Palouse to Cascades Trail reopens west of Snoqualmie Tunnel

NORTH BEND — June 2, 2026 — The western portion of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail is officially reopening this weekend near the Mount Washington Trailhead. 

Washington State Parks completed work on a 350-foot long, 36-inche wide bypass trail. The trail will reopen to pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians on June 5.  

This project was made possible by the Washington State Parks Foundation, which donated the funding to complete the trail build. Trail construction was completed by Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, whose expertise produced a high-quality trail corridor within an expedited timeframe.  

“We were really able to rally everyone together,” Kevin Goodrich, State Parks Northwest Region Manager said. “This was an incredible example of people coming together and getting it done, and we’re grateful to all of our partners and the wide breadth of State Parks staff who made it possible.”

The bypass trail returns through access to the west side of the PTCT and is the last of three trail sections between Ellensburg and North Bend that were closed due to storm impacts to reopen. With the seasonal reopening of the Snoqualmie Tunnel on May 5th, trail users can travel from North Bend to the eastern PTCT.  

Much of the western section of the trail has been closed since December 2025. The atmospheric river and severe storms made the areas unstable and impassible for public access. In one section, the storms created a washout that is approximately 85 feet long and between 35-50 feet deep.  

Visitors to the trail will still see some safety fencing and light construction along the trail. State Parks asks all trail users to stay on the PTCT and the bypass trail for their safety. Please respect all closures, stay off of damaged trail areas and do not attempt to view any washouts or other trail damage.  

Though the bypass trail will restore access, it will still be a temporary trail with more limited capacity than the original PTCT. State Parks staff will work with annual large trail event hosts to find alternatives for their events. 

State Parks is continuing to look at funding and implementation options for a long-term permanent fix that would repair the washout and restore the PTCT in its former location. This would include restoring the trail’s width, surfacing and full trail capacity. Project updates will be made available online. 

This bypass trail is temporary, but it could be in place for several years until a long-term fix is funded and constructed.