Photo by Darryl Lloyd
The Klickitat Trail, a non-motorized multiple use trail, follows the first 31 miles of an old railroad corridor that once linked the towns of Lyle and Goldendale. The gently graded trail starts at a trailhead with lovely river views in Lyle, Washington, at the confluence of the Klickitat and Columbia Rivers, follows the nationally designated Wild and Scenic Klickitat River 13 miles through oaks and pines to the old mill town of Klickitat, and then after a few more miles at the Wahkiacus trailhead, turns up Swale Creek and into the remote and beautiful Swale Canyon, ending in the high, open ranch country of the Goldendale Plateau.
Currently the only paved section of the trail is through the town of Klickitat. The first two miles of the trail from Lyle to the Fisher Hill Bridge has a packed fine gravel surface. A project completed in 2025 also gravelled the first and last mile in Swale Canyon. The rest of the trail is generally primitive with dirt and larger gravel, suitable for hiking and mountain biking. Equestrians can use the first 13 miles of the trail between Lyle and Klickitat, with the best spot to park a horse trailer being 10 miles up the river at the Pitt trailhead. Recently all of the many trestles in Swale Canyon have been redone and made horse-friendly, so the 13 miles of Swale Canyon can also be used by horses.
The trail’s spectacular scenery includes carved gorges, interesting geologic formations, abundant wildflowers, rolling hills, oak and Ponderosa pine woodlands. Great birding opportunities are in abundance all along the trail, including winter habitat for bald eagles near the Lyle trailhead.
Most of the land adjacent to the trail is private and it is very important to respect private property by staying on the trail and keeping your dogs leashed and on the trail. Dogs are permitted on leash only. Adjacent landowners have poultry and livestock and there is open-range grazing of cattle and sheep, especially in the section from the Fisher Hill Trestle to Pitt and in the Harms Rd. area. Deer and other wildlife are abundant everywhere, and in a very unfortunate recent incident, a trail user’s off-leash dog killed a fawn. Also, rattle snakes, ticks, and poison oak can be hazards to dogs and people alike everywhere along the trail.
In season, the entire trail is also good for cross-country skiing. A missing trestle a mile north of Klickitat prevents through use in this section, so those wanting to hike or bike the entire trail need to use Hwy 142 for the 3+ miles between the town of Klickitat and the Wahkiacus trailhead. The 2+ mile section of trail going from Wahkiacus toward Klickitat is a lovely hike, but dead-ends at the missing trestle.
Most of the land adjacent to the trail is private and it is very important to respect private property by staying on the trail and keeping your dogs leashed and on the trail. Dogs are permitted on leash only. Adjacent landowners have poultry and livestock and there is open-range grazing of cattle and sheep, especially in the section from the Fisher Hill Trestle to Pitt and in the Harms Rd. area. Also, rattle snakes, ticks, and poison oak can be hazards to dogs and people alike everywhere along the trail.
There is a restroom with running water and a drinking fountain at the Lyle trailhead available in warmer weather, and an outhouse there in winter. Outhouses are also provided at the Pitt, Wahkiacus, and Harms Rd. trailheads.