SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — A new trail opened to the public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, giving visitors access to the Pinecroft Natural Area Preserve, a 100-acre site that was closed to visitors for years.
The City of Spokane Valley partnered with the Department of Natural Resources to build the trail. The trail is a 1.5-mile loop. The best place to park is at Mirabeau Meadows, where visitors can walk west to find the trail entrance.
Mayor Laura Padden of the City of Spokane Valley said the area’s history makes the opening significant.
“This area was open for scientific research because it is a special ecosystem. So to have it open for people to be able to see this ecosystem that is kind of disappearing from the Spokane Valley is very special.”
DNR said it took extra care during construction to protect the surrounding natural area. According to the government agency, some of the features visitors will see on the trail are among the most pristine in the region.
Connor Nikkola, natural areas manager for DNR, the site contains several unique plant features, which DNR has protected.
“This is managed separately from our state land. This is one of our natural areas it is one of nine that we manage here in our Northeast Region. It has a couple of those plant features that are a little more rare and we have those features protected here. So by opening this piece we encourage people to come on in, enjoy it, but also stay on the trail.”
The trail is open from dawn to dusk.
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