Region has a wealth of long-distance trails

Long-distance trails, many of them born from the beds of defunct railroads, are becoming a recreational signature of the Inland Northwest.

Walkers, runners, bikers and in-line skaters are checking in from other states to make tracks on a remarkable and still-evolving network of routes, including:

Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes — 72 uninterrupted miles, paved, the crown jewel of the region’s rail-trails, from Plummer, Idaho, across the Chatcolet Bridge, along Lake Coeur d’Alene to Harrison and then along the Coeur d’Alene River to Mullan. The route has numerous trailheads, toilets and other developments, plus the services of 11 towns and several parks. Connects with an unpaved rail-trail that heads up to Lookout Pass and connects with the Route of the Hiawatha.

Info: Old Mission State Park, (208) 682-3814 or Coeur d’Alene Tribe trail manager, (208) 686-7045 or www.friendsofcdatrails.org.

Route of the Hiawatha — 13 miles, packed gravel, rail-trail on Montana-Idaho border, south of Lookout Pass, includes 10 tunnels and spectacular forest scenery from seven trestles. Shuttle services available. Trail fees charged.

Info: (208) 744-1301 or www.ridethehiawatha.com.

Centennial Trail — 60 miles, paved. Includes the 37-mile Spokane River portion from Nine Mile Falls, through Riverside State Park with two short interruptions before extending to the Idaho border. Also includes the 23-mile Idaho stretch, with some interruptions, from stateline to Higgens Point on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Info: For Washington side, Riverside State Park in Spokane (509) 465-5064 or Friends of the Centennial Trail, 624-7188. For Idaho side, www.northidahocentennialtrail.org.

Bill Chipman Palouse Trail — 8 miles, paved, rail-trail connecting Moscow, Idaho and Pullman, Washington.

Info: Whitman County Parks (509)397-6238 or www.whitmancounty.org/Parks.

Columbia Plateau Trail — 130 mile rail-trail from Spokane to Ice Harbor Dam east of Pasco includes 24 miles of developed trail from Lincoln County through Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge to Fish Lake east of Cheney. The 10 miles from Spokane to Fish Lake is mostly rough ballast. The only paved section so far is 3.75 miles from Fish Lake to Cheney.

Info: (509) 646-9218 or www.parks.wa.gov.

Millwaukee Road Corridor — 213 mile rail-trail from the Columbia River to the Idaho border near Tekoa, marred by a few private landowners who have gouged much of the promise and potential from Washington’s longest rail trail. An additional 72 miles of the original corridor acquisition is managed by Washington State Parks (see below).

Dogged by gates and blockades, long-distance trail users must detour around five major breaks in the right-of-way, although shorter distance travelers can enjoy miles without interruptions. Permits required. The most disappointing blockage is a one-mile segment disputed in a lawsuit by landowners along Rock Lake that forces an 11-mile detour around one of the trail’s most scenic sections.

Info, Department of Natural Resources, Attn: James Munroe, 713 Bowers Road, Elensburg, WA 98926-9301; telephone (509) 925-8510.

John Wayne Pioneer Trail — 108-mile rail-trail (including 72 miles of the original Milwaukee Corridor purchase) from North Bend over the Cascade Range and descending through Iron Horse State Park to the Columbia River at Vantage. High trestles and tunnels.

Info: Lake Easton State Park, (509) 656-2230, Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park, (509) 856-2700 or (360) 902-8844.