Centennial Trail designated part of National Trails System

Thirty-seven miles of the Centennial Trail in Spokane County have been designated as part of the National Trails System, the U.S. government announced today. Centennial Trail is among 31 trails in 15 states to earn places on the National Trails System, according to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar. The new designations add more than 716 miles to the system. In Idaho, the Weiser River Trail running 85 miles between Weiser and New Meadows was also placed on the list. Named after Washington’s 100 years of statehood in 1989, the Centennial Trail draws nearly two million visits a year and has become a destination for recreation in the region. The trail runs from Nine Mile Falls and Riverside State Park east into Idaho where it works its way to Coeur d’Alene. A press release from the Interior Department indicated that the Washington portion of the trail was designated to the National Trails System. The announcement comes in advance of National Trails Day on June 5 when all national parks will drop entrance fees on June 5 and 6. The National Trails System dating back to 1971 recognizes trails that link communities to recreational opportunities on public lands.