New trailhead discussion

RALSTON – Two Washington State Parks representatives will be in Ralston on Tuesday, March 15, to discuss opening a new trailhead for the Palouse to Cascade Trail.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., ranger Travis Gabriel and manager Audra Sims will be at Ralston Grange No. 943, on state Highway 261, to discuss development of the trailhead.

Trailhead areas typically provide parking, signage and access to the trail, officials said.

Development of a new trailhead would come as the state wraps up other improvements along the John Wayne Pioneer Trail/Iron Horse State Park route.

Crews are currently in the process of installing new decking on a large trestle over Hangman Creek at Tekoa.

The employees will also provide updates on changes at other area state parks including Palouse Falls, Lyons Ferry and the Columbia Plateau Trail.

The state recently approved a plan to prohibit hiking at Palouse Falls and access to the Palouse River, as well as both the upper falls and main falls, as well as the basin. The agency may not have that authority, as the Palouse River and falls areas are navigable waters under U.S. law.

The state is also considering plans to eliminate the campground at Palouse Falls.

Currently called Palouse to Cascade Trail State Park, the trail is known as John Wayne Pioneer Trail/ Iron Horse State Park.

It is on the vacated Milwaukee Road rail line and crosses Adams County, through the towns of Ralston and Lind.

The route also crosses Whitman County, connecting Tekoa, Rosalia, Rock Lake and Revere to the Ralston area.

To the west, it connects Othello to Beverly, crosses the Columbia River, and then connects to the Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Easton and Snoqualmie Pass area.