MillCreek

Be sure to check first on the ice caves. The Forest Service was planning on closing the trail to do some explosive removal of winter deadfalls across the trails.

MillCreek

Be sure to slow down to 10 MPH on the trail once you get into Renton. It is posted and they have occasional police enforcement. This comes from the tragedy a while back in which an elderly woman died on the trail after being run over by a bicyclist who was not that much younger than her.

moleman76

The Darrington-Arlington road, westbound, is not really that bad as far as traffic goes. Yes, there are motor vehicles, and parts don't have over-wide shoulders, but you will probably survive. Note that there's not much, if anything, between Darrington and Trafton (5 miles or so east of Arlington) in the way of food or liquids for purchase. If you don't want to go on to Arlington and pick up the trail there to Snohomish, just past Trafton you can take a left and head down to Granite Falls, and then on to Lake Stevens, and then take the trail.

As you head up the Mtn. Loop, stop in at the USFS Ranger Station at Verlot (after the store) to find out about the Ice Caves trail. That is a pretty short hike, maybe 1.25 miles each way.

MillCreek

^^^ And the advantage of the Trafton route is that you can hear your fillings hum as you go by the Jim Creek Naval Radio Station.

toddles

That's where I thought. Sweet. I'd say that little store on south end of the lake is going to like it. Very excited about it myself.

toddles

Well, I basically got sick over the fourth and wasn't able to get out at all until tonight. I rode the Centennial Trail up to Bryant and then rode about 1.5 miles along the new (and closed) north end trail to the bridge. First the ride getting to it was pretty sweet as it's basically riding through the woods in seclusion. Although it appears some adjacent farms still let there horses graze freely as two mares chowed down on some grass right alongside the trail -- which I thought was actually pretty cool. The bridge is top rate and while it was closed, I did manage to walk across it to the end. This is where the pavement ended. So by my calculations they still have another 2.5 miles to pave -- which is said to be completed by the Fall. I suspect they'll start up north and work their way south back to the bridge as taking construction equipment over it would probably desecrate the new bridge.

As for the new work on 67th through Arlington to close the 1.1 mile gap or whatever it is, I didn't see any new construction being done on it even though the above article indicates it has. Whatever, just finish it already. The day I can ride from the city of Snohomish up and across into Skagit County and the south end of Lake McMurray, is the day I'm going to be a really happy biker.

MillCreek

^^^ Such a rebel climbing over the fence/gate at the end of the bridge. I should have done that. According to the Google Earth satellite views, you can see the trail construction and equipment being staged on the other side of the river. I can hardly wait for the bridge to open up.

toddles

When I got there, there were 3 bikes up top, 3 folks down below messing around the river, and the gate had been pried open already... so it was a simple matter of stepping around it. Rebel for being there but the dirty work had already been done.

toddles

I just rode through Arlington on my way to Lake McMurray and I sadly report that I didn't see any signs of any path construction on 67th Ave nor did I see any work being done from the south end of Lake McMurray on the North End trail. The Snohomish/Skagit county line falls short of the lake there on Hwy 9 at least a couple of miles -- which again raises the question -- why would Snohomish County spend money to extend a trail to Lake McMurray in Skagit County especially since they don't have jurasdiction? And if it doesn't go all the way through, where is the end going to be and how is the rider going to be able to continue? Along the gravel path? If they are working on it, then I'm not sure where they are doing the construction -- unless they are continuing across the bridge.

As for Arlington, WTF?? I thought I read some where this was supposed to be done at the end of summer. Hello, that gives you officially 3 weeks.

Does anybody have any news or info on this? As usual, the Snohomish County Parks and Recreation website is weak on this. Just says it will be done in November. Here's a map that is sucky too.

https://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/docume...entennial3.jpg