Burn Ban
No fires permitted at any time.
Part of the Park is Closed
Posted on:
Ends on:
The Ralston Trailhead on the Palouse to Cascades Trail (East) will be temporarily closed for final paving of the trailhead entrance. The trail will remain open for use, however access to the trailhead will not be permissible. It is expected to be closed from 10/20-10/31.
Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail East
Warden to the Idaho border, 126 miles
The East section of the PTCT is the most variable and remote section requiring pre-registration before you visit. This section includes several areas that are closed to public access, requiring detours and more involved trip planning and support.
Rules
- Day-Use Only
- Dogs Allowed on Leash
- Fires not Allowed
- Horses Allowed
Trail use registration
The roughly 126-mile eastern portion of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail requires registration. Learn more and register here. If your group is larger than 20 people, please call us at (509) 337-6457
Closures and detours
Sections of the trail pass through private property, have active rail lines or are missing trestles and bridges. Please respect all closures and detours. Always check the trail map before you head out.
Cow Creek Trestle bypass
Winter schedule
Learn about seasonal closures and operational changes during the off-season on the Winter Schedule page.
Activities
Biking
Bird Watching
Camping
Fishing
Hiking, Walking, Rolling and Running
Horseback Riding
Long-Distance Trails
Amenities
Restrooms
Parking
Interpretive Opportunities
Accessible Trails
Bike Trails
Equestrian Trails
Hiking Trails
Park features
Image
Creek
Field
Freshwater
Image
Lake
Mountain View
River
Seasonal Wildflowers
Viewpoint
Wetland
Wildlife Viewing
Rules
- Day-Use Only
- Dogs Allowed on Leash
- Fires not Allowed
- Horses Allowed
Trail use registration
The roughly 126-mile eastern portion of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail requires registration. Learn more and register here. If your group is larger than 20 people, please call us at (509) 337-6457
Closures and detours
Sections of the trail pass through private property, have active rail lines or are missing trestles and bridges. Please respect all closures and detours. Always check the trail map before you head out.
Cow Creek Trestle bypass
Winter schedule
Learn about seasonal closures and operational changes during the off-season on the Winter Schedule page.
Map & visitor guide
Know Before You Go
The Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail is not a fully improved, continuous "cross state" trail. Several sections are closed to public access due to safety concerns, active rail use and private property. Exploring the PTCT requires informed planning and preparedness and, in the eastern section, pre-registration. Please familiarize yourself with the trail before visiting.
Click here to visit the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail Visitor Information Map for more information about surface condition, trail ownership gaps and closed bridges.
We are actively working to improve and adapt the PTCT for recreational use, which makes it a dynamic state park with ongoing projects that that could temporarily impact access.
Section Highlights and Attractions
This trail features some of Washington state’s most unique and iconic landscapes. The Palouse and Columbia Plateau – the latter featuring deep channels carved by the Missoula Floods (aka Ice Age Floods). Rock Lake (public access is closed pending renovation of several trestles and tunnels) is a prime example of the power of the Missoula Floods featuring dramatic basalt cliffs along the lake’s seven miles.
There are several train-era features along this section, including the Tekoa Trestle, a 976-foot-long trestle rising 125 feet above Hangman Creek. The Rosalia Railroad Bridge, a unique reinforced concrete archway (designed to catch the eyes of passengers on two competing rail lines and the county road) which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Camping
The park in Ralston is an oasis of green grass and has several campsites on the south side. Water is available here.
Escure Ranch near Revere, owned by the Bureau of Land Management, allows dispersed camping on the property and has several additional campsites. There are some fire rings a vault toilet. There is no water available, so please come prepared.
Rosalia allows tent camping (maximum 2-night stay) in Rosalia City Park with a reservation. Please call (509) 879-1905 for reservations. Water is available here.
By car: Potholes State Park is located 18 miles west of Warden and has cabins, standard and full-hookup sites. Water, restrooms and showers are available.
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