More Rail Trail pictures

One post about rail trails was not enough so here are some new pictures of rail trails I've been on since that last post. Expect to see more in the future! 

This stretch of the Centennial Trail on the west side of Spokane runs on top of the former Great Northern route built in 1902 and used until 1973. Where I am standing is just west of of Kendall Yards, also known as the Nettleton Addition. The railroad was dropping down here toward a crossing of the Spokane River. You can see the trail in the distance on the left edge of the photo. 

This section of trail includes some old stacked basalt retaining walls. I doubt these are as old as the railroad. My guess is they were more likely added sometime later by the city when improving the city street on the slope above (Summit Boulevard). I may use this as a model for some basalt retaining walls on the PE&A.

As the trail descends toward the river it makes a sharp right turn at this point, but the railroad would have continued straight over a 1,474 feet long bridge over the Spokane River, known as the GN High Bridge. It was built in 1902 and torn down in 1974. There is a small viewing platform which includes informational signage which mentions the former bridge. 

From the viewing platform you can still see some of the concrete pier foundations for the former bridge marching in pairs downhill toward the river.

Here is a closer view of one pair of pier foundations.

About three weeks ago I walked on the Colfax Trail for the first time, just west of Colfax. This trail is a little under three miles long and is built on a section of roadbed of the Spokane & Inland Empire electric railroad, the same railroad that ran across Moran Prairie. The trailhead is less than two miles from downtown Colfax where the railroad terminated. The trail runs right along the Palouse River so it is a very gentle and even slope.

While the valley is rather broad where the trail starts, after about a mile the valley narrows and the trail makes a sharp turn through a road cut blasted out of the basalt.

The second mile of the trail includes some great canyon views. Totally worth the rather ordinary first mile.

The trail runs right along the bottom of some dramatic cliffs as it follows the sharp meanders of the river. 

Another view of the Colfax Trail, this one looking upstream on the way back to the trailhead.

It seems like there are more wildflowers out every time I take a walk. More protected and shaded areas are still dominated by grass widows, sagebrush buttercups and glacier lilies. But arrowleaf balsamroot is now turning exposed, southern facing slopes a bright yellow. This view is along Centennial Trail at the trail's (and the Spokane River's) southernmost point, just before the river take a sharp turn to the northwest. Picture was taken this past Wednesday.

Grass widows (Olsynium douglasii var. inflatum). This and the next three pictures were taken Sunday morning at the Slavin Conservation Area southwest of Spokane.

Glacier lilies (Erythronium grandiflorum)

Yellow bell (Fritillaria pudica)

Lots of bees are now out to take advantage of all the recently opened flowers. This one is enjoying large-fruited biscuitroot (Lomatium macrocarpum)