The Chehalis Western Trail is a
rail trail
A rail trail is a shared-use path on railway right of way. Rail trails are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned and the track has been removed, but may also share the right of way with active railways, light rail, or streetca ...
in
Thurston County, Washington
Thurston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, its population was 294,793. The county seat and largest city is Olympia, the state capital.
Thurston County was created out of Lewis County by the go ...
and is the longest
shared-use path
A shared-use path, mixed-use path or multi-use pathway is a path which is 'designed to accommodate the movement of pedestrians and cyclists'. Examples of shared-use paths include sidewalks designated as shared-use, bridleways and rail trails. ...
in the region. It occupies an abandoned railroad corridor that was once used by the historic
Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser () is an American timberland company which owns nearly of timberlands in the U.S., and manages an additional of timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada. The company also manufactures wood products. It operates as a real e ...
-owned
Chehalis Western Railroad
The Chehalis Western Railroad was the name of two different shortline railroads that were owned and operated by Weyerhaeuser between 1936 and 1993. The first Chehalis Western, which existed from 1936 until 1975, was a shortline Class III railroad ...
. The rail line was converted to a bicycle and walking trail and intersects with the
Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail and the
Karen Fraser Woodland Trail.
History
The rail line was used by the Weyerhaeuser company for approximately 60 years to haul timber logs into the Puget Sound region.
In order for the trail to be fully rideable, three bridge crossings in the Olympia and Lacey area were completed between 2007 and 2014.
Route
The trail, also known under the name Woodland Bay Trail,
is the longest in the county. It is approximately in length and 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.
The course connects via a roundabout to the Karen Fraser Woodland Trail.
The trail passes through several cities and communities including,
Olympia
The name Olympia may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film
* ''Olympia'' (1938 film), by Leni Riefenstahl, documenting the Berlin-hosted Olympic Games
* ''Olympia'' (1998 film), about a Mexican soap opera star who pursues a career as an athlet ...
, South Bay,
Lacey
Lacey may refer to:
People Surname A–L
* Andrew Lacey (1887–1946), Australian politician
* Bill Lacey (American football) (born 1971), American football player and coach
* Bill Lacey (footballer) (1889–1969), Irish footballer
* Bob Lacey (b ...
,
East Olympia, and
Skookumchuck Skookumchuck () is a Chinook Jargon term that is in common use in British Columbia English and occurs in Pacific Northwest English. ''Skookum'' means "strong" or "powerful", and "chuck" means water, so ''skookumchuck'' means "rapids" or "whitewat ...
.
The trail is flat and is listed as easy to moderate.
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.
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.
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.
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. Users of the path have access to of parks and the trail parallels the
Deschutes River Deschutes River may refer to:
* Deschutes River (Oregon)
**Little Deschutes River (Oregon)
The Little Deschutes River is a tributary of the Deschutes River (Oregon), Deschutes River in the central part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is about lon ...
, including a stretch that allows direct views and access to the river.
Future plans
An expansion of the southern terminus of the trail to connect to the community of
Vail
Vail is a home rule municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,835 in 2020. Home to Vail Ski Resort, the largest ski mountain in Colorado, the town is known for its hotels, dining, and for the numer ...
was proposed in 2022; it would add over to the course.
Notes
References
External links
Chehalis Western Trail mapExperience Olympia - The Chehalis Western Trail
{{coord, 46, 53, 10, N, 122, 44, 40, W, format=dms, display=title, type:landmark_region:US-WA
Rail trails in Washington (state)
Protected areas of Thurston County, Washington
Transportation in Thurston County, Washington