Trail Advocacy Alert
Bateman Island Causeway with Sam-dog eager to roll
“Private” bikerafting island paradise or accessible trails for all? That is the question for Bateman Island at the moment and is in the hands of the US Army Corp of Engineers. Currently Bateman Island trails are publicly accessible for hiking and bicycling via a manmade causeway at the intersection of the Yakima river and the Columbia river. There is a proposal to remove this causeway to preserve the Yakima river delta habitat. The Army Corp of Engineers have recently extended the public comment period on this project until April 10th. Visit: https://www.nww.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/3326038/23-14-corps-extends-public-comment-period-for-the-yakima-river-delta-restoratio/ and https://www.nww.usace.army.mil/missions/projects/yakima-river-delta-ecological-restoration/ for more information.
Quick MTB Survey of Non-paved Recreational Trails in the Tri-Cities:
Pasco:
Big Cross Cross County Course: Approx. 2mi of wide sand/gravel/wood chip surface mainly used for running and walking. It could be ok for a quick short-track MTB training session, but not destination worthy for MTB riders.
Kennewick:
State Patrol Trails: The area’s best MTB singletrack originally built by mountain bikers in the 1990’s. Unfortunately this area is on private property and although land-owners have been gracious to recreation traditionally, with the rapid expansion of the Tri-Cities this open space is likely lost to development in the near future. Trailforks lists this area as having approximately 35 total miles of trails, but some of these are in various stages of upkeep. Really nice topography here allows for gradual climbing and fun singletrack descents. https://www.trailforks.com/region/state-patrol-trails/
Zintel Canyon: Approx. 1.3mi of wide trail (some paved) mostly used by walkers/runners. A good connector trail for cyclists but not a destination riding area.
Columbia Park: Approx. 2.5mi of some nice singletrack and some old pavement. These trails are used for the Chinook Cycling Club MTB series event each fall. See https://youtu.be/pN-JEQl-Uj8 for POV video of these trails. These can be joined with Bateman Island for additional length and are centrally located to the Tri-Cities. Flat terrain with semi-technical singletrack.
Richland:
Chamna Preserve: The area’s 2nd best MTB singletrack on Yakima delta land. Approx. 9mi of singletrack trails. Also centrally located within Tri-Cities. Flat easy terrain is popular with MTB and runners/hikers. Vital link for bikerafting trips on the lower Yakima river. When included with the Columbia Point land east of Chamna one can add about 3.5mi of additional gravel and some nice singletrack. https://www.trailforks.com/region/chamna-natural-preserve-34684/
Bateman Island: Centrally located in the Tri-Cities with wide trails and some narrow brushy singletrack in the lessor traveled areas. Approx. 3mi of trails popular with hikers/runners and ok for MTB especially when combined with Columbia Park trails (see above). Flat easy terrain. See https://youtu.be/KnZtPoSvxfI for POV video of these trails.
Badger Mountain: Approx. 6mi of wide machine built graveled trails popular with hikers and runners. Best suited for gravel bikes, but is good climbing training for MTB and gravel riders. Non-technical trails with elevation, but they are better than riding on roads. They can be very busy with hikers on weekends due to lack of close proximity trails.
Candy Mountain: Approx. 2.5mi of wide machine built graveled trails popular with hikers and runners. Best suited for gravel bikes, but is good climbing training for MTB and gravel riders. Non-technical trails with elevation, but they are better than riding on roads. They can be very busy with hikers on weekends due to lack of close proximity trails.
Amon Creek Preserve: Approx. 3mi of wide sandy/gravel trails primarily used by hikers/runners. Not really a MTB destination but it would work to link the trails in longer rides.
W.E. Johnson/Tapteal Trail: Approx. 5mi of trail upriver from Chamna to include trails within W.E. Johnson. A varying mix of surfaces from thick sand to singletrack to wide jeep track. This area is a key link for bikerafting the lower Yakima river. W.E. Johnson is popular with horse riders, but is a good link for MTB riders wanting to get additional distance from Chamna. Flat terrain, but can be quite soft and sandy in places making for good challenging riding. Some parts of W.E. Johnson trails flood during high river events.
South Yakima Delta: Approx. 4mi of abandoned jeep track. Not nearly as popular for riding as Chamna but there is some ability to get off-road riding here.
Top of the World Park: Approx. 4mi of trails with mix of jeep-track and wide paths and some nice technical singletrack. Some elevation and rock here makes for a little more interesting and challenging riding then areas like Chamna. This open space area is seeing increasing encroachment pressure from nearby housing development.
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