John Wayne Pioneer Trail An Incredible Experience

Talk about getting away from it all! These blog posts and videos give you the flavor of what it’s like to ride the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, whether in the eastern portion that is less well-known or on the more developed western end of the trail. Some also cover public meetings that have been held on the trail and its future. Another post will round up media coverage of the policy questions being debated.

When consulting blogs for travel ideas always check the comments. People who have ridden the same section often post additional tips, alternate routes around a temporary closure, and other useful items. A key comment that comes up in a few places: Riding west to east gives you tailwinds rather than headwinds much of the way.

Older posts may refer to railway tunnels in the Iron Horse Trail stretch being closed and requiring detours; those tunnels opened in 2013.

The Cycling Sojourner Washington guidebook includes a tour from Spokane to Ellensburg. Royalties from sales of the book support bike advocacy and education, including the Cascade Bicycle Club’s Advocacy Leadership Institute.

Trip Reports

• FernwehNW: Blogger Shawn Pedersen on his 2015 trip, including great detail in Route Planning Info and Link to All 5 Days
• Recreation Biking Vehicle Adventures: Randy Pulk’s take on the 5-day trip with Shawn
• Crossing Washington State On The John Wayne Pioneer Trail: Spokane blogger Pat Sprute’s ride in 2012
• Bus-bike-backpacking on the Iron Horse Trail is simply unreal: July 2015 trip on Seattle Bike Blog (Iron Horse State Park, holds the Iron Horse Trail, a piece of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail)
• Create Adventure: Bikepacking the John Wayne Trail: Three women ride the west end in 2014
• Exploring Escure Ranch And A JWPT Detour: Pat Sprute scouted a detour for a section in 2016
• Bikefishing on the Iron Horse Trail: Russ Roca and Laura Crawford of Path Less Pedaled in 2013
• A Day on the John Wayne Pioneer Trail: 2013 ride on the Iron Horse State Park section, on Tacoma Bike Ranch blog
• 4 ½ ft and The Artistic Adventure: An art project/bike tour organized by Bicycle Adventures. Doesn’t provide specifics, but what a cool idea for an art project.
• John Wayne Pioneer Trail: Short write-up of a day trip on the west end.
• JWPT Public Meeting In Rosalia: Pat Sprute got Rich Landers of the Spokesman and his neighbor Chip Andrus to ride from Spokane to the 2015 Rosalia meeting.

Forum Discussions

• John Wayne Pioneer Trail/Iron Horse State Park Cross-State Tour: Post on MTBR forum with links to the 2012 cross-state trip posts on 26InchSlicks. Looking at this forum gives you additional comments and discussion.
• John Wayne Pioneer Trail discussion on Adventure Cycling Association forum

General Information

• John Wayne Pioneer Trail information on TrailLink, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
• John Wayne Trail: On Jennifer’s List of Bike Trails; last updated 2011. Pat Sprute noted that he made use of this in his planning.
• Interactive map on BikeRouteToaster
• Interactive John Wayne Trail map on MapMyRun created by Scott McMurtrey
• John Wayne Pioneer Trail (Iron Horse State Park): On dbmechanic site, with lots of trail map links
• Washington Trails Association: Hiking information organized in trail segments, lots of trip reports

Are we missing a great post? Share it in the comments.

Videos

We created a YouTube playlist that includes both travel footage and coverage of some of the public meetings that have been held on the trail. Comment on the videos to thank people for riding, taking video, and posting to draw attention to this unparalleled asset — the longest rail-trail in America.

What’s Next for the John Wayne Trail?

• Washington State Parks John Wayne Pioneer Trail Planning: Our Senior Director of Policy Blake Trask serves on the committee appointed fall 2015 to look at trail issues and develop proposals.
• To support trail advocacy with a tax-deductible donation, join or donate to the new Friends of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail.
• To support our work on state policy and politics, including advocacy for trail funding and protection of public ownership and future endorsements of bike-friendly candidates, you can donate to us. Donations to Washington Bikes are not tax-deductible.