Palouse to Cascades Trail Storm Damage Repairs
Project summary
Following a significant atmospheric river event in December 2025, State Parks was forced to close several sections of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail. The storm caused significant damage that made the trail unstable and impassable.
In June 2026, thanks to the funding support of the Washington State Parks Foundation, State Parks completed a bypass trail around the worst of the damage. Work was completed by the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance with expedited permitting support from King County. The bypass trail, in addition to other trail repairs, reopened through access to the west side of the PTCT.
- Location: Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail West
- Estimated start date: December 2025
What are we doing now: short-term
Bypass trail construction
Work is officially complete on a 350 ft. bypass trail that reconnects and restores public access to the closed portion of trail just west of the Homestead Valley Trailhead.
This project was made possible by the Washington State Parks Foundation, who 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 are also grateful to our State Parks staff who came together across agency teams to complete this project.
The bypass trail loosely parallels the existing PTCT and will be able to accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians. Cyclists are asked to dismount and walk their bikes along the 350-foot bypass before remounting on the original trail.
This temporary bypass trail could be in place for several years until a long-term fix is funded and constructed.
Large trail events
Due to the bypass trail’s limited capacity, State Parks staff will work with annual large trail event hosts to find alternatives for their events.
Though the bypass trail will restore access, it will still be a temporary trail with more limited capacity than the original PTCT.
What are we doing now: long-term
We are looking at funding and implementation options for a long-term permanent fix that would repair the washouts and restore the PTCT in its former location. This would include restoring the trail’s width, surfacing and full trail capacity.
We do not have a target date for the permanent fix at this point, though we anticipate this project will not be completed this biennium.
Public safety
For your safety and the safety of our staff and first responders, please respect the closures we have in place. The edges of the trail around the washout remain unstable and could worsen during future storms.
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.
Please do not use trails from other trail systems to reach or bypass the closure areas.
Project history
Following a significant atmospheric river event in December 2025, State Parks was forced to close a section of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail from the Olallie Trail (four miles east of the Cedar Falls Trailhead) to approximately the Homestead Valley Trailhead and from .5 miles west of the Carter Creek Campground to the west side of the Snoqualmie Tunnel. The storm caused significant damage in two areas that made the trail unstable and impassable. With no viable road or trail detour options available, this event effectively eliminated any through access along this section of the PTCT.
At the Carter Creek closure, staff began digging out and replacing a failed culvert. Work was underway, however a spring landslide near Lake Easton State Park pulled resources away and paused work.
Staff completed repairs at Lake Easton in May and returned to Carter Creek. Carter Creek reopened by the end of May.
In spring 2026, State Parks and its partners began work on a 350 ft. bypass trail to reconnect and restore public access to the closed portion of trail just west of the Homestead Valley Trailhead. Work was completed and the trail reopened June 5, 2026.