🌤 Weather at Centennial Trail by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32–70 °F | 50–87 °F | 31–76 °F | 26–42 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Spokane Felts Field, 1 mi away, elevation 1,953 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Centennial Trail is a public state park in Washington near Spokane in Spokane County. Spanning 525 acres, the park offers a peaceful retreat into nature for visitors of all ages.
Quick Facts
| State | Washington |
| Nearest City | Spokane |
| County | Spokane County |
| Park Size | 525 acres |
Location & Getting There
Centennial Trail is located near Spokane, Washington. The park’s coordinates are 47.6767726, -117.3425316.
Things to Do
The Spokane River Centennial State Park Trail is a 40-mile paved ribbon — 526 acres of it counted as a state park — following the river from the Nine Mile Recreation Area on Lake Spokane east through downtown Spokane and Spokane Valley to the Idaho line, where it hands off to the 23-mile North Idaho Centennial Trail toward Coeur d’Alene. Ridden end to end, that’s roughly 63 miles of car-free pavement across two states. The western miles run through Riverside State Park, the trail’s scenic heart: the turquoise water and basalt of the Bowl and Pitcher, Deep Creek Canyon with fossil beds surveyed at about 11,000 years old, and the remains of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. Downtown, the route passes the 1974 World’s Fair grounds at Riverfront Park and the 1902 Great Northern depot clock tower.
It’s built for wheels and feet alike: biking, walking, running, horseback riding on the Riverside section, and — under Washington’s long-distance trail rule — Class 1 and Class 3 pedal-assist e-bikes. The eastern 14 miles from the Stateline trailhead to Donkey Islands in Millwood got a full asphalt overlay in 2024, so the smoothest surface is now at the Idaho end. Mile markers count up from the Idaho border heading west (Mile 3 sits near the state line, Mile 13 at Donkey Islands).
Best Time to Visit
This is a four-season trail. Spring and fall are prime riding weather in the Spokane Valley; summer mornings beat the inland heat on the exposed valley stretches, and the Riverside forest miles stay shaded. In winter, sections inside Riverside State Park are groomed for cross-country skiing and fat-tire biking — the rest of the trail is not maintained for snow, so check conditions before a January ride. The trail is day-use only.
Visitor Tips
A Discover Pass ($10 per day, $45 per year — as of September 2026) is required at the state park trailheads; the pass price rose from $30 in October 2025, so ignore older brochures. Official trailheads from west to east include Nine Mile Recreation Area, Carlson, McLellan, Seven Mile, Wilber, Morin, Military Cemetery, Mission Park, Boulder Beach, Islands, Mirabeau, Sullivan Park, Old Mission, Barker, Harvard and Stateline. Dogs are welcome on leash; fires are not allowed anywhere on the trail. The trail is administered through Riverside State Park (9711 West Charles Road, Nine Mile Falls; 509-465-5064) and maintained jointly with Spokane County, the two cities and the Friends of the Centennial Trail.
The name is literal: planners aimed to open it for Washington’s statehood centennial in 1989, funded by a $7.2 million federal appropriation and a 1988 land swap in which State Parks traded 3,000 scattered acres around Mount Spokane for a 500-acre strip along the river. It opened in phases from 1989, with a stretch of the old Aubrey L. White Parkway in Riverside closed to cars in 1990 to carry it.
Fees, rules and trail details verified against parks.wa.gov on September 2, 2026. Official sources list the length as both 40 and 37 miles; the park page’s 40 is used here. Conditions change — confirm before you travel.
Wildlife & Nature
Centennial Trail — a 37-mile paved multi-use trail connecting Snohomish to the Skagit County line — follows the former Burlington Northern rail corridor along the Stillaguamish River floodplain. The trail passes through farmland, forest, and riverine habitats. Bald eagles concentrate along the Stillaguamish in winter, feeding on spawning chum salmon. Great blue herons nest in colonies along the river. River otters are spotted in the side channels. The trail connects to Lake Stevens, Arlington, and Bryant communities. Horses are permitted on the adjacent soft-surface trail. The Centennial Trail is part of Washington’s growing network of rail-trails.
Nearby Attractions
Lake Stevens offers swimming and boating. Arlington has the annual Fly-In (one of the largest in the Pacific Northwest). Stillaguamish River provides steelhead and salmon fishing. North Cascades are accessible via SR-530 east through Darrington.
Explore More Washington State Parks
Centennial Trail is one of many outstanding state parks in Washington. Discover more parks in our Best State Parks in Washington guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.
More parks nearby: Riverside State Park is a short drive away, while Spokane County Parks lies a short drive away.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Centennial Trail
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are allowed in most Washington state parks but must be under physical control on a leash at all times.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- 8 ft maximum leash required; pets must be under physical control
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets are not permitted on designated swim beaches
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Pets are not allowed inside vacation houses but are permitted in designated pet-friendly cabins and yurts (e.g. Grayland Beach, Seaquest, Ike Kinswa — Cape Disappointment does NOT allow pets in its yurts), typically up to two pets, with a pet fee
- Pet fees statewide rule
- No day-use pet fee; $15 per night pet fee in pet-friendly cabins/yurts
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Director-designated off-leash areas are exempt from the leash rule and are conspicuously posted
Are dogs allowed at Centennial Trail?
Pets are allowed in most Washington state parks but must be under physical control on a leash at all times. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via parks.wa.gov. More: Washington state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Location
Plan your gear for Centennial Trail
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
