News
Swale Canyon temporary annual closure begins June 21, 2006
The Swale Canyon portion of the trail closes annually from around mid-June to around mid-October due to fire danger. Based on level of fire danger in that area, Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) makes the determination as to when the annual temporary closure takes effect. Visit https://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/protection/firedanger/ to track updates. Except for the Swale Canyon portion, all other portions of the trail are open year-around.
Suburbia Bridge Update
State Parks Capital Program is currently working through the permit process and slowly moving forward on design. SEPA is drafted and final cultural resources consultation should start by the end of the month and be done September-October 2026.
State Parks will go back out for advertisement for a consultant due to state contracting limits and the way they originally picked this firm. They are still very happy with the work this firm is doing, but in order to keep with contracting limits State Parks needed to go out for advertisement. The advertisement ends middle of August, hoping to work as fast as possible to get a consultant on board after that. If a different firm is successful, there will be a bit of orientation to the project and the design that we already have going.
Bottomline: State Parks is hoping to be able to go to construction by summer 2027. If the original firm is selected then they will have less onboarding, but there is still a delay due to this process.
FYI – the cables for the suspension bridge have a very long lead time (9-11 months). So we can get the foundations in in 2027 but then will need to pause for about 6-9 months while the cable gets manufactured and delivered. Total construction time from breaking ground to final completion will be about 18 months. It might appear that no work is being done during that time, but there is a lot of off-site manufacturing happening. Then once the cable gets delivered it should be quick and go together like a Lego set.
RCO grant expiration date is December of 2027, with that grant we should be able to get the foundations in and procure the steel and cables so that money isn’t lost while we have the long lead times.
Here’s the update on the missing link trail segment:
The 1-mile trail segment is also moving forward. Likely to have 60% designs in the next month and hope to construct it next year (2027) as well and be over halfway constructed by the biennium.
KTC is excited to announce the 117 acre former Christianson/Wilson property in Swale Canyon has been transferred to Washington State Parks ownership! After a long history of attempted contacts and interventions, KTC worked with the Klickitat County Treasurer’s Office and the new owner in the recent property sale to help facilitate this eventual outcome. Fortunately, State Parks has grant funding to remediate this former homestead and cleanup is now well underway.
In 2025, a Washington Department of Transportation and Klickitat County contractor paved the Klickitat Trail through the town of Klickitat. This facilitates local kids walking and biking safely to and from school using the Klickitat Trail.
In early October 2025, a Washington Department of Transportation contractor will be paving the Klickitat Trail through a major section of the Klickitat community. The objective is to facilitate local kids walking and biking safely to and from school using the Klickitat Trail.
Swale Canyon is a unique resource and upgrades such as decking and railings on the many trestles, removal of debris piles, and placement of gravel in the many sections of the trail where the original railroad ballast rock made travel difficult. Significantly, the debris piles removed from Swale Canyon are anticipated to be utilized in the pending Suburbia Bridge replacement project.
We endeavor to keep you updated on all things related to the Klickitat Trail Conservancy and our efforts to preserve and promote the public use of the 31 mile Klickitat Trail as a recreational, cultural, natural, educational, and economic asset of Klickitat County.
All current and earlier KTC Newsletters are listed below and hyperlinked so you can read them in entirety.
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Swale Canyon Ribbon Cutting, May 8, 2026
KTC president Ken Hansen joined Washington State Parks Director Diana Dupuis and Parks Commissioner Holly Williams for the ribbon cutting and opening of the Swale Canyon portion of the Klickitat Trail. Swale Canyon is a unique resource and has recently had many upgrades. The contractor, Paragon, replaced decking and added railings on the trestles, and covered many sections of railroad ballast with gravel. Following the dedication ceremony, Ken led a bike group and KTC Board member Bev Linde led a hiking group.
