WA land transfer could turn Tri-Cities hillside into new mountain bike trails
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Benton County may receive state land for permanent mountain bike trail use.
- New trails would support open space, recreational and habitat conservation goals.
- Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance hopes to help maintain and develop the site.
As development in south Kennewick creeps closer to taking over beloved informal mountain bike trails, Benton County is working with the state to find a permanent option.
County staff recently told commissioners that the Washington state Department of Natural Resources identified a large area between Interstate 82 and East Badger Road that the county should consider for its open space plans. The 269-acre parcel is just south of the Summit View neighborhood off Sagebrush Road.
While there are no plans to develop or close the land the so-called “State Patrol” trails are on, private development is steadily getting closer, county staff said. The trails are named for their proximity to the Washington State Patrol district office just off Interstate 82 in the Southridge area.
More than a dozen privately-owned parcels make up the land those trails currently run across, according to county property records.
Finding a home for trails on land owned by the county would ensure they continue to be a recreation area for residents for years to come, while also having the added benefit of helping the county meet its goals for open spaces, habitat conservation and recreation.
Trailblazing
The suggestion from DNR came at a perfect time, as county staff was having discussions about expanding trail opportunities with a newly formed Columbia Basin chapter of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance. The local group was born out of the Shrub Steppe Trails Alliance, staff told commissioners.
The group said they were happy to step up and help if the county could secure the land. Staff said the group envisioned filling a role similar to Friends of Badger Mountain, which maintains trails through groups of volunteers on Badger Mountain and Candy Mountain.
The best part of the proposal though was the cost. If the application is approved, it will be transfered to the county for free.
Any potential costs would come in the form of maintenance or creating parking and trailhead parks. In the case of Badger Mountain, a variety of stakeholders came together to pay for those improvements.
The area already has its own informal trails criss-crossing the steep hillside, with points of access from the neighborhood above and via two canal crossings below.
Commissioner Michael Alvarez liked the idea.
“I’m for it, I have a mountrian bike myself,” he said.
Alvarez said having a partner willing to step up to maintain and improve the property would be a good thing for everyone involved.
Commissioner Will McKay said his own teenage kids enjoy the WSP trails. His kids go riding on eBikes that they saved up for and bought themselves.
“I like it because I live in that area and I’ll go ride it with my kids ... ,” he said. “I don’t know who built them, but they built some fun jumps for us and the kids, and if we can do something similar to that, I think it will be a good thing to do.”
What comes next?
The proposed new trails would be open to mountain bikes and eBikes, but motorized dirt bikes and ATV riders would lose access to the land. There would also likely be some hiking opportunities, though they’d have to be separate from the main trails for the safety of riders and hikers.
There’s also the potential for future expansion. Next to the DNR lands is a 160-acre plot of federal land and below it is another 106 acres owned by DNR but currently being used for a farm lease.
The county last week hosted a public meeting where three dozen people showed their support for the plan.
They’re also working with local tribes on input and hope to finalize the application by the end of September.
This story was originally published September 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
