Re: SP&S Trail / Windust State Park
Author: Bruce Kelly
Date: 09-07-2010 - 21:09
George, the Lyons Ferry park is many miles from the SP&S trail. You cross the trail at Sperry about 15 minutes before the highway drops into Lyons Ferry. The best places to actually access and explore the trail in this area would be the former station site on the south side of Washtucna, or @#$%& Canyon just south of Kahlotus, or the various tunnels and bridges above the Snake River near Lower Monumental Dam. Windust State Park is located right along the Snake here, with the SP&S grade (and the old NP/SP&S low line grade to Riparia) on the hillside to the northwest and the UP Ayer Sub right across the river to the southeast. Windust Park is not as developed as Lyons Ferry, but has plenty of shade trees and is usually quieter and less inhabited. My wife's Dodge Caravan can easily handle the old dirt road up to Farrington station on the SP&S, just north of Windust Park. The road that used to take you right up to the west end of Burr Canyon Bridge has been gated shut in recent years.