Have you ever wanted to ride your bike or take a very lengthy hike across the state of Washington? Thanks to an organization called Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, you can explore a dozen states across the country in a whole new way. And, at the risk of sounding completely biased, we happen to think Washington’s route is the most beautiful by far.

The Great American Rail-Trail spans 12 states, from Washington to West Virginia. It is still a work in progress, but it's well over 50 percent complete.
Tony Harasimowicz / alltrails.com
The concept was born out of a desire to see America's heritage from a new perspective—by trail.
Rail trails, or shared use pathways, are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned.
Jeremy Noble / alltrails.com
The possibility of a rail-trail that spans the country has been known since the mid-1980s. It is now the signature project of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the nation’s largest trails organization.
The Washington portion of the rail trail is divided up into more than a dozen smaller rail trails.
Jeremy Noble / alltrails.com
The largest, Palouse to Cascades State Park, covers most of Eastern Washington, offering some incredibly diverse scenery.
The Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail spans 285 miles and covers parts of Adams, Grant, King, Kittitas, Spokane, and Whitman counties.
Christine M / alltrails.com
While all the trails are primarily used for biking, walkers are welcome, and you'll often see them enjoying the route.

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The lush green Snoqualmie Valley Trail takes you from rural dairy land in the north to a clear blue mountain lake in the south...
Gary n Rochelle Taber / alltrails.com
... and the neighboring Preston-Snoqualmie Trail meanders through the rest of the Snoqualmie Valley, connecting the communities of Preston and Snoqualmie.
Katie Harrison / alltrails.com
This particular trail is only about 6 miles long, so you can hike or bike it in a day easily.
There's even a Seattle Waterfront Parkway, which explores part of Myrtle Edwards Park.
Old Birdlegs / alltrails.com
The trail parallels Alaskan Way along Elliot Bay, and it's a great place to watch cruise ships come in.
Last but certainly not least, take the Olympic Discovery Trail from Port Townsend all the way to the ocean.
Great American Rail-Trail / Facebook
It's worth it.

While this certainly isn’t something to tackle on a single outing, the idea of biking or hiking the entire Washington portion of the Great American Rail Trail seems pretty exciting. Check out the website for updates on the trail’s progress.

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Featured Addresses
Snoqualmie Valley Rail Trail, 44655 SE N Bend Way, North Bend, WA 98045, USA
Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail - Cedar Falls Trailhead, North Bend, WA 98045, USA
Olympic Discovery Trail, Sequim, WA, USA