Cascalouse State Park Trail among name candidates

Washington State Parks has started a project for renaming the John Wayne Trail which crosses Whitman County on the former right-of-way of the Milwaukee Railroad, according to an announcement made by Randy Kline, state parks planner who is heading the project.

The change is sought because the John Wayne title is not consistent with state park’s policy for naming trails based on geographic locations, culturally significant events or other relevant features.

The John Wayne Trail title is normally used to describe the eastern part of the cross-state trail with the Iron Horse Trail or Iron Horse State Park for the western part of the trail.

Tom Short of Woodinville, a member of the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders, said the group would prefer the name to stay the same. They believe it to be “John Wayne Pioneer Trail in Iron Horse State Park.”

Kline’s report noted among names suggested for the trail are Cascalouse State Park Trail, Columbian State Park Trail, Cross Washington State Park, Milwaukee Road State Park, Palouse to Cascades State Park and Trail of the Olympian State Park.

The state parks staff plans to collect and consider comments and make a recommendation to the state parks board at its May 17 meeting in Spokane. Deadline for comments is May 4. [email protected]