BPA Trail

Washington

5 Reviews

View Trail Map
View Map
Print
Complete
Favorite
Send to App

Register for free!

Register for free with TrailLink today!

We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors
  • View over 40,000 miles of trail maps
  • Share your trail photos
  • Save your own favorite trails
  • Learn about new trails near you
  • Leave reviews for trails
  • Add new and edit existing trails

BPA Trail Facts

States: Washington
Counties: King
Length: 3.83 miles
Trail end points: Madrona Park Playground at 15th Ave. SW and SW 360th St. and Celebration Park at 11th Pl. S and S. 324th St.
Trail surfaces: Asphalt
Trail category: Greenway/Non-RT
ID: 6597466

BPA Trail Description

Meandering down a Bonneville Power Administration overhead electric utility corridor, the BPA Trail serves as a connector between Celebration Park and the downtown areas of Federal Way with its southwestern neighborhoods. The trail runs behind offices in the city, providing an opportunity for non-motorized commuting.

There are also frequent access points to neighborhoods, highlighting the trail's usefulness as a commuting corridor for outlying neighborhoods. Near the BPA Trail's midpoint, the West Campus Trail branches off as a 1-mile spur, providing access to more of Federal Way's residences and medical offices.

Parking and Trail Access

Parking for the BPA Trail can be found at Celebration Park on Celebration Park Road or in the south at the dedicated lot where the trail meets SW 356th Street.

BPA Trail Reviews

Great Trail

Love this trail. To be honest I'm a bit attached to it since it's the first trail I rode and it's only 2 miles from home. I ride it almost every day even in the winter. It's pretty deserted at night except for a few people but it's a delight. I normally start at celebration park and go all the way to madrona park, but on weeknights, I turn around at 356th st because there are some drivers who don't stop even when the crossing lights are flashing. But it's an absolute delight and gives me a work out due to the hills

Great inner city trail

Love that I could run 8 miles on this trail just by going out and back to either end. Great trees and plant life in the middle of some busy streets. Paved with hills throughout.

winds around

I usually walk the top mile at celebration park to the first cross street and back, just over 2 miles. Mild hills, the swerves take a lot out of the hills. It's been breezy when I've been walking it however I've heard it can be rather still at times.

Watch out for downhills w/ road crossings.

It's a really nice skate, if you're comfortable with mild hills.

I hadn't been on rollerblades for many years.
Obviously, I felt shaky at the beginning. As I got more comfortable being on my skates, I still was having trouble slowing down (I don't have brakes - used to be able to turn a skate 90° and drag it).

The hills are pretty mild to the south of the 11th & 12th ave SW crossings - but even on the mild hills, watch out for road crossings. I was afraid that I could get up too much momentum and then get surprised by a road crossing.

North of 11th & 12th Ave SW it looks steeper - I will try those after I get my skating ability comfort level a bit higher again.

There is a bench to sit down just North of 11th Ave SW - that is where my son and I turned around (see link below for a My Track of the skate route we did)

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9oxoNs4rlbsWUE1cnduVnJ2NWs/edit

My son had done it a a couple of times before. We live close to the parking lot on 356th, so he has ridden it on his bike and skateboard a lot. He just got a pair of rollerblades at Goodwill a week ago, so he had skated it a couple of times, and already knew the trail pretty well. He was confident he could skate off into the grass if needed (he, like me, needs to work on braking techniques).

Accordion

Good But Hilly

I tend to walk up steeper hills, but if you don't mind hills, this trail is great! There is a paved and dirt trail weaving along most of the trail. The power lines above hum in damp weather which is frequent. Plants die back below parts of the power lines in summer - not sure why. There are lots of thimble berries and black berries in season, and lots of connecting trails to neighborhoods.

Nearby Trails

Go Unlimited Today!

  • FREE Account
  • View over 40,000 miles of trail maps
  • Post your trail reviews
  • Share your trail photos
  • Save your favorite trails
  • Learn about new trails near you
  • Get a free map in the app!
Register for FREE
  •  
Purchase Unlimited

Explore by City

Explore by City

Explore by Activity

Explore by Activity

Log in to your account to:

  • View trail paths on the map
  • Save trails to your account
  • Add trails, edit descriptions
  • Share photos
  • Add reviews

Log in with Google

Log in with Apple

OR

Register for free!

Join TrailLink (a non-profit) to view more than 40,000 miles of trail maps and more!

Register with Google

Register with Apple

OR

Your account has been deleted.