Bike travelers approach Snoqualmie Pass on the John Wayne Trail.

We’re #1! Not only has Washington been the #1 Bicycle Friendly State in America 7 years in a row — we’re also #1 for great trails. And that’s not just our claim; the numbers bear it out.

Our trails offer outstanding riding whether you’re on your way to work or to the next town. Coupled with the US Bicycle Route System in the state, the future development of state scenic bikeways, and growing bike infrastructure in our towns, our vision of a complete, comfortable connected bike network all over the state moves closer to reality all the time.

If you care about trails, don’t miss the advocacy tips at the bottom. Sign up for our e-news to stay connected to trail developments.

[Tweet “Longest @railstotrails in US, most rail-trail miles in the West: WA!”]

1: Longest Rail-Trail in America

According to the Rails to Trails Conservancy. John Wayne Pioneer Trail, 253 miles. From high trestles and dramatic views in the Cascades to the quiet dry side in eastern Washington, the John Wayne Trail offers an amazing getaway.

“I’m going to let you in on one of the state’s best-kept secrets: you can ride your bike from one of the densest population centers in the Pacific Northwest to the empty eastern Washington desert mostly on a traffic-free unpaved rail trail….” — “Escape from Seattle” tour in Cycling Sojourner: A Guide to the Best Multi-Day Tours in Washington

[Tweet “On my #bikeit list: John Wayne Pioneer Trail to bike away from it all.”]

Read more about the John Wayne Trail

• Crossing Washington State on the John Wayne Pioneer Trail (26InchSlicks, June 26, 2012)
• Working the Plan (26InchSlicks, March 19, 2011 — his planning for the 2012 trip. Read the comments — lots of good tips there)
• Happy 100th to the Snoqualmie Tunnel (BikingBis.com, July 16, 2014)
• John Wayne Pioneer Trail, TrailLink
• Bike along the John Wayne Pioneer Trail (Seattle Met, June 2014)

The trail needs work, though: A fire summer 2014 damaged trestles and a 22-mile section is currently closed. We’ll be an advocate for repairs and reopening, working with Washington State Parks as the lead agency.

1: Most Rail-Trail Mileage in the West

Again according to the Rails to Trails Conservancy, which tracks trail mileage by state, Washington has far more rail-trail mileage than any other state in the West.

1. Washington: 1,057 miles, 81 rail-trails, 19 current projects/147 miles
2. California: 726 miles, 112 rail-trails, 51 current projects/923 miles
3. Idaho: 408 miles, 19 rail-trails, 4 current projects/63 miles
4. Oregon: 295 miles, 19 rail-trails, 8 current projects/170 miles miles
5. Montana: 160 miles, 18 rail-trails, 4 current projects/59 miles
6. Utah: 139 miles, 12 rail-trails, 2 current projects/32 miles
7. Nevada: 52 miles, 4 rail-trails, 3 current projects/125 miles

[Tweet “Most @railstotrails miles in West in WA, #1 Bike Friendly State.”]

1: First US Bicycle Route on the West Coast

WA Bikes board member John Pope rode across Washington to celebrate the newly designated USBR 10,

Spring 2014 we announced the official federal designation of USBR 10, which runs across the northern tier of Washington from Newport in the east to Anacortes in the west. Our partners at WSDOT celebrated with us at a ribbon-cutting in Anacortes Sept. 13. Our USBR 10 page includes a Google map of the route.
[Tweet “On my #bikeit list: 1st @usbicycleroutes on West Coast/USBR10 in WA.”]

Read more about USBR 10

• USBR 10: Inaugural Bike Tour
• Bike It: USBR 10 (Day One)
• Bike It: USBR 10 – The Epic Climb (Day Two)
• Bike It: USBR 10 – Methow Valley (Day Three)
• Bike It: USBR 10 – Okanogan Country to Republic (Day Four)
• Bike It: USBR 10 – Over Sherman Pass to Colville (Day Five)
• Bike It: USBR 10 – Blazing Saddles and Colville Ribbon-Cutting (Day Six)
• Bike It: USBR 10 – A Long 92 Miles to Newport (Day Seven)  
• Washington State’s First US Bicycle Route Designated

• Exploring the Methow Valley on Two Wheels

• Biking in and Around the Okanogan Highlands

2.2% & 4.9%: People & Trail Miles

2.2%: The percentage of the US population in Washington state (6.971 million out of 316.1 million).

4.9%: The percentage Washington’s rail-trails represent of the national total (1,057 miles out of 21,447 total).

In other words, we have more trail miles and fewer people.

6: Columbia Plateau Trail

Cyclists explore the Columbia Plateau Trail.

Columbia Plateau Trail State Park is #6 on the list of longest rail-trails in America, at 130 miles, and offers wonderful wildlife viewing. From Spokane the Fish Lake Trail, another rail-trail, takes riders part of the way to Cheney; the rest of the connection to the Columbia Plateau Trail is on the road.

[Tweet “On my #bikeit list: Columbia Plateau Trail @WAStatePks #6 longest @railstotrails in US.”]

Read more about the Columbia Plateau Trail

• Columbia Plateau Trail (TrailLink)
• Columbia Plateau Trail State Park (Washington State Parks)
• Columbia Plateau Trail (Crazy Guy on a Bike, 2008)

Learn More, Support Bike Connections

• Sign up for our e-news to make sure you get all our trail and bike travel updates.
• Support our advocacy so we can work for the John Wayne Trail repairs and other great trail projects around the state.

Trail Advocacy Tips

• Show how your trail is part of a larger local, regional, or even statewide network. That makes each segment more valuable.
  • As one example, the Fish Lake Trail connects to the Columbia Plateau Trail which connects to the John Wayne Pioneer Trail which connects to the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trail which connects to the Burke-Gilman Trail which connects . . . you get the picture.
• Use the power of bike tourism to illustrate why the trail matters to more than just people who bike or walk. Bikes mean business and trails serve as destination attractions.
• Share information on your trail project with whatever organizations market your town as a great place to live, work, and visit. Keep them posted on project milestones and opportunities to demonstrate their support.
• Stay in touch with local transportation planners and agencies. A trail is part of the regional transportation system. It’s not just about finding funding; they can also share news about progress, events, and volunteer opportunities.
• Don’t be afraid to tell people your project has hit a speed bump. Use it to rally support. 
• Take lots of pictures at every phase and share them on social media.
  • Pictures get passed along more than just text.
  • We can help; send your pictures to Louise and we’ll share them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. If you’re sharing, tag #WAbikes.
• Tell WA Bikes about your project!
  • We’ll highlight it here to build support.
  • We’ll tell your story to your state legislators as an illustration of why we need more investment in healthy, safe places for people to bike and walk. Trail funding is always on our legislative agenda.

[Tweet “How to promote your trail project: Tips for trail advocates.”]

Your Turn

• Have a great story about biking one of Washington’s trails? We’d love to publish your guest post. Contact Louise.
• What’s your #1 favorite trail in Washington? Comment below to share it with others.