Three Free Places to Walk or Bike Through Fall Color on the Palouse in October

Three free places near Pullman and Moscow put you among trees as the leaves turn in October. The University of Idaho Arboretum and Botanical Garden in Moscow has a 1.4 mile gravel loop road and is open daily from dawn to dusk at no charge. The Bill Chipman Palouse Trail is a seven mile paved path between Pullman and Moscow along Paradise Creek, open dawn to dusk with no admission fee. The Latah Trail is a paved rail trail from Moscow to Troy and on into Bear Creek Canyon, open year round from dawn to dusk with no fee. Hours and parking details are as of October 5, 2026, so check the page before you go.

This week's theme is fall color. Details below were checked against official sources on the dates listed. Hours, fees, and access can change, so confirm before you go.

University of Idaho Arboretum and Botanical Garden

A 63 acre arboretum and botanical garden on the south side of the University of Idaho campus in Moscow, with both native and introduced plant species. The main gravel road loop is approximately 1.4 miles of gradual declines and inclines, and shorter trails branch off it with views toward the Blue Mountains of Oregon.

• Access or hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk. Free parking at the south end of the Arboretum (1200 W. Palouse River Dr.); limited parking at the U of I Golf Course lot at 1215 Nez Perce Dr. As of October 5, 2026.
• Fees: Free
• Verified as of October 5, 2026
• Official information

Bill Chipman Palouse Trail

A seven mile paved path on a former railroad line connecting Pullman, Washington, and Moscow, Idaho, following Paradise Creek and the Pullman Moscow Highway. The trail is managed by Whitman County, the City of Pullman, the City of Moscow, the University of Idaho, and Washington State University.

• Access or hours: Open dawn to dusk, year round, no camping permitted. Access points at the Bill Chipman Trailhead in Pullman (1281 to 1299 Bishop Boulevard), the Bill Chipman Trailhead in Moscow, and the Sunshine parking lot. No motor vehicles; pets must be on a leash 6 feet or less; Class 1 e-bikes permitted, Class 2 and Class 3 not permitted. Only sections are plowed in winter. As of October 5, 2026.
• Fees: Free. The county page says no admission fee, donations welcome.
• Verified as of October 5, 2026
• Official information

Latah Trail

A paved multi-use trail converted from a former railroad line, running from Moscow to Bear Creek Canyon east of Troy, Idaho. Latah County lists 15 miles of paved trail: 11 miles between Moscow and Troy and 4 miles past Troy, where the trail ends. Walking, running, bicycling, and cross-country skiing are the listed uses, and the trail has vault toilets, picnic tables, and parking areas.

• Access or hours: Year round, dawn to dusk, per Latah County Parks and Recreation. The Latah Trail Foundation site mentions a trailhead at Wallen Road just off Highway 8 and a picnic area at Highway 8 milepost 10, notes that the trail passes Troy City Park and continues beyond Highway 8, and asks that pets stay leashed at all times. As of October 5, 2026, the foundation site said the Latah Trail was still open for use while Moscow Mountain trails were closed for fire danger.
• Fees: Free
• Verified as of October 5, 2026
• Official information

Before you go

Check the official links above for the current day's hours, closures, and seasonal limits. Weather on the Palouse changes quickly, so plan for wind and temperature swings.

Next step

New to the area and planning weekends? Start with the relocation resource.

About the author

Jordan Vorderbrueggen writes about buying and selling homes in Pullman, Moscow, and across the Palouse with Woodbridge Real Estate. Hard to Spell, Tough to Beat.