County to celebrate expansion of Centennial Trail

SNOHOMISH — Snohomish County’s political leaders see a promising road ahead after completing the purchase of a 12-mile extension of the Centennial Trail.

To mark the milestone, they’ve planned a celebration at the Hal Moe Pool in Snohomish at 10 a.m. Saturday.

“I’ve been waiting for this for years,” Snohomish Mayor Karen Guzak said. “It’s going to be great for walkers, for strollers and for folks on bicycles.”

County leaders had been in talks to buy the property since 2009, when the Port of Seattle finalized its acquisition of the Eastside Rail Corridor between Renton and Snohomish.

As other local governments bought up more southerly portions of the former BNSF Railway tracks, Snohomish County also appeared to be closing in on an agreement. Talks got put on pause last year, leaving the Snohomish County segment the last piece in port ownership.

Earlier this year, Executive Dave Somers announced that negotiations had resumed. The $3.5 million purchase closed March 25.

“This new extension of the Centennial Trail is one of the most exciting additions to Snohomish County’s trail network,” Somers said. “Soon it will be possible to bike or hike across the entire county, from the northern edge to the southern tip. Snohomish County is already well-known for some of the most beautiful recreation opportunities in the country, and we look forward to seeing this new addition add even more luster to our reputation.”

The addition will link to the existing Centennial Trail, which runs 30 miles between Snohomish and the Skagit County line. Once built out, the southern addition would connect to King County’s Burke-Gilman and Sammamish River trails.

“In short, this 12-mile connection will be huge for knitting together a regional trail network,” said Blake Trask, senior policy director for Cascade Bicycle Club, a statewide bicycle advocacy group. “With this trail’s completion in the coming years, folks will be able to travel on trails exclusively from Bellevue or Ballard, up to Woodinville and then onto the Centennial Trail. They’ll then be able to connect to the Whitehorse Trail in Arlington and go another 27 miles to the foot of the Glacier Peak Wilderness in Darrington.”

Don’t expect to bike, walk or ride horses through the newly acquired corridor just yet.

County planners still are designing the southern portion of the Centennial Trail. Building it out is likely to take many years and “easily $23 million to $25 million,” parks director Tom Teigen said.

By the end of this year, parks staff hope to have the design about 30 percent complete, Teigen said. That should give them a clearer picture of construction costs and put the county in a better position to compete for grants.

Freight trains still use the tracks. That isn’t expected to change anytime soon.

The county’s plan, all along, has been to preserve the rail line and build a parallel recreation trail of approximately 12 feet wide, Teigen said.

Local civic leaders have long entertained the idea of a tourist train that would run between Woodinville’s wineries and the antique district of downtown Snohomish. They’ve discussed the possibility of some day running commuter trains on the line.

The corridor starts at a trestle over the Snohomish River and continues south to the Brightwater treatment plant in Maltby. It measures about 100 feet in most areas, Teigen said. It is narrower in some spots but reaches 200 feet wide in others.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com.

If you go

What: Snohomish County celebrates the purchase of a rail corridor for future expansion of the Centennial Trail

When: 10 a.m. Saturday

Where: Hal Moe Pool, 403 3rd St., Snohomish

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

New Greater Everett Chamber of Commerce CEO CEO Wendy Poischbeg speaks at a kick off event on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Everett Rising’: Wednesday’s chamber luncheon to showcase a new era of growth.

The Greater Everett Chamber of Commerce is beginning its efforts… Continue reading

The Edmonds School District building on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds School District faces estimated $8.5 million deficit

The shortfall is lower than previous years, but the effects are “cumulative,” Superintendent Rebecca Miner said.

Hundreds rally against Trump on Presidents Day in Everett

People lined Broadway with signs and flags, similar to other protests across the country

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.