Haller Park to Nakashima - Centennnial Trail

North end of the Haller Trestle Bridge

I'd been wanting to ride the north section of the Centennial Trail & with all the rain I was hoping that the footing would at least firm enough to do some trotting.   I parked at the far side of the gravel parking at Haller & we started over the trestle.

North fork from the bridge~

 As I expected, the north fork was full of silt. The Stillaquamish - both north & south forks converge here & the water level was way up!  When you hear it rushing below you - it's a rush :-)

Convergence of the Centennial Trail & the Whitehorse Trail

It's just a short way from the Arch, to the elevated bridge that goes over the road the Quarry uses to access Hwy 9.

Looking down at the Quarry road, Whitehorse trail through the trees~

The Coalition thinks that this area would be great for horse trailer parking.  Easy access to both trails - but it's still a working quarry with trucks coming & going on the road.

Hwy 9 parallels the trail going north

It's noisy along this section, with the traffic that goes by on Hwy 9, but the footing is good & so is the scenery - especially this time of year with all the leaves coloring & falling!

Picnic table at the side of the horse path

 There are several areas where the horse trail actually splits away from the side of the paved path & it's really nice - but there aren't enough of them :-)

Bryant!

It's three miles from the bridge to the store at Bryant with car parking & a potty.  Just a short way further is the Hwy 9 crossing.  It's well marked with a Hawk system crossing signal that activates the flashing yellow lights.

The Sun came out!

Once across - you're on one of the prettiest sections of the trail.  Four-miles to go to the north end at the Nakashima Barn.

Heading north

It's a great stretch for moving out!  A homeowner along side has moved in some Alpacas' but they're on the far side of a small wetland.  Farah looked, but wasn't worried :-)

Just so beautiful!

It was just one of those days!  Even with the clouds, the fresh air & fresh country after all the rains was like riding along through a video to promote our state.

Crossing the creek~

Just as we were heading across, a Bald Eagle flew over our heads!  He was very low & circled us once before turning upriver & landing in a tree.

Pilchuck Creek

The creek is really going now too, I'm sure at one time it would have been full of Salmon, at least the Eagle was hoping for some!

We're at the Barn!~

I promised Farah our lunch break at the barn & again the sun was trying to break through.  I couple riding bikes had gone past us a way back & were resting at the barn too.  We had a nice conversation about the correct way to come up behind horses & they were very receptive & friendly.

Signage

From here, there's just one more mile of unimproved trail that ends again - at Hwy 9 & the Skagit County line.  It is what some sections of the trail used to look like before it was improved.

More of that Sunshine!

When the next sun break opened up - we were at the perfect place to enjoy it!

North end at Hwy 9

I'd thought about going up the road & through the gate to the tree farm, but Farah heard the truck about the time I did & I was happy that we didn't do that on this day.

Trucks coming out of the farm~

Looks like there's another area getting logged & hauled - though I didn't see it when I was up there last week.

Heading back~

We turned & started back - again - it's nice because the views are just stunning from either direction :-) 

Clouds moving in~

We were just back to the trail-head when the clouds started rolling in.  I almost thought I'd need my rain jacket.

Horse Crossing

Farah is so trail savvy now - that she crosses without my asking :-)  "OK, Mom, here's where we're supposed to go over there!"

Elevated section of the horse trail

There's a long section here, raised & seperate from the main trail that's nice for moving out.  I was amazed at how much the ground has settled in the past couple years since it was finished.

Back to the creek~

All too soon we were back, almost to the creek.

The creek~

I stopped here & sat on the bench for a few minutes, while Farah looked for clover.  My favorite spot on the trail.

Back at the arch~

 We stopped to check out our bricks - yes - they were still there!  Available for anyone who wants to purchase one & help to support the trails.  From here, I wanted to go down the Whitehorse a way to see how it was looking.

Homeless hut

Just 3/10ths of a mile down, we found this...  No one seemed to be around, but it was a mess, with trash everywhere & a fire pit dug into the trail again...  Now I've got to call to see what can be done about it.

Whitehorse heading east to Tin Bridge

The trail really needs work now, with the blackberries taking over, one tree down & another that's going down.  We turned back here.

Back over the trestle

On the stretch before the bridge, we'd stopped to talk to a man with the cutest Border Collie puppy!  Only ten-weeks old & So Darn Cute!  While we were talking, I felt Farah go on high alert!  I looked toward Arlington to see a group of at least 15 boys running toward us!  Farah was ready to bolt!  Never having been confronted with this kind of thing!  :-)  I dismounted & raised my voice to ask the boys to slow down & say something!  :-)  They finally realized what was up & dropped to a walk.  Farah let out a breath & deflated :-)

Hwy 9 bridge over the Stillaquamish

Once back at the park I checked the time & was amazed that it was already after 5 p.m.!  We checked out the river there too, before loading up to head home.

Long post - sorry - but I do what I can to promote these trails.  The more horsemen we have getting out there & in the public eye - will help us to keep our right to ride!  Join the Facebook pages for either or both trails & be sure to stay aware of what's going on in our neighborhood!

The Centennial Trail, Point-to-Point~

Farah & Connie - Snohomish - Start of the trail~ 9:07 a.m.

I'd decided with the opening of the north end of the Centennial Trail, I wanted to see if it was possible to ride the entire length of the trail.  There is one "No horses" sign in Snohomish & a two-mile section without any shoulder for horses.  By the "Pilchuck" trail parking on Machias Rd. -  it opens with a shoulder for equestrians.   We parked at McDaniel's & I was anxious to "get-out-of-town"!  Butch took a day off to follow us on our route & crew!

My ride plan was pretty simple, just trot & make time everywhere I could!  I had no idea how much time it would take, but was only figuring on an overall pace of 4 mph.  We hit the trot & within 50-ft. we had bicycles beside us!

Our new friends :-)

We were moving right along, bike riders have it "down"!  They set a good speed heading for intersections.  Drivers see them coming & pretty much know those bikes are not slowing down!  Most looked surprised to see us trotting right along side & we literally blew through town!  :-)

We've crossed Three Lakes Rd. & you see the start of the horse path~

To pass the couple behind us, we were on the shoulder, but moved over to the paving because of the sloppy footing.  I'd asked Butch to pull in at the parking, good thing & I had dressed Way too warm, so removed my thermal shirt replaced it with cotton!

9:21 - Farah spots Butch!

This was a quick stop/go - I left my thick pants on & figured I'd just suffer through until our planned "VC" further up the trail.  This section of trail had mom's with baby strollers, a few kids on bikes & the traffic that came from Lake Stevens.  We kept moving on, past the Machias Station, the ball fields at 16th & reached the 20th street trail-head by 10:16.

Coming into our mobile camp!  10:16

Farah polishes off a pan full of slop!  We get the "royal" treatment from "Dad"!

10:35 & we're back on the trail!

We met a Mom with her two cute kids who wanted to "pet" Farah, she was sweaty & we were on a "mission" so apologized & were on our way - this time through the edge of Lake Stevens & headed north toward "home" & the Getchell Rd. trail-head.   When we were just a couple hundred feet from the Hwy 92 underpass, we saw the Bronco & trailer fly by!  Butch on his way to Getchell!  :-)  Was so funny to see Farah's reaction!

This section is one of my favorites!   Beautiful, quite & cross-country.   We were really moving out & enjoying the morning when I saw the big, white arm of a lift & flashing red lights up ahead - right in our path on the trail.  PUD tree pruning crew at work!  As we drew closer, I hailed the guy in the basket asking if we could get through?  These guys were Great!  They instantly started running around, moving branches, moved cables & motioned we were clear.  Farah didn't hesitate a stride!  Going right under the basket, over the cables & past the running trucks!  The crew asked about our "hurry" & gave us cheers of encouragement when I told them we were headed for the Skagit County line!  :-)

11:10 We see Butch waiting!  We've reached Getchell!

The ride was going so much better & faster than I'd imagined!  Farah again was so happy to see Dad waiting for us!  She actually was "expecting" him by this time!   Again, we didn't waste anytime, Farah ate, drank & kicked up a hind leg for a short rest.

11:25, we've crossed Getchell & headed for Armar

 This stretch too we've done & were both familiar with.  But - I've decided to take up Duck hunting!  Just as we trotted by a wetland, a pair had to fly up at us with wild quacking, flapping etc.  Enough to give us both a rush!

11:50 we trot into the Armar Trail-head!

 Here again, Butch was ahead of us & everything was ready for our break.  This was the longest break of our ride, we let Farah do some grazing & I ate.   Next...  was Arlington...  Which I knew would be the most challenging part of our quest.  We only had a mile of trail with shoulder before we came out onto the sidewalk just a block shy of the big traffic interchange at 67th & 172nd. 

12:24, we leave Armar, heading to Arlington

 Butch came up beside us on 67th, just as Farah & I approached the intersection. This was one of the longest hold-ups of the entire ride, I think the light must have cycled three times before we got the white hand & second counter to cross.  Farah was so uptight - she had to stop & take a dandelion with her :-)  People were rolling down their windows to talk to us.  Farah was constantly complimented;  "That's the prettiest horse!"  Followed closely by;  "What kind of horse is that?"  :-)  Once across, I mounted up & we started north down the sidewalk.  Butch got ahead of us, then pulled in where he could to be as close as possible.

12:50 & we're officially "in town"!

Now, Farah had no clue as to what on earth we were doing?  She'd never been there of course & there were manhole covers, signs, cars, noise etc.  No fun for either of us.  Butch driving by as he maneuvered was a real comfort to us both.  Thankfully, it was possible for us to jump up onto the railroad track berm & that got us a little further away from the traffic.  We dropped off the berm just before we had to cross the track & go under Hwy 9.  Once cars were stopped every direction - we crossed onto the welcome green grass along the trail as it winds through the side of downtown Arlington.  Here, we met two ladies who'd passed us out on the road & come into the park to find out what we were doing & wish us well!  Too fun!   It seemed to go really fast & we were crossing the last road to Haller Park!

1:23, down the road to Haller

This was another quick stop!  We were on the last leg of the ride & more than anxious to leave town behind!  Farah had a quick drink & couple gulps of her slop & we headed out!

1:41 We head across the trestle~

 Now we're rolling, Bryant just a couple miles ahead, one more crossing of Hwy 9 & on the last leg!

2:05 as we near the Bryant trail-head

Butch had pulled in & met us out on the trail, but walked us right up & past the Bryant store before sending us on our way north again!

2:08 we've crossed our LAST road!!!  Red Barn here we come!

The last section is just so beautiful, we heard the honk of the Bronco's horn as Butch drove north up Hwy 9, for the Nakashima Barn!  The horse path here though was the worst of the day, wet, slippery, sloppy in places & our speed went down accordingly.  In many places we just moved over to the blacktop to make any time at all.  Luck was with us & we only saw two bikes on the way.

2:41 - Galloping to our Finish!

 Even with the footing, we were moving right along & what a welcome site to see that big Red Barn & Butch out on the trial waiting for us!

We finish!  At the Nakashima Barn.

This is the current northern most end of the trail.  There is about one more mile that is unimproved & very pretty! In the news! Our Ride Stats~