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Chehalis Western Trail
Rail trail in Thurston County, Washington, US From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Chehalis Western Trail is a rail trail in Thurston County, Washington, and is the longest shared-use path in the region. It occupies an abandoned railroad corridor that was once used by the historic Weyerhaeuser-owned Chehalis Western Railroad. The rail line was converted to a bicycle and walking trail and intersects with the 14.5-mile (23.3 km) Yelm–Rainier–Tenino Trail and the 4.7-mile (7.6 km) Karen Fraser Woodland Trail.[1]
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History
The rail line was used by the Weyerhaeuser company for approximately 60 years to haul timber logs into the Puget Sound region.[2] The Chehalis Western Railroad operated on the line. A dedication and grand opening of the path was held on September 27, 1998 and at the time, consisted of a combined 150 acres (61 ha) spanning various ecosystems. The opening included the trail's long-standing 2-mile (3.2 km) route along the Deschutes River and was not yet connected to the Yelm–Tenino Trail.[3]
Approximately 13 miles (21 km) of the trail were paved by 2001; a $462,000 grant that year from the state's Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation allowed for a southern, 7-mile (11 km) stretch that connected to the Yelm-Tenino Trail to be fully completed and paved.[4] Due to breaks in the trail, the path was not yet fully rideable by 2007. Three bridge crossings in the Olympia and Lacey area were completed between 2007 and 2014.[5] Part of a 2005 federal appropriations bill, the bridge construction began with $4.1 million in funding for a bike and pedestrian bridge over Interstate 5.[6]
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Route
The trail, also known under the name Woodland Bay Trail,[2] is the longest in the county. It is approximately 22 miles (35 km) in length.[a] The trail is flat and is listed as easy to moderate.[2] It is wheelchair accessible for most of its length and there are several dozen trailhead and access points. It is open year-round but the Woodard Bay trailhead is closed in some years to protect nesting herons at the conservation area.[7] The trail passes through several cities and communities including, Olympia, South Bay, Lacey, East Olympia, and Skookumchuck.[8]
Starting at its most northern point, the multi-purpose path begins at the Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area and runs mostly south to southeast towards its terminus at the intersection of the Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail.[5][7] In between, the course crosses the Karen Fraser Woodland Trail at a roundabout[2] and intersects with the Interstate 5 bike trail, an 8-mile (13 km)-long path that parallels the highway.[9]
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Ecology
The Chehalis Western Trail passes through a variety of landscapes, including prairies, farm and ranch lands, ponds, and dense forests of cedar, fir, and maple.[7] The Woodard Bay conservation area is home to a large heron colony and visitors can spot bald eagles, a diverse array of songbirds, various bat species, and several types of aquatic animals such as otters and seals.[7]
Public art and attractions
Near the intersection with the Yelm–Rainier–Tenino Trail, the Chehalis Western Trail passes through the Monarch Contemporary Art Center and Sculpture Park.[10] Users of the path have access to 170 acres (69 ha) of parks and the trail parallels the Deschutes River, including the original 2-mile (3.2 km) stretch that allows direct views and access to the river.[7][2]
In May 2023, a bench on the trail was dedicated to Bronka Sundstrom (Czyzyk), a survivor of the Holocaust who became the oldest person, at age 77 in 2002, to climb Mount Rainier. Given the moniker "The Lady of the Mountain" for her history at Mount Rainier National Park, she was an avid hiker of the Chehalis Western after she had retired to a nearby community.[11]
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Future plans
An expansion of the southern terminus of the trail to connect to the community of Vail was proposed in 2022; it would add over 3 miles (4.8 km) to the course.[12]
Notes
References
External links
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