Centennial Trail

The Centennial Trail is a rail trail in Snohomish County, Washington.

It is a hard-surfaced, non-motorized trail for walking, bicycling, hiking, and horseback riding located on the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway right-of-way, a route used until 1987. It is accessible to persons of all levels of physical ability. The trail is administered by Snohomish Parks and Recreation.cite web| url=http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Parks/Park_Information/Park_Directory/Regional_Parks/Centennial_Trail.htm| title=Centennial Trail| publisher=Snohomish County Parks and Recreation| ] It runs over convert|17|mi.cite web| url=http://www.nwsource.com/outdoors/scr/of_detail.cfm?category=hiking&rt=45389| work=NWSource| title=Snohomish Centennial Trail| author=Leonard, Scott| year=2005| ]

Trail Route

From south to north, the trail takes the following route:cite web| url=http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/Departments/Parks/Maps/centennial-map.pdf| title=Snohomish County Centennial Trail map| format=PDF| ]
* Starting at Pine Avenue in Snohomish, north paralleling Pilchuck River and Machias Road past Pilchuck Park trailhead to Machias
* Follows railroad bed and rejoins Machias Road and Little Pilchuck Creek to 20th Street trailhead
* Follows Old Hartford Road to Highway 92 Overpass (and trailhead)
* Continues on railroad right-of-way past Rhododendron trailhead to Lake Cassidy Wetlands Park trailhead (with only handicapped parking)
* Continues on railroad right-of-way past 84th Street, under Highway 9 and 108th Street, past Hilltop Road to Quilceda/Allen Watershed Interpretive Center at Wade Road
* Terminates at Armar Road trailhead

History

The Centennial Trail runs on the right-of-way of the Sumas Branch of the former Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway, built in 1889. The railway connected Seattle with Canada and linked eastward toward Stevens Pass with mail, freight, and passenger service. The line specialized in transporting timber, lumber and metals, and also served tourists visiting Monte Cristo, Stillaguamish River, and the Big Four Inn at the Mountain Loop ice caves.

Later purchased by Northern Pacific then Burlington Northern, the Hartford (Lake Stevens) - Edgecomb (Arlington) section was abandoned 1972 and the Snohomish - Hartford (Lake Stevens) section was abandoned in 1987.

The rail trail project was first conceived in 1982,cite news| url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2002223758_centennial30n.html?syndication=rss| work=The Seattle Times| title=Centennial Trail: The scenic route just got longer| author=Brooks, Diane Brooks| date=2005-03-30| ] and development of the trail began in 1989 during Washington State's centennial. The last section of the current convert|17.5|mi opened in April 2005.

Future alignments

An extension of the trail is planned following the right-of-way from Arlington to trails, both of which share the same right-of-way.

References

External links

* [http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Parks/Park_Information/Park_Directory/Regional_Parks/Centennial_Trail.htm Snohomish County Parks & Recreation: Centennial Trail]