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Columbia Plateau State Park Trail - Fish Lake Trailhead
4.5 ★★★★★ 171 Google reviews · Running trail in Cheney, Washington · Dawn to dusk
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Dawn to dusk
Confirmed from Columbia Plateau State Park Trail - Fish Lake Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Paved trail popular for biking and walking between Spokane and Fish Lake.
What runners say about Columbia Plateau State Park Trail - Fish Lake Trailhead
“Bring supplies to either clean the grill they have there or, preferably, bring your own grill.”
“The Columbia Plateau trail is great for biking and is very beautiful.”
Bathrooms are really clean. Path is well taken care of. Beautiful views, I even saw a big ol turtle! Been coming here a few years and it is definitely one of the cleaner nicer walking areas! Few bums here n there, but definitely not like it is in other areas!
This trailhead is the first of the trailhead still along the Columbia Plateau Trail, and the section of trail between Fish Lake and the Cheney Trailhead is currently the only paved portion of this trail.
Amazing trail wide enough for bikers to pass safely and only a slight incline that levels out most of the way. Fish lake was amazing at the other end and we look forward to riding out, doing some fishing and a picnic, then riding back.
The Columbia Plateau trail is great for biking and is very beautiful. It has lots of cool sites and is great for Railfans. It is the former mainline for the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway.
Trail conditions & character
“Decent parking, vault toilets, paved part of the trail.”
“All in all this is a nice trail that isn't too far from Cheney and features nice views of a lake, but is less secluded than other portions of the trail.”
“Decent parking, vault toilets, paved part of the trail.”
“Overall, this is a family and dog friendly park worth visiting.”
Plan your run at Columbia Plateau State Park Trail - Fish Lake Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websiteparks.wa.gov
- Phone(509) 646-9218
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6:30 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 6:30 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 6:30 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 6:30 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 6:30 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 6:30 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday | 6:30 AM–9 PM |
Running trails near Cheney
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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Columbia Plateau State Park Trail - Cheney Trailhead
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