The John Wayne Trail in Washington Needs Your Help
In the final moments of the last Washington state legislative session in June, 2015, Representative Joe Schmick slipped a provision into the budget to permanently close 135 miles of the John Wayne Trail in eastern Washington and give the state land to adjacent owners.
The John Wayne Trail (also called Iron Horse State Park) is 287 miles long and follows a former rail line that ran from Seattle to Chicago. Each year thousands of horseback riders, bicyclists, and hikers use the western part of the trail that extends eastward from the Cascade Mountain foothills, goes through tunnels underneath Snoqualmie Pass, and ends up along the banks of the Columbia River. This first 110 miles is well-developed with amenities such trailhead parking, signage, restrooms, and a smooth surface. The trail continues east from the Columbia River but with minimal amenities so fewer people use the trail in eastern Washington where it passes across the rugged and serene Missoula Flood scablands to the Idaho border.
Representative Schmick's efforts to transfer ownership of 6000 acres of the Washington State lands of the John Wayne Trail to private landowners was done behind closed doors without public notification or hearing. The trail would be closed today if not for a typographical error, a technicality which nullified the legislation he introduced.
Schmick has now agreed to hold three public “listening meetings” in which to solicit public comment and opinion. He says he will consider introducing legislation to address concerns expressed by citizens in these meetings.
We are small group of volunteers based in the small city of Tekoa at the eastern terminus of the trail we are determined to keep open. We aim to find ways to develop adequate state funding for recreational development of the trail in eastern Washington and to help adjacent private landowners solve problems they face by having a linear state park in their back yards, such as the illegal dumping of garbage where the trail intersects public roads.
As a biker, hiker, or horseback rider won't you give your support to the future of this gem of Washington state, the John Wayne Trail?
What You Can Do To Help:
Write Representative Joe Schmick directly. Let him know how you feel about management of this state park land. You can reach him at
JWTcomments@gmail.com. Also, write your local state representatives since they are likely to be voting on proposals for funding the trail (find their email addresses at
http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/)
Attend one of the three November meetings scheduled by Schmick. Be ready to give a pitch for the continued use and adequate funding for the John Wayne Trail. The meetings are:
Tuesday November 10th at 12pm. In Rosalia at the Community Center (7th St. and Whitman Ave.)
Monday November 16th at 12pm. In Lind at the Union Elevator Conference Room (201 S Street)
Monday November 23rd at 6pm. In Ellensburg at the Hal Holmes Center (209 N Ruby Street).
Issues that need to be addressed to ensure a successful future for the John Wayne Trail are:
1. Improve spraying for noxious weeds.
2. Reinstate ranger service by State Parks.
3. Develop a route where the train trestle once spanned Cow Creek.
4. Remove the permit requirement for recreationalists.
5. Remove fees for farmers moving equipment on the trail.
6. Restore Tekoa trestle so it is safe for hikers, horseback riders, and bicyclists.
7. Start a citizen litter patrol (“Adopt the Trail program”).
8. Repair the trestle that crosses the Columbia River.
9. Improve rock slide removal and gravel grading.
10. Install and maintain adequate fences and gates.
11. Install trailhead parking areas, signage, water stations, and restrooms.
For more information about this process call Ted Blaszak at 509-284-2080 or email us at
tekoatrailandtrestle@gmail.com. Also, check out the Facebook page, "Tekoa Trail & Trestle Association". We plan to get a web page dedicated to the John Wayne Trail up and running soon so that you can stay abreast of event and progress.
