/sign at the trailhead. So, some sections of the trail are likely to be accurate; some may not be very precise.
Categories: Flat &Gravel &Over 50 Miles &Rural &Solitude
States: Washington
Last Modified: October 29, 2008
(6 votes, average: 2.17 out of 5)
Loading ...If the map has markers, click them for extra information. You can also double-click anywhere on the map to get driving directions to that point. Note:Trail routes shown are approximate! If you have a GPS trace of this trail, leave a comment below with your email address (which will not be published), and I'll contact you. Thanks!
Elevation profile of route: feet above sea level vs. distance traveled (approximate). Green marker on map above shows which end is designated as start of route.
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Hi Jennifer-
Saw this site on Google and wanted to talk to someone that had some info on the Columbia Plateau Trail. I’ve been fascinated with the idea of riding it since I heard about it a few years ago. Contact me at the above email address…thanks, Bill Kent
That is all the info I have right now… I hope you or someone else can provide a ride report soon!
Hello Jennifer:
I rode this trail from Cheney to the Martin Rd trail head 5/5/2007 (23 mls), and have recorded a GPS track – Garmin .gpx file. Most of the trail is crushed compacted rock,in some places rather soft, fat tires definitely an asset. In general, prevailing winds are from the east in the morning and from the west in the afternoon. I rode it west in the morning and had a stiff head wind! Mostly flat and straight. Passes through Turnbull Wildlife Refuge. Could not find trail continuation beyond Martin Rd.
I’ve finally imported Mark’s GPS track! So the first part of the trail should be fairly accurate.
Mark is corect in that anything south of the Martin Rd trail head is pretty much impassable on wheels, as told to me by the parks Dept. that manages a section of it. they are working on it. This trail also goes into spokane, but neither the parks, county or city can tell me who has jurisdiction. the piece from Spokane south looks like someone has worked on it. There are a couple of new bridges at the beginning from south of I-90. As I researched it, this trail connects with the John Wayne trail. Jennifer, you can share my address with Mark and bill
I tried to ride the Columbia Plateau Trail south from its intersection with the Milwaukee Road (John Wayne Pioneer Trail) ten days ago. The first few trestles I came to were fenced off because they were unimproved (no railings, heavy ballast as trailbed near them, etc.). Number 4, I believe it was, was missing in its entirety, and the DNR tells me that other trestles are missing, too. Judging from depth and width of the valleys that the CPT must cross, replacing them will be expensive, and no estimated completion date is known.
Cheers,
Felix.
The 1992 edition of the book Washington’s Rail-Trails by Fred Wert has a map of this route that differs from the one on this page.
Starting from the Pasco end, the route follows the west bank of the Snake River northeast up to Lower Monumental Dam. From there in parallels Devils Canyon Road towards Kahlotus. From Kahlotus to Cheney the book’s map pretty much matches the one on this page.
The newer edition of the book (2001) only includes a map for the section of trail near Cheney, from Fish Lake to Martin Road. But the text in both editions describes the entire route between Cheny and Pasco.
I’m planning to explore as much of the route as possible in mid-May, so I’ll try to post an update after that.
I’m also wondering if anyone can tell me how to find the start of the portion from Spokane, which Brian mentioned in comment #5? I’ll be starting from Spokane.
Thanks,
–Matt
Matt — I am guessing the book may be more correct than this page… as I mentioned above, I had to do some guessing, since I couldn’t find a map of the trail.
Keep us posted, and if you make a GPS trace, especially of the Pasco end of the trail, I’d love to import it to improve this map.
–Jennifer
I noticed that the trail is shown on the Washington State Bicycle Map, which is available as a PDF online:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/bikemap.htm
–Matt
Ah. I’ll have to check that out, thanks!
Jennifer
I rode most of this trail last week, riding from from Spokane to Pasco. I’ve written up some notes about cycling the CPT which can be found at http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/cpt
I’m in the process of typing up a journal of my trip, which I will probaby link to from the above page once I am done.
Pretty much all of the trail from Martin Road to Snake River Junction is railroad ballast, and would be challenging to ride on a normal bike. I rode a Surly Puglsey, which has nearly 4″ wide tires, and it worked pretty well.
I didn’t find any missing trestles, and only 2 trestles were blocked between Fish Lake and the Snake River. There is a few mile section along the Snake River where there are 4 blocked trestles within a few miles.
Rode the CPT today, 8/22/08, just to “discover” it from Fish Lake to Amber Lake. The paved portion from Fish Lake to the Cheney trailhead is a gem. Running water on each sides of the asphalt trail, and paved smooth enough for roller bladers. Trail conditions from Cheney west bound are very similar to the JWT from Cle Elum west bound. 1&1/4″ gravel in some portions, but got much better through the Turnbull National Wild Life Refuge, and then again back to the rough gravel towards Amber Lake. From there eastbound to Martin Road looked much like the JWT east of Kittitas; flat, basalt, and lots of rocky trail (so why bother).
Thanks to Matt “Crazy Guy on a Bike”, and a reference that someone made to Washington’s Rail Trails by Fred Wert, I did make another ride on the CPT today to get a workout that wasn’t too far from home. The west end of the trail starts at the Ice Harbor Dam boat lauch off of the Pasco-Kahlotis highway. The Washington State Parks Department has done a good job of putting down a 5/8″- gravel surface all the way up to Big Flats Park/Dalton Lake. From there, the riding gets tough through 3/4″ gravel that isn’t packed to well in a lot of places. I had intended to ride all the way to Lost Island Park, but lost interest about 2 miles short of there just because of the loose gravel surface, and headed back towards Ice Harbor Dam. The 2.25″ wide tires on my Trek Liquid just weren’t enought flotation. That said, I can’t imagine the rolling resistance of Matt’s Pugsley being much better. Appears that from Angel Lake to the Big Flats section is for serious off road bikers only. The tunnels and trestles up around Windust Park are still intruiging to this old guy, so you may get another report or two when I check them out. Something about heights on iron and tunnels keeps me going after them.
“biker” Jeff
Hi–I’ve been trying to look into this trail a bit, for a low key 100 mile ultra run with a few friends. I live in Western Washington. Would this trail be amenable to foot travel? For a point to point 100 mile hike/run? Also, anyone try it in the winter time with snowpack? These posts are the best info I’ve found yet on the trail, but I’m not sure how things break down distance wise. My email is scottrailton – yahoo if anyone would like to comment–many thanks if you do, and months later is fine too.
Best,
Scotty
Scott:
Most of the trail other than from Fish Lake to Cheney is railroad ballast from 3/4″ to 1&1/2″. Not sure I’d want to run in it, and really didn’t like biking in much of it. Makes the JWT look like paved trail.
Regards
“biker” Jeff
Scott, I would say if most of the trail is like the part just southwest of the Cheney Trailhead, then it would be great to run on – much easier on the knees than the paved part from Cheney to Fish Lake. Not sure about the path for most of that distance, however, but I have run from Fish Lake to a few miles southwest of the Cheney Trailhead.
I have ventured on this trail several times and will plan on going further than Amber from Cheney next time. It would be fun to get a group together and go all the way to Pasco. It might be too much to ride back so have someone to meet with a vehicle to tow bicycles back to Cheney.
Adventures in Bicycling!
We rode the Fish Lake to the Turnbull section today, on bikes. I have a pony and a cart this looks like a good place to drive. So how far can you go before the first missing trestle and is there a way around them. I would love to go all the way to Pasco in the next few years, The section I’ve seen is wonderful.
Lois: Check out post # 11 and the link from Matt.
“biker” Jeff
Fellow cyclists.
I lived in a shack on that track in the early 1970′s. I walked much of it with a spike maul and rock rake. It was pristine country at that time. I recommend riding it. Take your time. Carry a lot of water. It is rattlesnake country.
Well Hi All for the 2011 biking season! This last Saturday, 6/4 friend Kathy and I rode the CPT from Cheney out to Amber Lake and back for a really nice 24 mile ride. The trail is in excellent condition. After a late lunch I did a combo of the Fish Lake trail out of west Spokane up to Fish Lake park, then west to the CPT Cheney trail head for another 28+ miles. That ride puts you on the Spokane-Cheney road for about 3 miles, but the shoulders are wide and the traffic was fairly light. Lots of running water on both sides of the CPT between the lake and Cheney. Very scenic.
Best to you!
“biker” Jeff
Just occured to me to send directions to the trail head. SR 904 through Cheney, South on the Cheney-Spangle Road (from downtown Cheney) for ~ 1 mile. Trail head is on the left.
“biker” Jeff
Just a note that you can also double-click on the map to get driving directions from Google Maps. :)