Good news from Washington State Parks. The Cascades to Palouse State Park Trail now offers 100 miles of virtually unimpeded access for bicyclists, horseback riders, and hikers between North Bend and the Columbia River near Beverly. This comes about with the recent renovation of the Renslow Trestle, crossing Interstate 90 east of Kittitas, along the old Milwaukee Road rail line that has been converted to a multi-use recreational trail.
Formerly known as the John Wayne Pioneer Trail and Iron Horse State Park, this old rail line was acquired by the state after Milwaukee Railroad went out of business in the 1970s. Over time, trestles, tunnels, and other sections have been repaired. This spring, for the first time, the full 100-mile length of the trail to the Columbia is available for use, except for a small stretch of street travel between Water Street and the Kittitas County Fairgrounds in Ellensburg.