Spokane River Centennial Trail
Encyclopedia
The Spokane River Centennial Trail is a 37 miles (60 km) paved trail in Washington for alternate transportation and recreational use. It extends from Sontag Park in Nine Mile Falls, Washington
to the Washington/Idaho
border. It passes through the cities of Spokane, Washington
, Spokane Valley, Washington
, Liberty Lake, Washington
, and is divided into three sections. Riverside refers to the section of the trail within Riverside State Park
, Urban refers to the section within the city of Spokane, and Valley refers the Spokane Valley section west of the border. After the border into Idaho, the trail continues as the North Idaho Centennial Trail
.
, advocates proposed a mixed use pathway along the river. Citizens in Washington and Idaho expanded the idea by 1986 by joining forces and suggesting a much longer trail that could be completed in time to celebrate the respective state centennials of Washington (1989) and Idaho
(1990) .
Nine Mile Falls, Washington
Nine Mile Falls is an unincorporated community in Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is located 9 mi from downtown Spokane, at the location of the former falls on the Spokane River. The Nine Mile Falls Dam was built by Spokane & Inland Empire Railroad on the site of the falls in...
to the Washington/Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
border. It passes through the cities of Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, Spokane Valley, Washington
Spokane Valley, Washington
Spokane Valley is an incorporated city in Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is located east of Spokane and west of Coeur d'Alene. It surrounds the town of Millwood on three sides...
, Liberty Lake, Washington
Liberty Lake, Washington
Liberty Lake is an incorporated city in Spokane County, Washington, United States, on the Idaho state line. Liberty Lake is a suburb of Spokane, Washington. Thus, it is situated between Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho...
, and is divided into three sections. Riverside refers to the section of the trail within Riverside State Park
Riverside State Park
Riverside State Park is a park northwest of Spokane in Nine Mile Falls, Washington. At over , it is the second-largest state park in Washington. The park includes two campgrounds; one at the Bowl & Pitcher and the other at the Nine Mile Recreation area...
, Urban refers to the section within the city of Spokane, and Valley refers the Spokane Valley section west of the border. After the border into Idaho, the trail continues as the North Idaho Centennial Trail
North Idaho Centennial Trail
The North Idaho Centennial Trail is a paved trail in Idaho used for transportation and recreational activities. Extending from Higgens Point on the northeast side of Lake Coeur d'Alene, a popular place for bald eagle watchers in early winter, the trail follows the lake's north shoreline to the...
.
History
Following the Expo '74Expo '74
Expo '74 was an environmentally themed world's fair in Spokane, Washington that ran from 4 May to 3 November 1974.Expo '74, in proclaiming itself the first exposition on an environmental theme, distanced itself from the more techno-centric world's fairs of the sixties...
, advocates proposed a mixed use pathway along the river. Citizens in Washington and Idaho expanded the idea by 1986 by joining forces and suggesting a much longer trail that could be completed in time to celebrate the respective state centennials of Washington (1989) and Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
(1990) .