Cover photo courtesy of Lisa Laughlin
How does a river city turn natural beauty into everyday well-being? In Spokane, the answer is the Centennial Trail, a paved corridor that links neighborhoods, parks and river views.
The route now stretches about 63 miles. It runs roughly 40 miles in Washington, from the Idaho border through Spokane Valley to downtown Spokane, Riverside State Park, and west to the Nine Mile Falls Recreation Area. Another 23 connected miles of trail continue in Idaho, through Post Falls to Higgins Point on Lake Coeur d’Alene. The Washington section, known as the Spokane River Centennial Trail and managed as a Washington State Park, was recognized as a National Recreation Trail in 2010, underscoring its regional significance.
The vision for the trail took shape in the mid-1980s, when a group of citizens rallied behind the idea of creating a continuous path along the Spokane River. By 1991, their efforts led to the formation of Friends of the Centennial Trail, a nonprofit organization that has served ever since as the Washington portion of the trail’s leading advocate. Working in partnership with Washington State Parks and local municipalities, the group helps secure funding, organizes volunteers and champions trail maintenance and completion.
Today, millions of trips are logged on the Centennial Trail each year. Families, commuters, cyclists and runners use it daily for transportation and recreation. Beyond its role as a recreational outlet, the trail has been shown to contribute significantly to public health and the regional economy, while strengthening community connections and property values.
For anyone who enjoys the trail, membership with Friends of the Centennial Trail is one of the most direct ways to give back. Supporting the organization helps ensure this riverside backbone remains accessible and well cared for into the future.
