A New Piece of the 300-Mile Great Redwood Trail Is Now Open for Hiking and Biking
The latest segment of what will eventually become a 300-mile trail stretching from the San Francisco Bay to Humboldt Bay is now open to the public in Ukiah.
State Senator Mike McGuire joined community members on April 26 for a grand opening celebration and fun run marking the completion of the newest section of the Great Redwood Trail. The event, held at 1601 Airport Road, fell on National Trails Day and highlighted years of work by the Ukiah Valley Trail Group and a coalition of state and local partners.
The Great Redwood Trail is the largest rail-to-trail project in the country, converting abandoned Northwestern Pacific Railroad tracks into a public trail system for walking, biking and non-motorized recreation. When finished, the trail will pass through some of Northern California’s most dramatic landscapes, from coastal redwood groves and river canyons to small towns along the way.
About 17 miles of trail are currently open to the public across Humboldt and Mendocino counties, with another 40 miles in active planning or construction. The completed segments include sections of the Ukiah Rail Trail, Willits Rail Trail, Humboldt Bay Trail and Arcata Rail Trail.
The Great Redwood Trail Authority’s master plan was approved earlier this year, laying out the long-term vision for connecting the entire corridor. McGuire called the project a once-in-a-generation investment for the North Coast and teased that another major announcement is coming soon.
