I live right next to the chehalis western trail and walk or bike it atleast three times a week. It is a nice trail but needs wayyyyy more bathrooms!! My young children need somewhere they can go to the bathroom when we are on our walks or bike rides. And it would also be very nice if there was more access to rivers, lakes, or streams. The Fir Tree access is wonderful! But as far as the Lacey accesses, they are not so great.

my girlfriend and I just completed this bike trail and we loved it. There are only 2 things we didn't like about it. The first problem we had was finding where the path continued once we got in the city, near Pet smart.
The trick is to cross the road and go towards a fence in the back, there is a small opening to keep going.
An interesting thing as well is, we seen a sign that says "trail ends" which is not true. This sign was right before you cross the road, have no idea why its there.

The second thing we didn't like was it was not in a loop. which is not to big of an issue just have to be ready to go 20 miles back the other way.

BE AWARE that some jerk broke some glass on trail, it can cause a flat. I was riding with a spare but some people don't have the tools to replace on the spot.

Awesome trail we plan on doing it again very soon.
if you got any questions about the trail just email me id be happy to help

adamg4life@comcast.net

Adam

I live here and use the trail often. Fall is a great time because of the many fruit trees along the way.

This was a great trail for us! Unfortunately we only had 3 hours to do a portion of it from the Chambers Lake Trailhead but enjoyed it thoroughly. Lots of shade and changing terrain as well as being well marked. We want to return. Chambers Lake Trailhead is easy to find from I-5. Take the College Ave exit South to 14th Street and turn right. Pass under railroad trestle and turn left into spectacular trailhead.

Anybody else roller blade this trail? Looking for someone to skate with.

"First, the directions on how to get to the Chambers Lake Trailhead are not very clear on the trail website. So here is clearer instructions: From I-5 southbound, take Exit #109. At the bottom of the exit, take a right onto Martin Way. Stay in left lane and turn left onto College Street, cross Pacific Avenue, cross Lacey Boulevard, turn right onto 14th Avenue. Follow approximately 1 mile. The entrance is after the trestle on the left, quick left.

This trail is beautiful. A great trail for family riding. The trailhead is located at milepost seven. By turning left on the trail, you would be heading towards the Puget Sound. We decided to head right and pass Chambers Lake. The trail has a gradual grade. Within the first two miles you will cross two major roads, watch the kids. One thing great about the trail is that they have placed metal post gates and ""rumblers"" before each major road so you can not rush out into traffic. The trail then leads thorough forest and meadow, crosses a golf course and then at mile 3.5 goes ballast for .25 miles. At this point you are on a major road, 67th. Turn right and use the shoulder to travel about 600 feet to the trail entrance on the right. You will climb a steep hill to reach the next part of the trail. Now the trail follows fields and forest, some parts so dense they seem medieval. At mile seven, milepost 15, you begin a jaunt next to the Deschutes River, just beautiful. It meanders along with you for about two miles before it jogs right and you jog left.
After the river leaves us, we move on into forest and field. Pass the train holding yard for the dinner train, we head into forested fields and formica ants galore, was afraid to put my foot down in fear of being attacked and dragged off to their pine needle mounds, which were everywhere."

"This was a wonderful ride. I have cycled this several times. The last time I did the entire path round trip, which is 50 miles. It's a lovely path, a great ride and a nice workout."

"We live about 1/2 mile from this trail and use it frequently for commuting and recreation. It is 99% paved and not heavily used. It's a great weekend trail with only gentle rises that are acceptable to all level of riders.

The trail passes 2 lakes and a river, plus if you take it to the north end it drops you at an arm of Puget Sound. The latest improvement has been made so that you can connect to an east-west trail between the small towns of Yelm and Rainier (about 8 miles apart)."

"I stopped by this trail while travelling home from Seattle on the recommendation of a friend. The trail head parking is large with clean restrooms and water. Lot's of folks with kids and dogs, bikes and rollerblades were coming and going. The track is paved the whole 9.95 miles south, where it ends at a private residence.

There are views of the lake and marshlands, farm fields and wooded glens. The first couple of miles was fairly busy, but became more private further south. Several traffic posts impede your progress at major road crossings and I feel they were constructed too narrow to safely pass without almost coming to a complete stop. A pleasant track to train and just get out for a couple hours, although a bit over developed for my taste. "

"It seems the Chambers Lake Trailhead is no longer ""full service."" The county has closed the restroom for 6 months, until April '03, and the county tells me they may have to close if for a longer period next year. Lack of funding.

The trail itself is terrific -- can't say enough good about the trail. Its asphalt, its clean, its rural and urban. I rollerblade there every chance I get -- just take care of business elsewhere!"

This is a fantastic trail. There's beautiful scenery and pleasant surroundings.

"I just moved to Lacey, WA, this spring. This is a wonderful walking and biking trail for all to enjoy! It is clean and nicely paved. Great job!"

This is really an enjoyable ride. The first part is in the Lacey neighborhoods and is very accessible in about 4 places. It actually starts at mile post 7 off of 14th street and goes to mp 14.1. There is a short section of about 150 yards that parallels the BNSF Railroad's mainline at about mp 10.3. Keep going and follow the signs for the Chehalis Western Trail. It is worth the little bit of gravel. The next portion of trail is really out in the country and is quite a woodsy ride. I have driven from Tacoma twice to ride it and will do it many more times.

"This is a very good ride for all abilties. I especially liked the feeling of being out in the woods and far from civilization. The trail itself is in good shape, but the shoulders could use some cutting back, as the blackberries are starting to encroach. Also, the grass covers a third of the trail in a few places. "

"An interesting ride through suburban and rural forested land. The trail is very level, and the seven miles out and back was an easy ride. I dropped my air pump and someone followed me over two miles just to return it. Viva la rails to trails."

"Very pleasant, well-maintained trail; mostly blacktop. Some major road crossings have been bridged over, others have well-marked crossing areas. However, there is a fairly large (1 mi.) missing link in the middle where the former railroad right-of-way has been absorbed by businesses and the I-5 freeway. Work is ongoing to lengthen this trail and link it to other planned trails in the area."