Kamiak gets new trail segment in prairie restoration project

Approximately 1,200 feet of the Kamiak Butte trail has been relocated with the former section of trail returned to natural prairie land. The new piece of the trail on the 3.5-mile loop is situated higher, along the ridge of the butte, and allows hikers to see both sides of the butte as they gain altitude.

The old section needed to be replaced because hikers over the years had gradually widened the trail and tramped down the native ground, said Justus Barton, operations and trail coordinator.

The money to relocate the trail came from a $32,000 Prairie Restoration grant from the National Fish and Wildlife service. Kamiak Butte qualifies for prairie restoration because the park is home to one of the few remaining natural grassland patches in Whitman County.

“We’re reclaiming it back to prairie habitat,” Barton explained.

Five or six people hike the 3.5-mile trail every day, Barton said. Even with the temperature dropping, hikers still go around the loop. He reported 15 to 20 cars can be seen in the Kamiak parking lot at any given time.

Barton said he planted natural grassland seeds on the former section of trailbed with an eye on restoring the patch back to its original state.

Barton is asking that hikers steer clear of the old trailbed. The trail now has “Please Use New Trail,” signs posted.

The ridge begins at the main parking lot, across from the rest rooms, ascends to the ridge by a series of switchbacks and then goes along the ridge. It drops back down to the park road at the Kamiak camping area.