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| Swale portion of the Klickitat Trail is closed. See News Flashes! for details. |
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Located in southern Washington State, in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge, the Klickitat Trail follows the first 31 miles of an old railroad corridor linking the towns of Lyle and Goldendale. It is unique among rail trails. Nowhere else is there a rail trail that starts in a remote, beautiful tributary canyon, winds along a nationally designated Wild & Scenic River, and finishes in one of the nation’s only National Scenic Areas.
The 31-mile gently-graded Trail starts in the breathtaking, remote Swale Canyon and passes through the small town of Klickitat before following all 10.5 miles of the beautiful Wild and Scenic Klickitat River, ending at the trailhead near Lyle, Washington, at the confluence of the Klickitat and Columbia Rivers. The Trail’s spectacular scenery includes carved gorges, interesting geologic formations, abundant wildflowers, rolling oak and ponderosa pine forests, and great birding opportunities, including winter habitat for bald eagles near the Lyle trailhead.
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Along the Wild & Scenic Klickitat River in the Summer.
Photo courtesy of Darryl Lloyd. |
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Some dramatic milestones in Klickitat Trail progress took place in 2009. Klickitat County gave the final approval for the construction of the Lyle Trailhead, a project the U.S. Forest Service has had the money to do for the past two years. Klickitat County also recommended approval of shoreline permits for decking the Fisher Hill Trestle, the biggest by far on the Trail, and for two boardwalks over swampy sections of the Trail.
Construction at the new Lyle Trailhead is well underway with construction due to be finished about mid-August. Landscape plantings will be done later in the fall when it is cooler. This new trailhead will be paved and include toilet facilities. We will celebrate the opening of this trailhead by meeting here for our 9th annual Opening of the Trail Celebration in mid-October. The celebration will include a tailgate breakfast and options for a long or short hike. KTC is in the process of putting together the fall hike schedule. Details of the Celebration will be included.
Summer is a fine time to hike the trail. Morning and evening are the best times in order to avoid the heat. Swale Canyon is currently open, but it does close during the summer. The annual decision by Washington State Parks to close Swale Canyon is based on Washington Department of Natural Resource's (DNR) fire danger rating for Klickitat County. Once DNR determines that Klickitat County's fire danger rating is "High", the Swale Canyon portion of the trail is closed. Please visit our News Flash! section for details.
In addition, work committee chairman Jim Denton led several work parties decking three of the trestles in Swale Canyon, starting at Harms Rd. This is a major achievement for the Trail. More trestles in Swale will need to be decked this spring, as well as our usual pruning, weeding, and rock-fall clearing. Visit our Work Parties schedule and consider joining us.
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| The first 17 miles of the Trail follow the Klickitat River, a nationally designated Wild & Scenic river. The Trail then heads east, through Swale Creek Canyon, a pristine area that is extraordinarily scenic, ecologically significant, and largely isolated from human activity. The rugged, remoteness of Swale Canyon draws mountain bikers and adventurers. Beautiful carved n arrow gorges of the Klickitat and Swale Canyons, with their rolling oak and pine forested hillsides, host spectacular wildflower displays and provide topnotch birding opportunities. The Klickitat Trail is truly a gem of the Columbia River Gorge and the Pacific Northwest. |
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View of Pitt from Lyle-Appleton Road.
The Klickitat Trail is visible on the right side of the river.
Photo courtesy of Donna Enz |
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This multi-use trail is ideal for a variety of recreational uses throughout the seasons. The trail in winter brings a landscape of quiet solitude and offers the chance to cross-country ski or enjoy unique ice formations along the cliffs. Spring delivers green-draped hills with a profusion of wildflowers. The landscape turns to shades of beige and brown by early summer. Birding opportunities await year 'round. Fishing is popular -- the Klickitat River is home to Coho and Chinook salmon as well as steelhead trout. By fall the oaks and maples are putting on a last burst of color in the cool crisp air. Horse use on the trail is not currently allowed. However, that may change in the future as the Master Planning process evolves.
Ancient traditions continue near the trail. The Klickitat River is one of only two Native American dip-net fisheries in the Columbia River Basin. Dramatic and unique geologic landscapes can also be seen. Steep columnar basalt cliffs are visible from the trail near Wahkiacus. And about a mile from the Lyle Trailhead is an area known as the "Narrows" where the river squeezes through the basalt flows. |
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| The Trail offers spectacular river and canyon views throughout its length. The beautiful carved gorges of the Klickitat and Swale Canyons, with their rolling oak and pine forested hillsides, host spectacular wildflower displays and provide topnotch birding opportunities. Read a great article about eagle viewing published in The Dalles Chronicle. These are just a few of the unique attributes that make this Trail truly a gem of the Columbia Gorge and Pacific Northwest, enjoyed by the public throughout the entire year. |
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View of the trail as it winds
through Swale Canyon.
Photo courtesy of Bob Hansen |
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