State Park Centennial 2013 Cross State Trail Plan
Extending the John Wayne Pioneer Trail
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission currently manages 113 miles of trail from North Bend to Vantage, known as the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. The trail provides long-distance trail recreation for hikers, cyclists and equestrians in the warm-weather months and for winter recreation such as cross-country skiing in the winter.
Partners have included the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders Association and other supporters of the trail, who have worked with the Legislature over the years to make the trail a reality. Their efforts recently resulted in the transfer of an additional 102 miles of the former railroad corridor from Lind to Tekoa, from the Department of Natural Resources to State Parks (designated Iron Horse State Park – Palouse Section). This includes a 3+ mile trail segment in Spokane County along Pine Creek near the community of North Pine.
The transfer moves the Commission closer to its Centennial 2013 Plan goal of adding trail miles and taking the lead in developing a cross-state recreation trail extending it to the Idaho border. State Parks works with dozens of public and private partners to obtain, develop and manage trails, including the Spokane Centennial Trail, John Wayne Pioneer Trail, Columbia Plateau Trail, Willapa Hills Trail, Klickitat Trail and two long-distance water trails – Cascadia Marine Trail in Puget Sound and two Columbia River water trails.
The John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders Association has a map of the trail as the original RR route: Click here.
Update: October 2008
There is another 15 miles of developed trail open for public use on the south end of the Columbia Plateau Trail. The new area is between Ice Harbor Dam and Snake River Jct. with trail heads at each locations. The trail is a crushed rock surface suitable for bike riding, hiking and equestrian use. This is another beautiful section of trail and follows the Snake river with breathtaking views around every corner. This portion of trail also passes along 2 habitat management units, a bird watching paradise.
 
See also
Iron Horse State Park
Wilderness Trip - John Wayne Trail
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