The 250-mile Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail stretches from North Bend, WA to the Idaho border, tracing “the historic route of the Washington State section of the Milwaukee Road, a railroad that once stretched over 2,300 miles from Chicago to Tacoma … The route’s rapid construction was enabled by a highly mechanized approach using steam shovels and narrow-gauge construction railroads, which required fewer laborers than earlier railroads. In 1911 railroad leaders began an ambitious first-of-its-kind project to convert long sections of the route to fully electrified lines. This advance allowed for carrying heavier loads with fewer locomotives and staff and required less maintenance than steam locomotives.” The railroad closed in 1980 and efforts to convert the line to a trail began shortly after. [Washington State Parks]

Most of the eastern half of Washington is blanketed by an estimated 10,000 feet of Columbia River Basalt Group lava flows that erupted between 16.7 and 5.5 million years ago while this edge of the North American plate drifted over the hot spot now believed to be percolating under Yellowstone National Park. The basalt would ooze out of cracks in the earth’s crust and often cooled into columnar structures resembling bunched-up standing French fries. Evidence of these basalt flows can be seen along this stretch of the trail. [USGS.gov]

“From Keechelus Lake near Snoqualmie Pass, the state’s longest river of origin descends from rugged mountains through a scenic basalt canyon to an agricultural valley floor that culminates in the near-desert steppe at its confluence with the Columbia River. Its upper reaches host large herds of elk and deer and exotic wildlife that includes wolverines, mountain lions, and one of Washington’s newest wolf packs. Downstream, wild trout are the main attraction, but salmon that had been absent from the Yakima River Basin for more than 100 years due to impassable dams are making their return in increasing numbers.” Another reason to celebrate the Yakima: “The premium hops used in most of the nation’s craft beers are one of the major crops sprouting up from the irrigated soil in the Yakima River Valley” [American Rivers]

The Thorp trailhead for the Palouse to Cascades State Park trail is located at a former depot location for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, & Pacific railroad and as you begin riding, you’ll be following the path of this railroad even as it passes through old railroad tunnels. The first tunnel is #46 and is 0.1 mile long so a light may not be necessary as long as you allow your eyes to adjust. The second tunnel, #47, is 0.3 miles long and slightly curved so having a light for this one is a good idea. Note that in either tunnel, there could be larger-sized rocks on the trail so caution is advised.

“Out of sight on the ridge above the trail is the Main Canal (irrigation) which starts at Lake Easton. Between Tunnel 47 and the Ponderosa Campground two causeways are used to return water from the canal to the Yakima River. At high flow rates these make impressive manmade waterfalls.” [WTA.org] The Yakima River provides irrigation water for 175 miles of agricultural acres along its flanks. “Yakima County ranks first among all counties of the United States in the production of apples, mint, and hops. Principal crops are fruit, vegetables, forage, hops, and mint.” [USBR.gov]

The South Cle Elum Depot and Rail Yard were “established in 1909 as a division point for crew changes and train servicing on the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad’s Coast Division. It included a restaurant (or “beanery”), a roundhouse where eight trains could be serviced, an icehouse, and three bungalows. The railroad was powered by coal from nearby mines, and its presence helped build the towns of Cle Elum and Roslyn. The rail yard and remaining buildings, including the depot, substation, and bunkhouse, were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.” [Mountains to Sound Greenway] If your timing is right, you could grab lunch at Smokey’s Bar-B-Que which operates inside the original beanery and has the same operating hours as the exhibits inside the Depot. There is also an interpretive trail showcasing old rail yard structures and ruins.