Whitehorse Regional Trail
Project Contact
Emily Griffith, Senior Park Planner
6705 Puget Park Drive
Snohomish, WA 98296
(425) 388-6620
UPDATES
Updated 12/28/21
Whitehorse Trail corridor improvements will include stabilizing the landslide between Arlington and Trafton trailhead, making surfacing improvements to the first three miles of trail, rerouting the trail around the bank failure near 435th Ave and other user improvements along trail corridor (e.g., signage and site furniture at trailheads, signage along trail and roads along corridor).
Current Status - Phase 3
• Scope, schedule, and budget established
• Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to hire consultant team for trail corridor design and supporting studies to advertise early November
What's Next
• Select consultant team
• Meet with PDS to review permits and studies needed
• Meet with other Agency and Tribal partners to introduce project
Construction has been completed and the trail is open to the public from Trafton to just west of 435th Ave NE and from 435th Ave NE to Darrington. Snohomish County is working to acquire grants to repair the closure west of Trafton as well as working on a trail re-route around the washout at 435th Ave NE.
Most of the trail has been resurfaced with gravel and compacted and is open to the public. The exception is from the Centennial trail to Trafton and just west of 435th Ave NE where the trail is closed due to landslides and river washouts.
Future projects will be completed as funding is available
- Resurfacing of 7 miles of trail from Swede Heaven Road to Price Street Trailhead in Darrington - 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.
OVERVIEW
Spanning over 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.
There are currently two closures on the Whitehorse Trail. The first is between the Centennial Trail connection and the Trafton Trailhead. The second is just west of 435th Ave NE near Darrington. These closures are due to landslides and river washouts. The remainder of the trail is open to the public and much of the trail has recently been resurfaced with compacted gravel.
This project will complete the trail corridor by stabilizing the trail through the landslide and re-surfacing the trail between the Centennial Trail and Bridge 701 and by rerouting the trail away from the washout west of 435th Ave NE.
- SR 530 Whitehorse Trail Rebuild - Public Works project page
- "Work to begin on another 9.5 miles of Whitehorse Trail" - Everett Herald article published December 29, 2015
- "Crews rebuilding Whitehorse Trail section destroyed by Oso mudslide" - Everett Herald article published July 19, 2016
- "Whitehorse Trail at Oso mudslide rebuilt, to open next year" -Everett Herald article published November 21, 2016
"Whitehorse Trail showing signs of rebirth after Oso mudslide" -Everett Herald article published April 2, 2017