Accessible Trails in Washington's Palouse Country

Palouse Falls State Park

Directions:

Located 23 miles southeast of Washtucna. From SR 261: Drive 13.5 miles west of Starbuck, or 14.4 miles southwest of the SR 261 and SR 260 junction and take Palouse Falls Rd. east.

GPS - 46°39'48.04"N; 118°13'40.26"W

Features:

Palouse Falls State Park offers a dramatic view of one of the state's most beautiful waterfalls. Palouse Falls drops from a height of 200 feet in a canyon created by ice age floods. There is a 0.5 mi. ADA accessible trail to the overlook.

Other:

The park has 10 tent spaces, one dump station and two restrooms (both ADA). All tent sites are ADA-compliant. Sites have no hook-ups. There is also accessible water and picnic tables. (509) 646-3252.

Bill Chipman Palouse Trail

Directions:

Pullman - To get to the west end trailhead, 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.

GPS - 46°43'19.08"N; 117° 9'51.86"W

Moscow - To get to the east end trailhead 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.

Features:

Seven miles of paved pathway connect the University of Idaho in Moscow and Washington State University in Pullman. The trail is almost flat, and is wide enough for all users to share and enjoy.

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.

The trail crosses Paradise Creek some twelve times providing an opportunity to watch the birds and other wildlife that thrive near the water.

There are accessible 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.

Other Info:

Lodging - The Quality Inn Paradise Creek in Pullman is conveniently located adjacent to the trail at 1400 Southeast Bishop Boulevard. It is a pet-friendly hotel and offers handicap rooms. (509) 332-0500.

Snake River Trail - Boyer Park

Directions:

Located on the north shore of the Snake River immediately below Lower Granite Dam.

From Pullman take west SR 194 and follow it south (paying attention to road signs for Boyer Park) to the Snake River and Boyer Park.

GPS - 46°40'59.62"N; 117°26'52.68"W

Features:

The 3.5 mile Snake River Trail is a wheelchair-accessible pedestrian and bike trail that stretches from Almota Creek, through Boyer Park and on to the base of Lower Granite Lock and Dam (where some of the best Catfish, Sturgeon and Bass fishing can be found).  

There are benches and a picnic shelter along the river where you can observe the native wildlife and birds and view the marina, the Lower Granite Lock and Dam, and the basalt cliffs of the Snake River canyon. The trail features a series of 6 interpretive signs dealing with the Columbia Snake River System, dams, river geology, hydroelectric power and transport of commodities.

Other Info:

Besides accessible restrooms at Boyer Park and Marina there are many other accessible features from this oasis on the Snake river. It is a 56 acre full service, accessible marina and campground and includes a paved jetty and swimming beach path. It even has a fully accessible cruise boat dock.

The scenic drive down to Boyer Park is a worthwhile trip of itself as it twists and turns straight down towards the Snake River. This is the southern part of the Palouse Scenic Byway.

Kamiak Butte County Park

Directions:

From Pullman - Take SR 27 North 11 miles.  Turn left on Clear Creek Road for .5 mile.  Turn left on Fugate Road (Road No. 5100). Travel .5  mile to Kamiak Butte County Park Road (Rd. No. 6710) to the park entrance on the left.

From Colfax - Take SR 272 (Palouse Highway) East for 5 miles .  Turn right onto Clear Creak Road for 7 miles.  Take a sharp right onto Fugate Road (Road No. 5100).  Travel .5 mile to Kamiak Butte County Park Road (Road No. 6710) to the park entrance on the left.

GPS - 46°51'44.60"N; 117°10'00.98"W

Features:

Reaching an elevation of 3,641 feet (second highest point in Whitman County), the park offers visitors a panoramic view of the Palouse region. Kamiak Butte County Park facilities are ADA accessible, but not most of its trails. The Sunset Trail, which starts at the upper parking lot is a flatter trail that some wheelers can access with assistance. The trail is dirt with pine cones and needles typical to a forest floor, and it would be an out and back with the distance depending on ability. The Sunset Trail goes to the west end through a mature Ponderosa pine forest and is one of the better bird watching spots on the Butte. The park's habitat attracts over 150 bird, mammal and vegetation species. See the self-guided nature walk brochure.

The mowed day use area of the park has paved paths to the restrooms, shelters and playground. There are some areas of the paved paths within the park that have some gradient due to site limitations. Wheelchairs users should be able to handle these paths with assistance.

The forested 3.5 mile Pine Ridge Trail at Kamiak Butte is part of the National Trails System. Unfortunately  this popular trail is NOT a wheelchair accessible trail, but it is offered here for possible exploration by able-bodied companions. There is a steep section on the north side with steps so start at the southeast side, which offers a more gradual route as it switchbacks along the ridge (about 1,000 feet elevation gain from the base to the summit). There are great views from the south side ridge portion of the trail. The view is at its prime in the spring and summer as the wheat fields change from green to gold.

Other Info:

This gated park is open from 7:00 am to dusk.

If you can't access Kamiak Butte there is another viewpoint of the Palouse. You can drive all the way to the top of Steptoe Butte. Steptoe ButteState Park is famous for its stark, dramatic beauty and the panoramic view it provides of surrounding farmlands, the Blue Mountains, and other neighboring ranges and peaks. From the top of the butte, the eye can see 200 miles. Located 12 miles north of Colfax, Wash., near the state's eastern border in Whitman County.
From U.S. 195: Six miles north of Colfax, turn east on Scholz Rd. Follow signs to Oakesdale and Steptoe Butte.

Two more Whitman County Parks are in the area.

Klemgard and Wawawai County Parks also have paved paths throughout the mowed areas of the park.

Klemgard County Park (10 miles north of Pullman on U.S. 195) is relatively flat with paved paths going to the restrooms, playground, shelters and across the bridge to additional shelters.

Wawawa County Park (shown in photo) has paved paths to all the restrooms, campground, viewing platform and shelters in the main park area. Wawawai County Park sits in the Snake River Canyon approximately three miles upstream from Lower Granite Dam. From Pullman, take Highway 195 that detours around Pullman and connects with the Lewiston highway. After approximately 1 mile turn left (at the blinking amber light) onto Wawawai-Pullman Road (Rd No. 9010). Travel south 9.5 miles to the Wawawai  Road (Rd. No. 9000). Turn right on Wawawai  Road (Rd. No. 9000) and travel 5.5 miles down the canyon to Wawawai County Park.