Palouse to Cascades Trail - Easton — Monday, Jun. 22, 2020

We completed a 4-day, 3-night backpack along 53 miles of the Palouse to Cascades (P2C) State Park trail along this converted railway line from Cedar Falls to south Cle Elum. The entire trip was along the well-maintained packed gravel trail with only a 2% incline resulting in above average travel speeds even with a full backpack. The first 4.5 miles from Cedar Falls to the Olallie State park was well traveled by other hikers, bikers, and even some rock climbing groups. This section is was a pleasant walk with summer wildflowers (especially foxglove) in bloom.  From Olallie S.P. to Hyak (about 16 miles) the gentle uphill track was less traveled except by bikers. Two back-country camps (Alice Creek and Carter Creek) make for nice rest stops. Water is available from the adjacent creeks. The vault toilets were well maintained. The approach to the Snoqualmie tunnel offered some good views over I-90 and the rest area at the west entrance gave an opportunity to throw on a fleece and headlamp for the 2.3-mile tunnel walk.  Hyak at the east end of the tunnel makes for easy highway access with a large parking area, restrooms, and picnic tables if one wants to meet friends or just hike the tunnel. From Hyak to Lake Easton State Park the hike is a gentle downhill stroll of 18 miles. Cold Creek and Roaring Creek campgrounds are excellent overnight stops with large gravel tent pads and clean restrooms (Note: $12 primitive camping fees). Bugs were minimal even at dusk but the I-90 highway noise from across Keechelus Lake may bother light sleepers. Further down the trail and just beyond the eastern entrance to the Whittier tunnel there is a rest area with restrooms and a picnic table…nice surprise! Paralleling the Yakima river for the last couple of miles to Lake Easton S.P. one begins to see a change in vegetation type due to the dryer eastern slope climate. At the west end of Lake Easton State Park there a well-marked cutoff trail access into the park but one can choose to bypass this access and walk into the town of Easton. The small but well stocked Easton “The Hitching Post” grocery store provides limited food service at times but more importantly, lots of cold beverages after a long trek! The store is a good location for a car rendezvous. Easton is only a one-mile drive back into the State Park entrance. Lake Easton Park is an excellent overnight stop with 2 hiker/biker tent pads. The only downside here is the ever-present din of traffic noise which is disconcerting throughout the night. I suggest reserving a larger camping spot. These campsites are more costly than the hiker/biker pads are but closer to the restrooms and showers. Check out the possibility of reserving camp site #87. The 11.5-mile hike from Easton to South Cle Elum is level, straight and rather an uninteresting “slog” into town. In the summer it may be quite hot with little shade midday so sunscreen, a big hat, and adequate water should be carried. The South Cle Elem Rail Yard National Historic rail yard was a welcome end to this section of the P2C trail. The trail-head entrance at train depot building (originally built in 1909) was our final rest stop and made for an interesting and easily accessible pickup location. See parks.state.wa.us for more information and Maps.