Malden Between the Palouse and the Railroad

Malden brings together a specific route along the water and the history of a railroad boomtown. The town is in the Palouse landscape in Whitman County and is a rural residential community halfway between Spokane and Colfax. These features offer two different approaches to planning a trip: outdoor enthusiasts can consider the Palouse to Cascades Trail, while those interested in local history will find a railroad past in Malden that spans both growth and the relocation of railroad operations. Both themes belong to the same place, but offer different reasons to choose Malden as a destination.

Along Pine Creek: The Palouse to Cascades Trail

The former John Wayne Pioneer Trail is now officially called the Palouse to Cascades Trail. In Malden, it runs along the banks of Pine Creek; the town is also a starting point for Palouse to Cascades Trail State Park. The route along the creek and its role as a starting point give Malden’s connection to the trail two specific aspects: a named section along the water and a starting-point function for the state park. Check the latest State Parks notices before your trip, as conditions along the creek may change.

A Railroad Town in Transition

Malden was a historic railroad boomtown in the Palouse landscape. A railroad depot and a locomotive roundhouse were built in Malden in 1909. The town was also the headquarters of the Columbia Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway. The depot and roundhouse represent the town’s railroad infrastructure, while the headquarters added an organizational dimension to Malden’s role. Malden continued to grow into the 1920s, when the railroad relocated its operations from the town. The town’s history thus encompasses not only the expansion of the railroad but also the later transition in its operations.

The foundations of Malden’s eight-stall roundhouse remain; they are a reminder of the employees who serviced and maintained steam locomotives there. Alongside the buildings and administration, this also brings the work on the locomotives into focus.

Pine Creek Community Fall Festival 2024

The Pine Creek Community Fall Festival also offers a glimpse of Malden’s community events. The 2024 festival was held at Malden Community Park. The program included local musicians, a barbecue, and vendors of cultural crafts. A bicycle rodeo, live music, a cherry pie-eating contest, and a community photo contest were also scheduled. Food and activities were offered free of charge to all participants. If you’d like to include a future festival in your trip plans, first check whether a date has been announced and what the program will include. The railroad history stretches back to the 1920s; the festival took place in 2024.

Discover more destinations: Pullman, Colfax.

For the broader travel overview: Whitman County.