Seattle

A Bike Trail from Washington to Washington — It’s Happening

Someday, cyclists will be able to bike from the east coast to the west coast on a super trail. Here's the route plan.

By Angie Schmitt

10:29 AM EDT on May 9, 2019

A Bike Trail from Washington to Washington — It’s Happening

Photo: Milo Bateman via Rails-to-Trails

A long-time dream — a bike trail that stretched ocean to ocean across the U.S. — is starting to really take shape.

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy on Thursday announced plans for the 3,700-mile route across the U.S., from Washington, D.C., to Washington State. The “Great American Rail-Trail” route (map) is already half complete, thanks to 1,900 miles of existing trails.

Rails-to-Trails will be working with state and local governments and other planning and business groups over the next “several decades” to fill the 1,700 miles of gaps, the organization said.

Much of the remaining gaps are in rural western states, including Wyoming and Montana.

There will be 3,700 miles of trails, from Washington, D.C. to Washington State: That's the plan with the Great American Trial. Image: Rails-to-Trails — There will be 3,700 miles of trails, from Washington, D.C. to Washington State: That’s the plan with the Great American Trial. Image: Rails-to-Trails

“We know that it will take a significant investment of time, resources and energy to complete the Great American Rail-Trail — but it will be worth it,” Kevin Mills, RTC’s vice president of policy, said in a statement. “It will take the help of trail lovers and leaders to bring this vision to life.”

The trail will eventually pass through Pittsburgh, Columbus, Dayton, Cedar Rapids and Missoula before terminating in Seattle. The route was selected with input from local and state officials and trail advocates. But the map is still just the “preferred route” and may be subject to change as it takes further shape.

Rails-to-Trails expects the trail to be a tourism boon for small towns and cities located along its path.

Angie Schmitt

Angie is a Cleveland-based writer with a background in planning and newspaper reporting. She has been writing about cities for Streetsblog for six years.

Seattle | Washington DC

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