Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail
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)
- Entrance fee
- $10 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.wa.gov
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 5
Fire restriction Burn BanNo fires permitted at any time.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Partial closure Part of the Park is ClosedThe trestle at Revere is temporary closed for repairs. Revere Road can be utilized as a detour. View a map of the closed trestle.
Posted by the park 2026-07-02. 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
Construction Constructionwill occur on the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail beginning at the intersection with Hole-In-The-Ground Rd. heading West for 3.5 miles. This… (more)
will occur on the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail beginning at the intersection with Hole-In-The-Ground Rd. heading West for 3.5 miles. This work is set to start December 2026 and end June 2027. The work includes trestle decking. Once construction has begun this section of trail will be closed to access. Site Reference Point
Posted by the park 2026-10-14. 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
In Whitman County, about 24 miles southeast of Cheney, Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail covers about 5,788 acres.
Things to do include rock climbing, horseback riding, biking, wildlife watching, and fishing. Overnight options include campsites, with 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other — Summer | Daily | 6:30 a.m. – sunset | — |
| Other — Winter | Daily | 8 a.m. – sunset | — |
Official wording
Summer: 6:30 a.m. - Dusk
Winter: 8 a.m. - Dusk
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 |
| Overnight Unattended Vehicle Fee | $10 |
Official wording
Discover pass: • Annual Pass: $45 • One-day Pass: $10 • Overnight Unattended Vehicle Fee: $10 per night See more about fees Get Discover Pass
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
- Booking system
- Camis (washington.goingtocamp.com)
- Phone
- (888) 226-7688
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.
Things to do
BikingWildlife viewing and birdingCampingFishingGeocachingHikingHorseback ridingRock climbingPicnicking
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail West | 18 mi | — | North Bend area to Snoqualmie Pass Tunnel, 18 miles. The West section of the PTCT is also the most improved for recreational use. This section starts in King County at the Cedar Falls Trailhead (milepost 2136) and continues east to the 2.3-mile-long Snoqualmie Tunnel (milepost 2117). |
| Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail Central | 107 mi | — | Snoqualmie Tunnel to Royal City cut-off, 107 miles. The Central section of the PTCT begins at the Snoqualmie Tunnel and continues east through Ellensburg. Continue over the Columbia River on the recently renovated Beverly Bridge. This section ends at Royal City cut-off (milepost 2010). |
| Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail East | 126 mi | — | 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. |
| 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
Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail West
North Bend area to Snoqualmie Pass Tunnel, 18 miles.
The West section of the PTCT is also the most improved for recreational use. This section starts in King County at the Cedar Falls Trailhead (milepost 2136) and continues east to the 2.3-mile-long Snoqualmie Tunnel (milepost 2117).
Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail Central
Snoqualmie Tunnel to Royal City cut-off, 107 miles.
The Central section of the PTCT begins at the Snoqualmie Tunnel and continues east through Ellensburg. Continue over the Columbia River on the recently renovated Beverly Bridge. This section ends at Royal City cut-off (milepost 2010).
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.
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.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Picnic areas
- Parking
Camping
- Tent camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
Accessibility
- Accessible restrooms
- 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 restrooms
- Accessible trails
Accessible facilities listed: Accessible Restrooms, 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
Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail East registration
To use the East section of the trail (from Warden to the Idaho border), you must pre-register online. For more information, visit the trail registration information page. If your group is larger than 20 people, please call us at (509) 337-6457.
Stay on trail
Staying on the trail is crucial for all trail users. Adjacent properties are not open to the public. Going off trail is trespassing on private property.
Other rules
Parts of the trail may have construction, missing trestles or pass through private property. Make sure you check for detours and closures before heading out.
No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail except for snowmobiles in the winter. You may ride your snowmobile only from Stampede Pass Road to Cabin Creek.
Winter Schedule
The Snoqualmie Tunnel is closed from Nov. 1 - May 1, the re-opening date is weather dependent.
Sno-Park
A Sno-Park Permit is required at all Sno-Parks from Dec. 1-March 31
Getting there
- Nearest town
- Cheney — about 24 mi southeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 47.2292, -117.2500 (from Wikidata)
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