Rail-Trails Pacific Northwest: The Definitive Guide to Multiuse Trails in Idaho, Oregon & Washington

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Rail-Trails: Pacific Northwest

Copyright © 2015, 2025 by Rails to Trails Conservancy

1st edition 2015, originally published as Rail-Trails: Washington & Oregon

2nd edition 2025

Cover and interior photographs copyright © 2025 by Rails to Trails Conservancy

Project editor: Kate Johnson

Content editors: Laura Stark and Amy Kapp

Maps: Derek Strout, Lohnes+Wright; map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Cover design: Jonathan Norberg

Book design and layout: Annie Long

Proofreader: Emily Beaumont

Indexer: Frances Lennie

Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the Library of Congress.

ISBN: 978-1-64359-117-9 (pbk.)

ISBN: 978-1-64359-118-6 (ebook)

Published by: A black silhouette of a ram standing against a white background, showcasing its distinctive curved horns and strong posture. Wilderness Press

An imprint of AdventureKEEN

2204 First Ave. S., Ste. 102

Birmingham, AL 35233

800-678-7006; fax 877-374-9016

Visit wildernesspress.com for a complete listing of our books and for ordering information. Contact us with questions or comments at our website, at facebook.com/wildernesspress1967, or at x.com/wilderness1967.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Distributed by Publishers Group West

Front cover photo: Washington’s Olympic Discovery Trail (see page 203); photo by John Gussman

Back cover photo: Washington’s Snoqualmie Valley Trail (see page 233); photo by Eli Brownell/courtesy King County Parks

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations used in reviews.

Safety Notice Although Wilderness Press and Rails to Trails Conservancy have made every attempt to ensure that the information in this book is accurate at press time, they are not responsible for any loss, damage, injury, or inconvenience that may occur to anyone while using this book. You are responsible for your own safety and health while in the wilderness. The fact that a trail is described in this book does not mean that it will be safe for you. Be aware that trail conditions can change from day to day. Always check local conditions, know your own limitations, and consult a map.

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About Rails to Trails Conservancy

At Rails to Trails Conservancy, we believe in the joy and impact trails deliver for people, places, and the planet. That’s why—as the nation’s largest advocacy organization for trails, walking, and bicycling—we’re working hard to make sure trails connect everyone, in every neighborhood across America. With a grassroots community more than 1 million strong, RTC is committed to ensuring a better future for America made possible by trails and the connections they inspire. Learn more at railstotrails.org.

Railways helped build America. Spanning from coast to coast, these ribbons of steel linked people, communities, and enterprises, spurring commerce and transforming the nation. Today, our focus is on the potential these corridors have to create public spaces that connect our communities and make it possible for millions of people to be active outside.

When RTC opened its doors in 1986, the rail-trail movement was in its infancy. At the time, many rail-trails were inspired by grassroots activism, where neighbors and friends saw the potential of a disused rail corridor to create a new space for outdoor recreation and conservation. RTC saw an opportunity to elevate these incredible community assets into the national conversation. With our headquarters in Washington, D.C., and field offices around the country, our staff is at the center of local, state, and national efforts to create, connect, and maintain America’s trails.

Americans now enjoy nearly 26,000 miles of rail-trails, and they flock to the trails to connect with family and friends, enjoy nature, and access places in their neighborhoods and beyond. Building upon this foundation of rail-trails, connected trail networks—including all types of multiuse pathways and active-transportation routes—are being developed in every state in the nation. Year after year, RTC’s efforts to protect and align public funding with trail and trail-network development helps to advance this work and sustain the growing enthusiasm for making walking and biking part of our everyday lives.

TrailLink™, the free trail-finder website and mobile app from RTC, can be used as a companion resource to the trails in this guidebook; it includes detailed descriptions, interactive maps, photo galleries, and firsthand ratings and reviews. When RTC launched the website in 2000, our organization was one of the first to compile such detailed trail information on a national scale. TrailLink continues to play a critical role in both encouraging and satisfying the country’s growing need for opportunities to use trails for recreation or transportation.

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Table of Contents

About Rails to Trails Conservancy

Regional Locator Map

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Summary of Trails

Introduction

How to Use This Book

Idaho

1 Ashton-Tetonia Trail

2 Boise River Greenbelt

3 Canyon Rim Trail

4 Idaho Falls Greenbelt

5 Latah Trail

6 North Idaho Centennial Trail

7 Route of the Hiawatha

8 Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes

9 Weiser River National Recreation Trail

10 Wood River Trail

Oregon

11 Astoria Riverwalk

12 Banks-Vernonia State Trail

13 Bear Creek Greenway

14 Crown Zellerbach Trail

15 Deschutes River Trail (Bend)

16 Deschutes River Trail (Sherman County)

17 Fanno Creek Trail

18 Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail

19 I-205 Multi-Use Path

vi20 OC&E Woods Line State Trail

21 Rogue River Greenway

22 Row River Trail

23 Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path System

24 Springwater Corridor

25 Trolley Trail

26 Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade

27 Westside Trail

Washington

28 Apple Capital Loop Trail

29 Appleway Trail

30 Bill Chipman Palouse Trail

31 Burke-Gilman Trail

32 Cascade Trail

33 Cedar River Trail

34 Centennial Trail

35 Chehalis Western Trail

36 Cowiche Canyon Trail

37 Cross Kirkland Corridor

38 Discovery Trail

39 East Lake Sammamish Trail

40 Elliott Bay Trail

41 Ferry County Rail Trail

42 Fish Lake Trail

43 Foothills Trail

44 Green River Trail

45 Interurban Trail (Bellingham)

46 Interurban Trail (North)

vii47 Interurban Trail (South)

48 Issaquah-Preston Trail

49 Karen Fraser Woodland Trail

50 Klickitat Trail

51 Lower Yakima Valley Pathway

52 Old Railroad Grade

53 Olympic Discovery Trail

54 Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail

55 Preston-Snoqualmie Trail

56 Richland Riverfront Trail

57 Sammamish River Trail

58 Similkameen Trail

59 Snoqualmie Valley Trail

60 South Bay Trail

61 Spokane River Centennial State Park Trail

62 Tommy Thompson Parkway

63 Willapa Hills State Park Trail

64 Yakima Greenway

65 Yelm–Rainier–Tenino Trail

Index

Support Rails to Trails Conservancy

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Foreword

Welcome to the Rail-Trails: Pacific Northwest guidebook, a comprehensive companion for discovering the region’s top rail-trails and multiuse pathways—spaces where you can run, hike, bike, and play. This book will help you uncover fantastic opportunities to get outside and experience adventure on more than 1,500 miles of trails in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

Rails to Trails Conservancy’s mission is to build a nation connected by trails. We reimagine public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike, and be active outdoors. We hope this book will inspire you to experience firsthand the joy and impact of trails. That feeling when you’re first out on the trail and see the dew rise. Sharing the space with friends and family. Exploring nature, while connecting to the history and culture of a place.

Since its founding in 1986, RTC has been at the forefront of a growing movement where trails and trail networks are essential to people and places. Today, more than 42,000 miles of multiuse trails provide invaluable benefits for people and communities across the country. We hope you find this book to be a delightful and informative resource for discovering the many unique trail destinations throughout the region.

I’ll be out on the trails, too, experiencing the thrill of the ride right alongside you. Be sure to say hello and share your #TrailMoments with us on social media. You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/railstotrails and on Instagram @railstotrails. Or submit your stories about the ways trails have made a difference in your life at trailmoments.org. We want to hear from you!

Enjoy the journey,

Ryan Chao, President

Rails to Trails Conservancy

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Acknowledgments

Special acknowledgment is owed to Laura Stark and Amy Kapp, editors of this guidebook, and to Derek Strout and Bart Wright (of Lohnes+Wright) for their work on the creation of the trail maps included in the book. Rails to Trails Conservancy also thanks Amy Ahn, Cindy Barks, Gene Bisbee, and Glenn Zinkus for their assistance in writing and editing content.

We also appreciate the following staff contributors, as well as local trail managers, who helped us ensure that the maps, photographs, and trail descriptions are as accurate as possible.

Quinton Batts

Kevin Belle

Ken Bryan

Danielle Casavant

Eduardo Coyotzi Zarate

Ryan Cree

Peter Dean

Cindy Dickerson

Kate Foster

Brandi Horton

Willie Karidis

Mary Ellen Koontz

Maddie Krentz

Joe LaCroix

Isabelle Lord

Cas Marburger

Yvonne Mwangi

Lauren Swan

Eileen Symons

Jesse Voremberg

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Summary of Trails

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Introduction

Of the more than 2,400 rail-trails across the United States, more than 130 thread through Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. These routes relate a two-part story: The first speaks to the early years of railroading, while the second showcases efforts by Rails to Trails Conservancy, local organizations, and other trail supporters and volunteers to resurrect these unused railroad corridors as public-use trails. This guidebook highlights 65 of the region’s top trails, offering you the insight to plan your perfect adventure.

From the forested and lake-laden north to the Snake River plain in the south, Idaho offers a variety of exceptional trails that are urban, rural, or a bit on the wild side. Especially notable are the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes (see page 37) and Route of the Hiawatha (see page 33), nestled in the state’s scenic panhandle. In the capital and largest city of Idaho, the Boise River Greenbelt (see page 15) provides a pleasant way to get around, connecting Boise State University, Zoo Boise, numerous parks, and other destinations through a tree-lined riparian corridor. In contrast, the state’s longest rail-trail, the Weiser River National Recreation Trail (see page 41), journeys 85 miles through remote canyons, evergreen wilderness, and alpine meadows and across a whopping 62 historical railroad trestles.

Oregon’s trails follow the Pacific coastline, trek through mountainous terrain, traverse the high-desert landscape, and wind through bustling downtowns. Similar to a rail-trail, the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail (see page 77) has transformed a former roadway into a serene experience along rugged cliffs overlooking sapphire-blue water. Other highlights of the state are the Banks-Vernonia State Trail (see page 53), tucked into the towering forests of the Coast Range foothills; the charming Astoria Riverwalk (see page 51), near the mouth of the mighty Columbia River; and the Springwater Corridor (see page 97), connecting Greater Portland.

Washington boasts the Burke-Gilman Trail (see page 125), undoubtedly one of the busiest trails in the state, serving as the backbone to Seattle’s expansive trail network. Two of the longest trails in this book are also located here: the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail (see page 211), which crosses two-thirds of the state, and the Olympic Discovery Trail (see page 203), a developing 123-mile endeavor to connect Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean.

A handful of the trails featured here are Hall of Fame designees, noted throughout the book with a special icon (see page 2). The Pacific Northwest also hosts the western terminus of the Great America Rail-Trail® (see page 2); trails that are part of this multiuse trail route stretching across the country between Washington state and Washington, D.C., are also noted.

No matter which trails you choose to explore from Rail-Trails: Pacific Northwest, you’ll experience the unique history, culture, and geography of each, as well as the communities that have built and embraced them.

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What Is a Rail-Trail?

Rail-trails are multiuse paths built along former railroad corridors that create public space for outdoor activity and transportation. Most often flat or following a gentle grade, they are suited to walking, running, cycling, mountain biking, wheelchair use, in-line skating, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. RTC has been at the forefront of helping America create nearly 26,000 miles of rail-trails throughout the country.

These extremely popular recreation and transportation corridors traverse urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. Many preserve historical landmarks, while others serve as wildlife conservation corridors, linking isolated parks and establishing greenways in developed areas. Rail-trails also stimulate local economies by boosting tourism and promoting trailside businesses.

What Is a Rail-with-Trail?

A rail-with-trail is a public path that parallels a still-active rail line. Some run adjacent to fast-moving, scheduled trains, often linking public transportation stations, while others follow tourist routes and slow-moving excursion trains. Many share an easement, separated from the rails by fencing or other barriers. Nearly 450 rails-with-trails exist in 47 states across the country, plus the District of Columbia.

What Is Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Hall of Fame?

In 2007, RTC began recognizing exemplary trails around the country through its Hall of Fame program. Inductees are selected based on merits such as scenic value, high use, trail and trailside amenities, historical significance, excellence in management and maintenance of facility, community connections, and geographic distribution.

The Pacific Northwest region boasts four Hall of Fame inductees: Idaho’s Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes (see page 37) and Route of the Hiawatha (see page 33); Oregon’s Springwater Corridor (see page 97); and Washington’s Burke-Gilman Trail (see page 125). These trails are indicated in this book