Bill Chipman Palouse Trail
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox trail
| name = Bill Chipman Palouse Trail
| embed =
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| title =
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| location =
| designation =
| established = {{start date and age|1998|4|4|br=yes}}
| length = {{convert|7|mi}}
| trailheads = Moscow, Idaho and
Pullman, Washington, U.S.
| use = Biking, in-line skating, hiking
| elev_gain_and_loss =
| elev_change = {{convert|180|ft}}
| highest = {{convert|2535|ft}}
| lowest = {{convert|2355|ft}}
| grade = 0.5%
| difficulty = Easy
| season = All
| months = 12
| sights = Palouse, Paradise Creek
| hazards =
| surface = Asphalt
| ROW = Palouse River Railroad, formerly Union Pacific
| website =
| map = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=line}}
}}
{{Location map
|Washington
|relief = 1
|label = BCPT
|lat = 46.725
|long = -117.10
|caption = The BCPT connects Pullman, Washington and Moscow, Idaho
|marksize = 8
|float =
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|width = 220
}}
The Bill Chipman Palouse Trail is a paved rail trail in the northwestern United States, from Pullman, Washington, eastward to Moscow, Idaho. Completed {{Years or months ago|1998}} in 1998, it follows the former Union Pacific Railroad{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Zs0qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iNAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3604,1741818|newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|location=Idaho-Washington|last=Hallett-Wilde|first=Barbara|title=Path backers aim for $200,000|date=October 21, 1996|page=1A}} right-of-way and connects the rural university towns on the Palouse across the state border.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pullmancivictrust.org/Chipman.html|title=Bill Chipman Palouse Trail|publisher=Pullman Civic Trust|accessdate=19 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410201010/http://www.pullmancivictrust.org/Chipman.html|archive-date=10 April 2011|url-status=dead}}
Route
From Pullman, the trail's {{convert|7|mi|adj=on|spell=in}} route gently climbs eastward along Paradise Creek, crossing it twelve times on original railroad bridges.{{cite web|url=http://www.whitmancounty.org/ParksRec/Index_Pages/bcptmap2.pdf|publisher=Whitman County Parks and Recreation|title=Map: Bill Chipman Palouse Trail|accessdate=August 20, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525200635/http://www.whitmancounty.org/ParksRec/Index_Pages/bcptmap2.pdf|archivedate=May 25, 2014}} The elevation at its highest point, the eastern terminus at the Perimeter Road trailhead in Idaho, is {{convert|2535|ft}} above sea level and the vertical drop westward to Pullman is {{convert|180|ft}}.[http://msrmaps.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=12&Z=11&X=621&Y=6468&W=3&qs=%7cMoscow%7cID%7c msrmaps.com] - USGS map - Moscow, Idaho - 1975-07-01 - accessed 2011-10-05 The trail has two rest areas, three emergency phones, and multiple interpretive areas. It is south of and parallel to State Route 270, the Moscow-Pullman Highway, which becomes State Highway 8 in Idaho. The BCPT is not only a recreational facility, but also a commuter route that connects the land-grant campuses of the University of Idaho and Washington State University.
=Trail connections=
The Bill Chipman Palouse Trail ends {{convert|0.8|mi}} into Idaho at the UI's Perimeter Road, but the trail continues eastward. It connects with the Paradise Path, which spans {{convert|2|mi|0|spell=in}} through the north and east edges of the UI campus and to the east edge of the Moscow city limits, where it seamlessly connects with the Latah Trail{{cite web|url=http://www.latah.id.us/parksrecreation/|publisher=Latah County Parks & Recreation|title=Parks and Trails|accessdate=August 20, 2012|archive-date=October 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022195341/http://www.latah.id.us/parksrecreation/|url-status=dead}} at Carmichael Road.
The Latah Trail travels {{convert|12|mi|-1|spell=in}} east to the small city of Troy at {{convert|2487|ft}}. Completed in October 2008, the {{convert|10|ft|0|adj=mid|-wide|spell=in}} trail was paved in stages over a six-year period.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060430223635/http://www.latahtrailfoundation.org/DrawOnePage.aspx?PageID=16 Latah Trail Foundation.org]}} - FAQ - accessed 2011-10-01. It parallels Highway 8, the Troy Highway, for most of its length, separating to the north a few miles outside of Troy. All three trails follow former rail corridors and result in a total length of {{convert|22|mi}} from Pullman to Troy.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060430223416/http://www.latahtrailfoundation.org/drawonepage.aspx?PageID=3 Latah Trail Foundation.org]}} - History - accessed 2011-10-01
History
{{OSM Location map
| coord = {{coord|46.725|-117.10}}
| nolabels = 1
| float = left
| zoom = 10
| width = 210
| height = 180
| caption = Trailheads in Pullman and Moscow
| mark1 = Gold pog.svg
| label1 = Moscow
| mark-coord1 = {{coord|46.7324|-117.0255}}
| label-pos1 = top
| label-color1 = black
| mark2 = Dark Red 800000 pog.svg
| label2 = Pullman
| mark-coord2 = {{coord|46.7217|-117.1642}}
| label-pos2 = bottom
| label-color2 = black
}}
After 12 years of community efforts and donations, along with agency cooperation,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fJUrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B9EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1579%2C4026672|newspaper=Idahonian |location=(Moscow)|last=Fisher|first=David|title=Palouse Path may straddle main road |date=December 3, 1986|page=10A}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e5UrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B9EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3499%2C536890|newspaper=Idahonian |location=(Moscow)|last=Fisher|first=David|title=Bike path along Pullman highway favored |date=December 5, 1986|page=1A}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sihRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=D_oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2947%2C3662170 |newspaper=Spokane Chronicle |location=(Washington) |title=Pullman-Moscow path gets boost |date=October 24, 1991|page=B2}} the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail was dedicated on April 4, 1998.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KIokAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ltAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5920%2C373589|newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|location=(Idaho-Washington)|last=LaBoe|first=Barbara|title=All-weather trail: rain doesn't dampen the fun as Chipman trail officially opens|date=April 6, 1998|page=1A}} It is part of the federal Rails to Trails program, which preserves railroad corridors for non-motorized transportation and possible future transportation use. It is open dawn to dusk year round – day use only – and to all ages and abilities.{{cite web|url=http://www.whitmancounty.org/ssi.aspx?ssid=85|publisher=Whitman County Parks and Recreation|title=Bill Chipman Palouse Trail|accessdate=August 20, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707115617/http://www.whitmancounty.org/ssi.aspx?ssid=85|archivedate=July 7, 2012}} The trail is maintained and managed by a coalition of park and trail representatives from Whitman County, the cities of Pullman and Moscow, the University of Idaho, and Washington State University. With non-motorized traffic transferred to the BCPT, the highway was later improved and widened to five lanes (two lanes in each direction with a center dividing lane), completed in spring 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR270/PullmanIdahoStLine/default.htm|publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation|title=SR 270 - Pullman to Idaho st line - additional lanes - complete Spring 2008|accessdate=August 20, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014085412/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR270/PullmanIdahoStLine/default.htm|archivedate=October 14, 2012}}
The extended time frame for completion of the BCPT was because the railroad was not yet abandoned. Two rail lines ran between Moscow and Pullman and the issue was which to consolidate upon.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PIokAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sNAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6227,1206042|newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|location=(Idaho-Washington)|last=Smith|first=Georgie|title=Grant for Palouse bike path threatened|date=January 17, 1996|page=1A}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RookAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sNAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3850,1476667|newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|location=(Idaho-Washington)|last=Smith|first=Georgie|title=Bike path supporter spurred into action|date=January 20, 1996|page=1A}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3pwuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G9EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6448%2C1220919|newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|location=(Idaho-Washington)|last=Smith|first=Georgie|title=Path backers plan summit meeting|date=April 15, 1996|page=1A}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h88qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P9EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4269,3828979
|newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News|location=(Idaho-Washington)|title=Bike-path construction could begin next summer|last=Hallett-Wilde|first=Barbara|date=August 10, 1996|page=8A}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SbZeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TjAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5800%2C1161451 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |last1=Jones |first1=Melissa L. |last2=Renne |first2=Monique |title=Path linking UI and WSU is now a step closer to reality |date=August 20, 1996|page=5A}} The former U.P. line, operated by the Palouse River Railroad, ran along Paradise Creek, south of and parallel to Highway 270. Further south, the BNSF line arcs southwest from the state line to follow Sunshine Creek and then the old highway to Pullman Junction. When it was agreed that the BNSF route would remain, the old U.P. route was removed, beginning in October 1996.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=47VeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PTAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4931,2414739|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=(Idaho)|last=Vogt|first=Andrea|title=Right on track|date=October 24, 1996 |page=5A }}
The U.P. line between the cities was first constructed in 1885 as the Columbia and Palouse Railroad, which later became part of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YZQrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5tAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4345%2C1398568 |newspaper=Daily News |location=(Pullman, Washington)|last=Luedeking |first=Robert|title=Pullman benefitted from railroad competition |agency=(Centennial section)|date=April 11, 1988 |page=36 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QJUrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8dAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6145%2C1329233 |newspaper=Idahonian|location=(Moscow)|last=Luedeking |first=Robert|title=The making of Pullman|date=March 11, 1988|page=8A}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.traillink.com/trail/bill-chipman-palouse-trail.aspx Trail Link.com] - Bill Chipman Palouse Trail
- [http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=BGW053-062 Trails.com] - Bill Chipman Palouse Trail
{{Rail trails in Washington}}
{{coord|46.7324|N|117.0255|W|display=t|type:landmark}}
Category:Rail trails in Washington (state)
Category:Protected areas of Whitman County, Washington
Category:Protected areas of Latah County, Idaho
Category:Transportation in Whitman County, Washington
Category:Tourist attractions in Latah County, Idaho
Category:Tourist attractions in Whitman County, Washington