Palouse to Cascades Trail - Beverly Bridge

The full length of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail is 287 miles and includes numerous access points, from Cedar Falls in the Cascades to Tekoa near the Idaho border. This short section south of Vantage offers the perfect section hike for I-90 travelers, with its easy-access location just a few miles south of the freeway. The unique feature of this hike is a non-motorized trail bridge spanning the Columbia River, offering an impressive vantage point of both the river and the nearby Saddle Mountains.

The trail can be accessed from either side of the Columbia River, with the most developed parking area located on the west side. This access point includes a porta potty but no potable water and a large gravel parking area. The eastside access area is a small gravel turn-around adjacent to the trail on the edge of the town of Beverly and offers no amenities. However, it does offer additional recreation nearby in the form of several recreation and informational sites developed by the Grant County Public Utilities District. The Beverly access point is also just a short drive away from the not-to-be-missed Wanapum Heritage Center, a free museum near Wanapum Dam on the east side of the Columbia River.

The trail distance between the parking areas is 4.5 miles round trip with a mere 150’ elevation gain. The trail surface consists of packed gravel closest to each parking lot, and the bridge surface is concrete. ADA accessibility is fairly good, although the gravel can be loose in some areas closest to the parking lots. There are several benches along the trail, both on the east side of the bridge and also directly on the bridge, inviting visitors to sit and take in the view. 

It’s easy to extend this hike in either direction, although to travel west requires registering for a free permit to enter the Yakima Training Center, owned and operated by the US Army. There is a kiosk with instructions located just west of the parking lot. To continue to travel east beyond Beverly requires advanced registration for a free permit with Washington State Parks. The online registration form is quick and easy, and it is possible to request access for up to a full calendar year.