Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail West
Also known as John Wayne Pioneer Trail, Palouse to Cascades State Park, Palouse to Cascades Trail
2 notices: Burn Ban · Burn Ban No fires at any time — details
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 6:30 a.m. – sunset
- Entrance fee
- $10 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.wa.gov(425) 455-7010
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 3
Fire restriction Burn BanNo fires permitted at any time.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Construction NotificationThe western portion of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail near the Mount Washington Trailhead is officially reopening June 5, 2026. We have… (more)
The western portion of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail near the Mount Washington Trailhead is officially reopening June 5, 2026. We have completed construction of a new 350-foot long, 36-inches wide bypass trail around a storm-damaged trail section. The bypass is open to pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians. Cyclists are asked to dismount and walk their bikes along the 350-foot bypass before remounting on the original trail. Learn more about the project here.
Posted by the park 2026-06-02. Official alert
Fire restriction Burn Ban No fires at any timeNo fires permitted at any time. Learn more about this Burn Ban alert
Posted by the park 2025-06-09. Official alert
Overview
Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail West is a trail in Whitman County, about 24 miles southeast of Cheney.
Popular activities here are rock climbing, horseback riding, biking, wildlife watching, and fishing. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites).
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | 6:30 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
6:30 a.m. - Dusk year round
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Discover pass: Annual Pass | $45 · year |
| One-day Pass | $10 |
Official wording
Discover pass: • Annual Pass: $45 • One-day Pass: $10 •
Washington park passes
- Discover Pass (annual) — $45. Day-use vehicle access to state parks (and DNR/WDFW lands) Details
- Discover Pass (one-day) — $10. Day-use vehicle access for one day Details
From the Washington state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Not required
- Booking system
- Camis (washington.goingtocamp.com)
- Phone
- (888) 226-7688
Primitive campsites are available first-come, first-served at Alice Creek (milepost 2127.1) and Carter Creek (milepost 2123.2).
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed
Dogs Allowed on Leash • Dogs Allowed on Leash
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Camping
Primitive campsites are available first-come, first-served at Alice Creek (milepost 2127.1) and Carter Creek (milepost 2123.2). Each campground has three to four campsites, one picnic table and one vault toilet. You can only access the campgrounds on foot or bicycle.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
BikingWildlife viewing and birdingCampingFishingHikingHorseback ridingRock climbingPicnicking
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-Distance Trail Surface Rating Map | — | — | Use this map to see what the trail surface is like along various segments of our long-distance trails. Please note: Washington State Parks recognizes that not all features of the map may meet website accessibility and assistive technology standards. We have included this map as one of many resources for finding accessible recreation opportunities at our parks. If you cannot access this map, please call our State Parks Information Center at (360) 902 - 8844.Accessible |
Trail descriptions from the park
Long-Distance Trail Surface Rating Map
Use this map to see what the trail surface is like along various segments of our long-distance trails.
Please note: Washington State Parks recognizes that not all features of the map may meet website accessibility and assistive technology standards. We have included this map as one of many resources for finding accessible recreation opportunities at our parks. If you cannot access this map, please call our State Parks Information Center at (360) 902 - 8844.
Rock climbing
Experience the thrill of outdoor climbing off I-90 at Exit 38, a popular climbing area with a variety of climbing routes. Whether you are a beginner or expert climber or somewhere in between, you're sure to find a satisfying challenge here.
Deception Crags, Far Side and Mount Washington are three subareas offering nearly 400 climbing routes including sport, trad and top rope graded 5.5 to 5.13b.
Deception Glade and Far Side boulders are subareas with over 130 bouldering routes graded V1 to V9.
Rock climbing involves inherent risks, and climbers are responsible for their own safety and the safety of others.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Picnic areas
- Parking
Camping
- Tent camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
Accessibility
- Accessible trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
- Accessible trails
Accessible facilities listed: Accessible Parking, Accessible Trails
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
- Day-Use Only
- Dogs Allowed on Leash
- Fires not Allowed
- Horses Allowed
No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail.
Winter Schedule
The Snoqualmie Tunnel at Hyak closes seasonally for the winter. It tentatively closes at the end of October and reopens in May. Please check alerts for its status before heading out.
Getting there
- Nearest town
- Cheney — about 24 mi southeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 47.2292, -117.2500 (from Wikidata)
- Phone
- (425) 455-7010
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Washington State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Washington State Parks Find Parks directory (paged Drupal view), joined to WSPRC ParkBoundaries ArcGIS layer for coordinates/category
- Wikidata
- Photo: John Wayne Pioneer Trail - east end of Iron Horse park.jpg — Public domain (released by the author), Williamborg
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology