Thurston Regional Trails Plan

Welcome to the online open house for the Thurston Regional Trails Plan!

For over 45 years, the Thurston region has planned for and built shared use trails, envisioning a regional network that connects all Thurston County communities and provides safe and enjoyable recreation and active transportation for all users.

We invite you to learn more about the Thurston Regional Trails Plan and the regional trails network – our goals and vision for the region, the trail projects being planned for, and policy recommendations that can help enhance and improve the regional trails network, and what we heard from the public through our October 2023 How Should We Trail? survey.   

Between 2007 and 2023, major accomplishments for the Thurston Regional Trails Network included:

• Bridging the Gap, connecting the north and south portions of the Chehalis Western Trail that terminated at I-5
• Tunneling the Trail, improving safety and accessibility for trail users trying to cross an active rail line on the Chehalis Western Trail
• Working Together, connecting Historical and Brewery Parks in Tumwater (the start of the Deschutes Valley Trail)

• 60 miles of existing trails
• 14 major trail corridors
• 8 trail managing agencies

If fully built out as proposed in the Plan, the Regional Trails Network could have 170 miles of trails on 16 major trail corridors. Check out the interactive trail map under the “ Recommendations ” tab.

Many of us want a trail right out our front door. The reality is we're limited on where and how we can build trails.

The Thurston Region’s trail network is first-rate, accessible, expandable, and effectively maintained. The network provides safe and enjoyable recreation and active transportation for all users, connecting all Thurston County communities.

The Plan’s five goals will help our region realize this vision:

The Thurston Regional Trails Plan identifies 34 policy recommendations and 50 project recommendations. 

Learn more about the  34 policy recommendations here .

Tour this interactive map to explore the 50 project recommendations trail managing agencies are pursuing to maintain, enhance, and expand the regional trails network. Click on trails or projects to learn more.

In September and October 2023, we asked the public to tell us how we as a region should trail.  1,157 members of the public answered.  Here’s what we heard.

Two out of three respondents want Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) to prioritize increasing funding for constructing new trails that expand our regional trails network. 

• Deschutes Valley Trail
• Gate Belmore Trail
• Karen Fraser Woodland Trail Extension in Olympia

95% or more of respondents support TRPC helping the region be more intentional about planning for trails. This includes establishing a regional trails planning workgroup, holding an annual trail planning meeting, and updating the Thurston Regional Trails Plan every five years.

Respondents shared ideas for other actions TRPC should take to support our regional trails network.  These include:

• Ensuring all types of trail users are involved in planning, designing, and prioritizing trail network projects.
• Regularly engaging the community to both gather feedback and to increase awareness of upcoming trails planning and construction activities.
• Updating the Trails plan more often.

For actions that take a lot of effort to achieve, respondents want to see trail managing agencies to prioritize:

• Improving trail/street crossings at hazardous locations
• Planning for and constructing trail supportive facilities (signage, seating, restrooms, etc.)

Respondents shared observations, priorities, and suggestions.  The top five:

1. Connectivity
2. Maintenance
3. Security
4. User Conflict Reduction
5. Increased Funding

Learn more about what we heard. Review the  survey summary .

Project Manager: Paul Brewster Senior Planner, TRPC brewstp@trpc.org or (360) 741-2526

Project Website:  https://www.trpc.org/1043/Regional-Trails-Plan-Update