The DNR Fire Hazard for Eastern Klickitat County has been raised to High. This means that the Swale Canyon section of the Klickitat Trail from Wahkiakus to Harms Road is now closed until late October, whenever the hazard rating goes down to Moderate. Meanwhile, the rest of the Trail is open year around.
Biking the trail can be an exhilarating experience. The scenery is incredible, but in many places the trail is also incredibly rough. The trail surface is quite variable. The following information relates to trail runners as well.
- 70% is mixed rocks and dirt but with a clear route through
- 15% is nice dirt
- 10% is RR ballast
- 5% is rolled gravel
- Nice smooth rolled pea gravel is just in two short sections:
from Lyle to Fisher Hill bridge (about 1.7 miles) and in the town of Klickitat (0.5 miles). - No sections are paved, just the trailhead at Lyle. Mostly the trail is dry rather than mud holes, except a day or two after rain. Some sections are grassy or smooth dirt like a single track.
- Many sections are mixed rock, dirt and plants; but the vegetation is cleared away from the path. A couple sections are almost pure railroad ballast, which is the 3 or 4 inch rock that is packed around the rail and ties on a railroad. But the ballast rock is kind of packed down, so it is not too bad.
- There may be 2 or 3 miles max of that. There are no sections that are nasty jumbled bigger rocks, or eroded dirt piles, etc.
- Remember, it is a railroad bed, so there is a very uniform and gentle grade throughout.
- If you want to do a through run, notice that just east of the town of Klickitat the RR Trestle is washed out. Be sure to see our directions under the heading Wahkiakus on our map. You have to leave the Trail, go to SR 142 and run 3 miles on the paved road to get into Klickitat. From there, the trail goes right on through to Lyle.
Biking Tips for the Klickitat Trail
Expect to take 3 to 5 hours to bike the entire trail.
Front suspension for your bike HIGHLY recommended.
Carry at least 3 liters of water on a hot day. You can refill water bottles in the town of Klickitat.
Slime in your inner tubes will help prevent flats.
Carry a tire repair kit. Yellow-star thistle burrs and Goat Head thorns (aka Puncturevine) are notorious for puncturing tires.
Bikers need to exit the trail at Schilling Road, and re-connect in the town of Klickitat via SR 142.
Carry extra food, sun screen and a first aid kit.
Beware of ticks, poison oak and rattlesnakes. Lime Disease is in the area, check for ticks!
There is currently NO predictable cell phone coverage on the trail, especially in remote Swale Canyon.
The only way in or out of Swale Canyon is at the trailheads.
Stay on the trail. Private property abuts the trail in most places.
Photo: Ashleigh Coyner