Went back to re-inspect the eastern end of the Whitehorse Trail. It was a little more overgrown than I remember it from last year. The trail surface is quite rideable with a mountain bike or a sturdy street bike. At one place the Stillaguamish North Fork River is nibbling into the steep bank and we are going to lose part of the trail there within a few years. There is some illegal quad ORV activity on the east end of the trail, but actually that moderate motorized vehicle use improves the trail surface somewhat by packing down the gravel and makes it easier to ride.

Now that the extension of the Snohomish Centennial Trail is open from Arlington up to a new trailhead at Bryant, you can access the lower trail end of the Whitehorse just beyond the bridge.

It is signed for horses and with good reason. It is brushed (at least at this end) and there is a 10' trail topped with 1.5" gravel (no fines). The stuff moves with every step. It's like soft sand.

It would be a workout on a mountain bike. I suspect a trike might do better as it would not be shifting all over. After a 100 yrds, I packed it in. I was there to survey the extension.

Give it a try and tell us. A rider with a Surly LHT and 4" tires did the Columbia Plateau Trail in the undeveloped section and that is 2-4" ballast, so it can be done.

Ride on!

TrailBear
Heading back to that nice blacktop Centennial Trail

Currently only 6 miles on the eastern end between Swede Heaven Rd. and Darrington are open for public use.
There is not much parking space at the current western trail end at the Swede Heaven trail crossing at 48.27593 N, -121.70586 W. Two to four cars would fit on. A sign there reads "Darrington 6 miles". The trail bridge across Moose Cr. has a name sign, but that is currently the only one. The bridge across Squire Creek is much more impressive, but there is no sign to identify the creek. This bridge and another one of the bridges have a nice board along the railing, wide enough to sit on and relax, and would provide bench space for 200 people to sit on. The trail leads mostly through undeveloped second (third) growth forest and is in view of only a few houses, mostly in the proximity of where the trail crosses some residential access roads. The forest canopy is so dense that most of the trail is in the shade and you might even consider riding it on a hot summer day. There are two places where one can step off the trail and walk down to the shore of the river. The second one is after 3.2 miles where the trail crosses an unmarked gravel road that is inviting to ride north for several reasons: 1. immediately to the left is a wide gravel and sand bar along the river (easily seen from the trail) which would be a fun place to go sunbathing and splash in the river on a hot summer day. Judging by the amount of trash left behind, this place is also popular with locals. 2. Continue on the road north ~1/2 mi. to a concrete bridge with a very nice view of the river and another river access point. Also trashed. 3. For the more energetic mountain biker getting bored by riding only flatland trails along abandoned RR grades, the logging roads on the other side of the bridge (M1000) above open a vast network of riding opportunities, first past a (trashed) gravel pit (target shooting) and then further up toward U.S.F.S. Road 18 and Segelsen Ridge. The main roads are in good shape (surface OK for mountain bikes) and offer spectacular views of Whitehorse Mtn. across the valley and other peaks up the Sauk River valley. You should try at least for a 2.5 mi. (5 mi. R.T.) excursion, gaining 400 ft. elevation to a point where it reaches U.S.F.S. Road 18, with the coordinates N48.29307, W-121.68052 for the best views. The bridge and the road up to this point are not yet shown on USGS 1978 maps. This point can also be reached by a logging road from the Swede Heaven road, and, if the map is correct, theoretically one might be able to make a loop of it.
Back on the Whitehorse RR trail, the trail crosses a church camp, goes under the powerline, goes past a sawdust composting operation next to a log storage area, past the Darrington air field and ends unceremoniously next to the IGA grocery store in Darrington at 48.25534 N, -121.60285 W. There is ample parking here, but no trail directional signs or bulletin boards with trail maps.
After the return to the Swede Heaven trail head, one is tempted to explore the continuation of the trail to the west. A first sign states only that this is future trail, banked as part of Snohomish trail planning. Going west, you ride past a road crossing with a fish hatchery, a marshy pond, and the ruins of the Fortson saw mill with a mill pond. The mill pond appears to be popular for fishing. There is car parking at the turnaround of an access road (marked with "Wildlife Viewing Area" along Hwy. 530). Only after a little less than two miles the signs along westbound Whitehorse Trail state that this corridor is currently CLOSED to all public use. At the latest when you get to a crossing with residences guarded by free-running vicious dogs it is time to turn around and postpone further explorations. The map shows a picnic area past the fish hatchery which I should have explored. During a midweek exploration I did not see a single other person on the trail, only a few fishermen at Fortson Mill Pond and a dog walker on the logging road.

For additional information, see
http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Parks/Park_Information/WhitehorseTrail.htm

There is some great wildlife viewing along the Whitehorse Trail as you pass the old Fortson Mill Pond. I have seen quite a variety of birds, deer and even a fox once. This is also beautiful in the early summer with wildflowers, lots of Bleeding Heart and Yellow Wood Violet. At several points along the trail there are clearings where you can catch vistas of the mountains and the Stillaguamish River.

The barricades throughout the trail detract from some of the enjoyment, but everything else that it has to offer, I recommend this trail.