Whitehorse Regional Trail

The Whitehorse Regional Trail is currently opened between the Fortson Mill Trailhead to Darrington and we ask that visitors only utilize this portion of the trail until further notice.

The trail will be under construction from Trafton at 115th Ave NE to Swede Heaven Road between April 2019 and October 2019. Parks asks that visitors only use the open portion of the trail in Darrington.

The trail is currently impassible from Arlington to Trafton due to a landslide and will be closed indefinitely until engineers can assess earth movement that is occurring above and below the trail.

Note - page last updated April 26, 2019. All project phase information is current.

Whitehorse Regional Trail Phased Development

Project Description

Spanning 27 miles between the City of Arlington and the Town of Darrington, the Whitehorse Regional Trail follows the path of the former BNSF railroad through the North Stillaguamish River Valley. The trail meanders through the valley from its junction with the Centennial Regional Trail in Arlington, frequently paralleling SR 530 and the North Fork Stillaguamish River. The backcounty corridor, rewards visitors with picturesque, landscape views of forests, farmland, streams and rivers, and mountain vistas. Currently only a 6 mile portion of the trail from Darrington to Swede Heaven Road is open to the public.

Whitehorse Regional Trail development will occur in three phases.

Phase 1

Status - Currently Underway or Completed

Bridge decking and repair - Underway, 1 bridge still under repair;
Trafton reconnection and trail rebuild of the missing section east of the Cloverdale Farm - Completed;
SR 530 reconnection and trail rebuild at the site of the SR 530 mudslide - Completed;
Resurfacing and compaction of the trail surface between the SR 530 mudslide site and the Cicero Ponds - Scheduled to begin April 2019.

Phase 2

Status - Acquisition of the Miller Shingle Mill has been completed, and construction of the SR 530 Highway crossings is currently underway. Parks has been awarded a grant from Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) for funding of the remaining projects in Phase II. Currently, the Grant Agreement has not been signed as funding pended on passage of the delayed Washington State 2018 Capital Budget.

Realignment and construction of the SR 530 trail crossings with 1.1 miles of asphalt paving in between - Completed
Asphalt paving of 0.9 miles at the site of the 2014 SR 530 Mudslide - Completed;
Resurfacing and compaction of the trail surface between Trafton and Cicero and between C Post Road and Swede Heaven Road- Scheduled to begin April 2019;
Parking Improvements at Fortson Mill - On hold for funding.

Phase 3

Status - Future projects will be completed as funding is available.

Landslide debris removal between Arlington and Trafton - on hold for funding;
Engineering, permitting and repair of landslide and trail bed wash-out between Arlington and Trafton - on hold for funding;
Resurfacing of 2.7 miles of trail between the Centennial Trail junction in Arlington and Trafton - on hold for funding;
Resurfacing of 7 miles of trail from Swede Heaven Road to Price Street Trailhead in Darrington - on hold for funding;
Darrington Area Slide Repair at 435th Ave NE - on hold for funding;
Replacement of Bridge 713 - on hold for funding;
Repair/Replacement of Bridge 710 - on hold for funding;
Develop trail connection to Whitehorse Community Park and establish trailhead - on hold for funding;
Develop Miller Shingle Mill trailhead and fly-fishing museum - on hold for funding;
Develop trail connection to Squire Creek Campground and establish trailhead - on hold for funding;
Cultural Resource studies and partnerships with the Stillaguamish and Sauk-Suiattle Tribes for interpretive sites - on hold for funding;
Camping Improvements at the Fortson Mill trailhead - on hold for funding;
Camping Improvements at Whitehorse Community Park - Underway;
Camping Improvements at Squire Creek Campground - on hold for funding.

All acquisitions, plans and site developments are subject to funding availability and subject to Snohomish County Executive and County Council approval.