Designed for use by people of all ages and physical capabilities, the Trail is fully paved, so it is ADA accessible. It is used for commuting to both work and pleasure, and wildlife observation.

With its metropolitan center section in downtown Spokane, the Centennial Trail branches out to more rural west and east endpoints, reaching into Idaho, for a total of 61 miles. It mostly follows the contours of the Spokane River and joins up with Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, connecting along the way with the Liberty Lake Trail, Plantes Ferry Link Trail, and Cheney-Fish Lake Trail.

There are over 2 million uses per year on the Trail. It is not only a free resource for the community, but a destination location. The Trail provides a great venue for family events, youth involvement such as school planting projects and Boy Scouts helping with the annual Unveil the Trail clean up, and fundraising by nonprofit groups.

In 1979, Spokane County Parks proposed a bicycle/pedestrian pathway along the Spokane River. In 1984, the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce formed a Parks and Recreation Committee to explore this recreational possibility. In 1986, this group proposed a 10.5-mile recreational trail in the valley, naming it a Centennial Trail to coincide with Washington State's 100th birthday in 1989. In 1987, the internationally recognized architectural team, Jones & Jones, was selected to develop a master plan for the Centennial Trail.