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The Yelm–Rainier–Tenino Trail, formerly the Yelm–Tenino Trail, is a rail trail located in Thurston County, Washington, United States.
| Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail | |
|---|---|
| Length | 14.5 miles (23.3 km) |
| Location | Thurston County, Washington |
| Began construction | 1993 |
| Use | Walking, Hiking, Biking |
| Elevation change | 320 feet (98 m) |
| Grade | Flat |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate |
| Hazards | Multiple crossings of roadways |
| Surface | Paved |
The trail is a 14.5-mile (23.3 km) long paved path designated for use for cycling and walking.[1] The trail runs parallel to State Route 507 and intersects with the southern end of the Chehalis Western Trail. Trailheads are located at the trail termini in Yelm and at Tenino's City Park, with additional parking lots and entry points along the trail.[2] Rainier straddles the trail approximately 8.5-mile (13.7 km) east of Tenino.[3] The trail is mainly flat, with a combined elevation change of approximately 320 feet (98 m) over its course.[2][4]
The trail is used by bicyclists participating in the annual Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic as they ride from Yelm to Tenino.[5][6]
The trail, acquired by the county in 1993, has been constructed along the route of a former Burlington Northern Railroad line.[1][2][4] Originally this section of railroad was named "The Prairie Line," but in 1986 the rail line from Yelm to Tenino was abandoned.[4]
The trail was renamed in late 2021. Previously the "Yelm–Tenino Trail", the name now incorporates the city of Rainier, which maintains a portion of the trail that bisects the area and the city's limits.[1]
Future plans
In 2024, the city of Tenino has begun plans and contracts to extend the trail through the community's downtown area that would place the western terminus near the intersection of Old Highway 99 and SR 507.[7]
A copper wind sculpture was installed at the Prairie Line Trailhead in Yelm at the end of 2023. Symbolizing a tree, the Santa Fe, New Mexico artwork known as Ponderosa was part of an initiative to begin a creative district in the community.[8] The following spring, a metal sculpture made of recycled argon cylinders used for welding was added to a trailhead cross-corner from Yelm City Park. The artwork, titled Centennial Bloom, was donated by a Centralia sculptor to the city in honor of Yelm's 2024 centennial. The sculpture depicts a cube metamorphosizing into a dodecahedron. The same artist also donated another metal sculpture displayed on the trail in Tenino.[9]
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