Centennial Trail Bike Tour

Check it out Distance: 25 miles round trip Difficulty: Easy Riding time: 2 - 4 hours Season: Feb. through Nov. Maps: Spokane River Centennial Trail; Info: Friends of Centennial Trail, 324-1756

Bike touring trip notes

Access: Plante’s Ferry County Park trailhead is about 2 miles east of Argonne Road off Upriver Drive. State line trailhead is just north of Interstate 90 from State line Exit 299 near Washington-Idaho border.

Attractions: A premier stretch of Spokane River Centennial Trail, a paved path along Spokane River for non-motorized travelers. Eventually, trail may stretch 60 miles in Washington and Idaho.

Except for three road crossings, this stretch of trail separated from vehicle traffic. Path winds into areas rich with native plants and wildlife ranging from bullsnakes to red-tailed hawks. Passes Walk in the Wild zoo. Many opportunities to stop and enjoy Spokane River.

Comments: Like most urban trails, rules help maintain peace. Laws prohibit alcoholic beverages, require pets to be on leash, limit speed to 15 mph, give pedestrians right of way. Courtesies include keeping right except to pass, signaling slower-moving trail users when approaching from rear, slowing down where trail narrows, especially near Flora Rapids. Stay on trail to avoid disturbing plants, animals. Trail hours: dawn to dusk.

In early May, arrowleaf balsamroot and other wildflowers profuse, as well as flowering shrubs such as serviceberry, hawthorn, mock orange, chokecherry, snowberry, Oregon grape.

That’s not Mount St. Helens ash on river rocks and basalt below the Riblet Mansion near Plante’s Ferry Park; it’s hardened cement dust from nearby plant. In early 1960s, former Riblet mansion owners won $32,500 for damage the dust had caused to property, but then signed agreement not to protest the filth again.

Shade of pines plus undisturbed habitat from Plante’s Ferry to Barker Road ideal for nesting birds. Early morning riders treated to chorus of avian music, except where drowned out by rush of rapids near Sullivan and Flora roads.

Harvard to Barker Road, prime nesting and hunting area for red-tailed hawks. Near Barker, look for signs of beavers near river, nesting swallows at Barker bridge.

Experience suggests taking more than one water bottle, especially in summer; never leave valuables in parked vehicle at trailheads.

Centennial Trail dedicated in 1989 and funded from variety of local, state and federal sources. Trail to date extends from Riverside State Park near Nine Mile Dam to Washington-Idaho state line. Missing link still being planned from Riverfront Park downstream to T.J Meenach Bridge. Idaho’s portion of Centennial Trail begins at state line and runs in various stages of completion to Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Surveys show walkers are trail’s largest user group (40 percent), followed by bicyclists (29 percent), runners (10 percent) and rollerbladers (6 percent). Most heavily used portions of trail are Sullivan Road to Walk in the Wild zoo, followed closely by Gonzaga University to Riverfront Park.

Contribute time or money to trail through Friends of Centennial Trail, P.O. Box 351, Spokane 99910-0351. To reach state parks ranger in charge of trail, call 456-2729.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map: Centennial Trail

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