Restored bridge closes major gap in 285-mile Palouse to Cascades Trail
OLYMPIA – April 4, 2022 – Washington State Parks invites the public to join community leaders, trail enthusiasts, public lands agencies and elected officials for the grand opening of the refurbished Beverly Bridge.
The dedication ceremony will take place at 1 p.m., Friday, April 8, rain or shine. Attendees are asked to park at the Huntzinger trailhead and walk to the Beverly Junction on the west side of the bridge. Shuttles are available for persons with mobility issues. A Park Ranger will be available onsite to assist. (Driving directions.) The program will last about 40 minutes and end with a ceremonial walk eastward across the bridge. Trail groups and local communities will host information tables. Bottled water and light snacks will be served.
“We are excited to celebrate this landmark trail connection and to gather together before we venture across this magnificent addition to our cross-state trail on its opening day,” said Parks region manager Scott Griffith. “The Beverly Bridge will be connecting cultures and communities and we are honored to add this to our vast and diverse State Park System.”
Attendees planning to arrive by bicycle from the east side may park at the Nunnally Lake Trailhead with a Discover Pass or WDFW vehicle access pass.
Horse riders with trailers, please contact Wanapum Recreation Area for special instructions. Please leave a message at (509) 968-5298.
Overnight camping is available at Wanapum Recreation Area on a first-come, first-served basis.
Attendees are asked to keep pets on leash and bring clothing for all weather. Drone photography will not be permitted, and there is no river access from the trail.
Additional event details are available on our website. The Washington State Parks Foundation will serve as a co-host for the event.
The Beverly Railroad Bridge received $5.575 million in capital funding appropriations as part of the 2019-21 capital budget. The bridge crosses the Columbia River and is 85 feet high with a total of 15 trusses. The railroad abandoned the line in 1980 and ownership was transferred to the state of Washington. In 1982, the bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places due to its historical significance related to westward expansion. A fire destroyed the bridge deck in 2014, making the bridge unsafe for passage.
News media contact:
Amanda McCarthy, Interim Communications Director
media@parks.wa.gov
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ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE PARKS
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
ABOUT BEVERLY BRIDGE
The repurposed 3,000-foot bridge spans the Columbia River eight miles south of Vantage. The Palouse to Cascades Trail is located within a rail corridor that stretches more than 285 miles across Washington, from Cedar Falls to the Idaho border. State Parks currently manages approximately 250 miles of trail within this corridor.
Previously an unusable railroad trestle, the pedestrian/bicycle/equestrian bridge closes the final gap in the now-contiguous Palouse to Cascades trail. Prior to the bridge restoration, trail users had to cross the dangerous I-90 bridge over the Columbia River or arrange transportation across the river.
The Beverly Bridge restoration is part of State Parks’ long-term commitment to building long distance trails, including this historic trail along the former Milwaukee Road, the once-innovative railroad line that is now part of the Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Great American Rail Trail. The bridge construction began in 2020.
News release number: 22-014