How to Complete the Palouse to Cascades Trail with Scouts

The Palouse Trail is popular and frequented by many.  It is NOT a trail for inexperienced riders.  Some of our Hiking and Canoeing High Adventures have taken us to remote areas that were not suitable for novice travelers without expensive planning and appropriate adult supervision from experienced adults.  This includes Hiking trips through sections of the Pacific Crest Trail and Canoeing around Ross Lake which are popular Adventures for our Troop.  The Palouse Trails ranks up there with these outings and at times, the trail will take you out in the middle of nowhere easily 20 miles from help (considering a road as access to help). 

Sections of the Palouse are remote, rugged and temperature can exceed 100 degrees during heat waves.  Certain areas are best avoided during heat waves.  That said, many people, to include Scouting Units, have completed the entire trail during high heat conditions.  The trick is knowing how to avoid injury and having proper adult supervision. 

The following are notes on ways to complete this trail with Scouts.

Adult Supervision

First and Foremost, you MUST have 2 adult leaders who are able to make competent decisions.  If conditions become too harsh or if someone becomes injured, they must know how to handle the situation, how to adjust the trip and when to stop the trip altogether.  Scout units should not attempt this journey in the summer without at least 2 competent adult leads riding with the Scouts.

Adults should be:

• Experienced riders

• Be in excellent biking shape

  • Able to complete a bike century (100-miles) and still be able to perform the following day

• Have advanced wilderness medical training

  • Minimum: Wilderness First Aid 

• Experience with High Adventure with Scouts

• Know the Scouts on the outing

  • Know their strengths and weakness

  • Know when they are struggling

• Able to make safety calls to evacuate group or cancel the trip

Training

• Scouts AND Adults must train up for this adventure

• It is recommended that you ride 300-400 miles in the months leading up to High Adventure

• This builds riding skill, strength and endurance for long rides

• It shakes out gear

  • Bikes not up to the challenges of High Adventure can be identified and repaired or replaced

• This builds teamwork between Scouts, between adult leaders and for the group as a whole

• Everyone will learn about each others strengths and weaknesses

  • This enables to team work most successfully on the trail

• Start Training in March

  • Set up 18 rides

    • 20 to 50 miles each

  • Goal is 400 miles prior to High Adventure

Daily Mileage for Scouts

• Experienced riders will travel in excess of 60 miles a day with fully loaded bikes (90 pounds)

  • It's not reasonable to expect a mixed groups of Scouts to do this for 5+ days in a row

• During High Adventures Scouts can be expected to travel 30-50 miles a day on a bike not carrying camping gear

• Certain sections of the Palouse trail need to be completed as 50+ mile days if BikePacking unsupported

  • Section lengths can be shortened significantly if you have support vehicles to pickup and drop off riders

• Certain sections of the Palouse, especially during high heat condition, should be limited to 30 miles per day

• Scout and Adult leads should be ready to cut certain sections shorter as needed, depending on condition of the route, weather and crew

Equipment for Scout Adventure

• Bikepacking is possible but will be more challenging than a SAG supported trip

  • Setting up bikes with racks and bucket panniers is can be expensive

  • Bikepacking is going to be significantly more challenging

  • They will need to be in top shape to complete a BikePacking adventure on the Palouse

  • Bikepacking without shuttling during the adventure make camping options much more challenging

  • If your crew really wants to do this, go for it

• Bikes

  • Mountain bikes with at least 2inch tires are recommended

    • Rear suspension is NOT needed or desired

    • Front suspension isn't important and you may wish to lock it out it is able to be locked out

  • Gravel bikes will work

    • Will need at least 40mm tires

    • Rider should be an experienced rider

    • These bikes will be faster on pavement and firm gravel

    • Expect more struggle in soft sand and rough gravel than bikes with larger tires

  • Quality gear

    • Miles of gravel road will stress any bike

    • Economy bikes or those in disrepair are at high risk of failure on the trail

• You will need spare tires and tubes for all bikes

  • Plan on many tire changes

• Comprehensive repair kit

  • Carried in SAG Vehicle

• Ideally carry a spare bike

  • Bikes can hit potholes or crash and be rendered unusable

  • An extra bike will allow participants to continue their journey should their bike become damaged

    • That may also give the support team time to get the bike repaired for the next section 

• Full size pump

  • Have 2 in support vehicles - in case one brakes

  • Previous crews have carried full size pumps on their bikes

    • It was needed that much

Vehicle and Adult Support

• It is possible to complete this trip without vehicle support

  • This is NOT advised

• Have 2 dedicated vehicles follow crew

  • Must be able to transport ALL crew, bikes, gear and coolers with drinks

  • Consider a trailer for bikes

• Minimum Adult Support

  • 3 Adult Leads riding with Scouts

    • Must be in excellent shape

  • 2-4 Adults in support vehicles

    • Bring more than one book and things to keep you occupied 

HEAT

• It's going to be HOT

• We use Wet Bulb Globe Forecasts to help us plan next day rides

  • digital.weather.gov/?zoom=7&lat=46.91727&lon=-119.9908&layers=F000BTTTFTT&region=0&element=9 

  • Adjust this tool so that it shows Wet Bulb Globe Temperature 

  • Adjust times to see forecast

• Rides may be shorted or canceled if the weather doesn't allow for safe riding

• We may readjust rides to early (and I mean EARLY) morning rides as needed

• Adult Riders will make a safety call if riders need to slow pace, take breaks or end ride early

Communication

• Cell coverage is surprisingly good along most of the trail

  • See broadbandmap.fcc.gov

• As with most of our High Adventure, satellite communication is recommended (required by our Troop)

  •  2 Satellite Messengers

    • Carried by two different adult leads in Riding Team

    • Trackers on

  • Consider Satellite Messenger for Support Team

• Radios for Support Vehicles

  • Phones will likely work just fine

  • Radio as backup communication 

• You almost don't need GPS navigation for this trail

  • You still need to have GPS navigation as well as paper maps

  • Use a Cycling GPS Computer to conserve battery for your phone

Route Planning for Scouts

• First off - you DON'T need to ride every mile of the trail

  • The entirety of the trail is LONG

  • Certain sections put you out in the middle of nowhere

    • This compromises safety and forces you to travel on some long sections 

  • Certain sections just aren't any fun

  • There are several detours that are pointless to travel if you can avoid them

  • OK to consider swim or town visit instead of logging in more miles

  • Adults may have to push for shorter days or skipping certain sections for the sake of safety or sanity 

    • Let the scouts lead - they usually make the right call

    • Adults need to override Scout Plan when necessary 

      • This is not a safe place to fail

  • Be Flexible 

    • Every day is a new day

    • Every section is different from the others

    • Any section can be deemed unpassable for any number of reasons

• Register

  • You need gate codes for a happy journey 

• Itineraries for Scout Groups

  • The physical ability of Scouts and Adults varies significantly

  • The following is designed for Scouts with a mixed range of abilities

    • This should be achievable by anyone who has completed High Adventure Training

  • Start Point of Adventure

    • You can start at different locations

    • Rattlesnake Lake

      • Most will start at Rattlesnake Lake

      • Trailhead is considered Mile 0 and Day 1

      • Starts with uphill to Hyak

    • Seattle 

      • Mile -50 and Day 0

      • Interesting to start a big adventure in town

        • Start at 3rd Place Commons and take bike trails to North Bend

          • 47.7537, -122.2781

        • Mix of paved and gravel bike trail

        • Minimal road travel in Snoqualmie area

      • Will need to setup sleep accommodations in North Bend

      • This can add 50 miles to your journey, depending on which route you choose

        • Travel 45 miles or so the first day, add an extra leg to the following day

        • It's 50 miles of Western Washington

          • Cooler weather

          • More or less interesting than Eastern Washington - depends on how you look at it

      • Use this option if

        • You need an extra day of High Adventure (to make 5)

        • You want to replace a section of hot desert with cooler forest

        • You want more and want to start and/or end your journey near home

      • Camping Night 0

        • North Bend

          • Cascade Covenant Church

            • 47.4806, -121.7594

            • Nicer option than fire station

          • Fire Station

            • 47.4880, -121.7739

            • Camp on grass

          • Mr B has a Private option in North Bend

        • Duvall 

          • Mountain Meadow Camp Ground

          • 47.7370, -121.9308

          • Further away from Snoqualmie pass

          • Too far from trail 

            • Will need transport to trail

            • NOT Recommended

          • Used by out of area unit in past

      • Hyak

        • 47.3916, -121.3923

        • Option to start at highest point

          • Want to avoid getting on the struggle bus on day 1?

        • Travel east downhill towards the Columbia River

        • After reaching the Columbia River, you can come back here and head west and downhill towards Seattle

          • Fantastic downhill ride to end your journey

          • Ice Cream in North Bend?

          • If you want, you can continue journey to Seattle

      • East to West?

        • Most recommend going West to East

        • It is possible to start on the east side and head home

        • Expect headwinds

        • Columbia River

          • There is a long hill (close to 20 miles with a 2-3% grade) going up from the Columbia river into a remote site at the Yakima Firing Center - that's a rough way and place to start your Adventure

          • After leaving the Yakima Firing Center, there is a gradual uphill until Hyak (generally less than 1% grade)

          • The downhill grade from Hyak going west is a wonderful way to end this Adventure

        • Idaho

          • There is a gradual downhill most the way to the Columbia River

          • Some of trail near Idaho is poorly maintained

            • Not a great way start a journey

          • Many section of the east of the Columbia River and closed and require detours

            • It's easier to skip these sections on the second half of your trip than the first

            • Detours can be a demotivator in the beginning of a trip

  • Day 1

    • Assuming you are starting at Rattlesnake Lake

    • Start at Rattlesnake Lake

    • First leg is 2% rail road grade ascent to Hyak

    • Hyak

      • Heated Restrooms and showers 47.3914, -121.3924

    • After Hyak, there is a gentle downhill slope past Ellensburg 

    • Camping 

      • Depends on where you start

      • Start from Duvall

        • Cold Creak Campground just past Hyak

          • 47.3681, -121.3947

          • At Keechelus Lake

          • Swim in Lake

      • Start from North Bend or Rattlesnake Lake

        • Camp at Lake Easton 

          • Mile 38 from Rattlesnake Lake

          • 47.2425, -121.1851

          • Swim in Lake

          • RV Option

  • Day 2

    • Stop at Cle Elum and visit museum

      • Have milkshakes

    • Thorp

      • Thorp Fruit & Antique Mall 

        • South side of Trail

        • Get cherries

        • Get Icee

        • Gas station there too

    • Camping

      • Thorp

        • Stay at school

          • Mile 68 from Rattlesnake Lake

          • 47.0694, -120.6768

          • 31 Miles from Lake Easton

      • Cle Elum

        • Whispering Pines RV Park

        • Mile 51 from Rattlesnake Lake

        • 47.1894, -120.9360

        • Too close to Lake Easton - 16 miles

        • More reasonable if starting from Cold Creak Campground - 28 miles

        • RV Option

      • Ellensburg 

        • Not ideal start point for next leg - which will be a long one

        • Ellensburg KOA

        • Mile 75 from Rattlesnake Lake

        • 47.0058, -120.5948

        • 37 miles from Lake Easton

          • Will need to hop on road

            • Thorp Highway is a little longer (5.5 miles 26 min), but seems to be less busy

            • Reecer Creek is busier but shorter (1.7 miles 10 min)

        • You can use Ellensburg to shorten trip by one day

          • Reasonable if you shuttle riders past Kittitas to start the Renslow Section

        • RV Option

  • Day 3

    • Travel through Ellensburg 

      • Ride through college campus 47.0078, -120.5365

    • Kittitas camping

      • Mile 82 from Rattlesnake Lake

      • Park

        • Talk to city

      • School

        • Pay fee

        • Fill out paperwork

        • Sleep in gym (during heat wave)

      • Kittitas gets closer to Renslow Section

    • Ellensburg camping

      • If you can't get camping in Thorp or Kittitas, you can stay at the Ellensburg KOA

        • 47.0058, -120.5948

        • This is between Thorp and Kittitas

          • This will possibly shortening your journey trip by a day

            • May be desirable if you are trying to complete the entire trek to Idaho

            • May need to add a Seattle leg if you are ending trip at Columbia River

      • This isn't ideal as this section to the Columbia River is grueling, remote and long

      • Consider transporting crew to a closer start location to make this day more reasonable

        • 46.9740, -120.3646 

        • Skips soft sand on trail that follows Parke Creek Road

        • Shorten this leg to 35 miles to Wanapum State Park 

      • An optional tubing day on the Yakima River is possible from here

      • RV Option

    • Day 4

    • Hit trail early in the morning - 4am

    • No water until Doris 46.8694, -120.0057 

      • Pack plenty of water

    • Pass over Renslow Trestle 

    • You now entering the Yakima Training Center

      • Water resupply possible at trailhead - if support team brings some 

      • Starting here bypasses Trestle and shortens this section to 32 miles to Wanapum State Park 

    • This section is long and remote

      • 4 miles of soft sand traveling up an incline before cresting the high point

        • If sand is too miserable, use the gravel road to bypass most of trail

      • All downhill until you hit the Columbia

      • Slight uphill if you follow Columbia north to Wanapum Start Park

    • Consider Ending Trip after making it to the Columbia River

      • You don't have to go home - depends on your schedule

      • Consider crossing the Beverly Bridge and being picked up on the other side

      • You can also camp and then travel the following day - making for a 5 day trip

      • If you are stopping here, you have options

        • Tube/Raft the Yakima

        • Go back to Hyak and ride the trial down hill to North Bend and have Ice Cream

          • You can continue to Seattle if you wish - that's another 45 or so miles

        • Head home

      • Water 

      • If you need a refill

      • Doris 46.8694, -120.0057 

      • Camping

        • Wanapum State Park 

          • Mile 120 from Rattlesnake Lake

          • 46.9040, -119.9902

          • Doris Road 

            • Sometimes used as a shortcut to the camp

            • 46.8713, -119.9876

            • It can be blocked by a huge pile of tumbleweeds

            • If not blocked or is cleared, bikes can slide under gate at end of road

          • RV Option

        • Sand Hollow Campground

          • 46.9220, -119.9536

          • On east side of Columbia River north of Beverly

          • Should drive there to avoid busy 243

          • Used by 6th Ward Scouts youtube  IRJvSwSGEFM

            • Looks like a great swim spot

          • Great option if you would like to finish the day by crossing the Columbia River

          • RV Option

        • Beverly Dunes

          • 46.8299, -119.8965

          • It is possible to cross the Beverly Bridge and camp at Beverly Dunes

          • You miss out on facilities and water at state park

          • Often crowded

            • Expect noise

            • Porta Potties at the dunes can be BEYOND NASTY!

            • There is NO running water here

    • Continuing Past Columbia River

    • Day 5

    • Bridge

      • Beverly Bridge

        • 46.8315, -119.9484

        • Use Beverly Bridge to cross the Columbia River

      • I 90 Bridge

        • If Beverly Bridge is closed, transport Crew to other side of Columbia River via I90

        • I90 should be avoided if on bikes

          • FAST traffic and sections with NO Shoulder

        • WA 26 should also be avoided

          • Fast traffic

        • If this section must be used, travel earlier in morning when there is less traffic 

    • After the Columbia, the trail starts a gentle ascent towards Idaho

      • There are a few hills, several because of detours off the rail line

    • Puncture Vines

      • Avoid section with puncture vines

      • Hop on road here 46.8386, -119.6982

    • Smyrna School

      • There is a schoolhouse here and you can get a tour

    • Rail line detour

      • You are already on the road because of Puncture Vines (goadheads)

      • Just stay on road

    • Take Detour to 26

      • There is a short section (less than a mile) of 26 from Gillis Rd to Danielson Rd

      • There is a steep hill on Danielson Rd

      • Stop at lookout on Danielson Rd 46.80215, -119.3283

      • After this, there a long detour to Warden since there is still a real rail line here

      • This is great place to STOP and shuttle to the next stop

        • Miles 37 from Wanapum State Park 

        • Recommend an Ice Cream stop 46.8253, -119.1742

    • Camping

      • Each of these spots assumes you will shuttle riders there in a vehicle

        • If you are riding

          • Othello is about 10 miles past the recommended stop point

            • Avoid riding on 26

          • Warden is 15 miles further 

          • Lind is 22 miles beyond Warden

      • Lind

        • Contact city and see if you can camp here

        • Park 46.9719, -118.6111

        • School 46.9765, -118.6179

      • Othello 

        • If you don't have accommodations in Lind, camp at Othello Fair Grounds

        • Adams County Fairgrounds 

          • 46.7927, -119.1527

          • RV Option

        • South of Othello

        • Othello has Grocery, restaurants, inn, parks

      • Ritzville

        • Wheat Land Communities’ Fairgrounds

          • wheatlandfairgrounds.com

          • info@ritzcamping.com 

        • Camping allowed

        • Closer to Lind than Othello 

        • 24-Hour Hospital

          • East Adams Rural Healthcare

          • 47.1212, -118.3719

        • Way off trail

          • Use assumes you are driving to and from there

        • RV Option

      • Potholes State Park 46.9786, -119.3520

        • Little further away than other options and WAY off the trail

        • State park with lake

        • Cute cul-de-sac camp setup

        • RV Option

  • Day 6 

    • Option 1

      • Start in Lind 46.9718, -118.6114

        • Check out town - its pretty

    • Option 2

      • Start in Warden 46.9697, -119.0350

        • You can start at Warden for a longer or different ride

        • About 22 miles west of Lind 

        • Nice trail between Warden and Lind

        • The bridge before Lind may still be out 46.9677, -118.6397

    • Travel through Cow Creek Ranch Detour

      • Detour does not map out on Google Maps

        • See palousetocascadestrail.org/eastofcolumbia 

        • Detour Image 

        • You can see the dirt road on the Satellite images

        • Detour is on private property

        • Owners are gracious enough to allow riders through

        • Best Behavior - DON'T wander off trail, camp here or mess with cattle

      • Bridge at 47.0087, -118.2312

    • Ralston

      • Town was burned down

      • There is an empty park that can be used for camping

      • Water by trail at 46.9864, -118.3452

      • Toilet by trailhead 46.9864, -118.3438

    • Stop around Marengo 47.0231, -118.1953

      • That's about 25 miles from Lind

      • Warden is about 22 miles west of Lind 

    • Trail past Marengo

      • Passes through Scablands of exposed bed rock

      • Surface is railroad ballast and not easy to navigate

        • Miserable to travel on

      • There are also more detours ahead, which you should just shuttle past

    • Shuttle to Camp

      • Rosalia 

        • Rosalia City Park camping

          • 47.2311, -117.37192

          • Water, Electric, Pool, Picnic Tables, Restroom, Dump Station, Playground

        • Lions Club

          • 47.2325, -117.3722

          • 801-899 South Park Avenue, Rosalia, WA 99170

            • Right next to park

          • RV Camping

            • Water and Electricity

          • Looks like a big parking lot with hookups

          • 2023 - 4 local RVs took over entire site 

            • Call first

            • 509 569-3334

        • Small market, couple of places to eat including a cafe that was open early with coffee and breakfast burritos

        • Check about pool

        • 20 mile trail ride to Tekoa

      • Malden City Park

        • 47.2292, -117.4756

      • St John

        • Outdoor pool

        • Tent Camping 

          • Saint John Fairgrounds 

            • 47.0921, -117.5852

            • (509) 648-3622 (Fairgrounds)

            • stjohnwa.com  

          • City Park

            • 47.0888, -117.5835

      • Oaksdale option 

        • Oakesdale Public Pool

        • 15 mile road ride to Tekoa

    • Optional side trip to Steptoe Butte State Park Heritage Site 47.0323, -117.2970

  • Day 7

    • Rosalia to Tekoa is about 20 miles

    • Malden to Tekoa is another 10 miles

    • Trestle out at Pandora 47.2404, -117.2714

      • Easy detour - you'll know it when you see it

    • Tekoa Trestle

      • 975 feet long

      • Have to pass over the trestle

        • Makes for a great last day (if this is your last day)

      • If you have phobia - you can detour it

    • If Idaho is the end of your journey

      • Ride the 5 miles to the boarder

        • Poorly maintained trail with nasty mud puddles

        • Large puddle and lots of mud  2 miles from Idaho border 

          • Word of wisdom - pick up bike and carry it over mud

          • Riding through this mud is pointless and will gum everything up

      • If you need to camp, head back to Tekoa 

        • You can take the road if you are done with mud

    • If you are continuing your journey past Day 8

      • Camp at Tekoa

        • Swim and camp at city park

          • Park 47.2285, -117.07316

          • Call to confirm

          • Contact the City of Tekoa Parks and Recreation Department

            • tekoawa.com/park-facilities 

          • Pool 47.2242, -117.0678

        • Might be able to stay in community building

        • Please have camped out here 47.2256, -117.07854

          • Camping behind horse arena

          • Confirm with city first

  • Continuing Past Idaho Border

  • Day 8

    • If crossing Washington wasn't enough, you can continue through Idaho

    • Trail continues to Mowry 47.3091, -116.9958

      • “Idaho Link”

      • Private property allows trail use for 3.25 miles to Mowry Road

      • Do NOT attempt to travel on trail past this point - it is impassable (many have tried)

      • If you wish to continue, you will need to take roads to get to the next trailhead

    • 8-9 miles of road riding or shuttling to trailhead

    • Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes 47.3411, -116.8899

    • Swim in River or lake

    • Camp 

      • School camp

        • Not sure of location

      • Rose Lake 47.5534, -116.4575

  • Day 9

    • Lunch in Kellogg at Excelsior Cycle & Sport Shop 47.5367, -116.1216

    • Mullan 

      • Swim in Mullan 47.4705, -115.7992

      • Camp at Mullan High 47.4692, -115.7981

    • Consider visit to Fish Hatchery 47.4654, -115.7218

      • 4 miles east of Mullan

  • Day 10

    • Last Day

    • Drive to Lookout Pass 47.4554, -115.6964

      • Consider 12 mile ride to Route of the Hiawatha Trail

      • Mostly downhill with uphill at end

      • If Scouts are cooked, just go straight to Hiawatha

    • Route of the Hiawatha Trail 47.3966, -115.6351

      • Fee to use trail

      • Great downhill ride

      • If drivers want to join

        • Rental bikes are available

        • Shuttle back to start 

      • Fantastic finale 

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