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What is the Olympic Discovery Trail?
The Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT) is planned as a non-motorized, multi-user transportation/recreation system that will span over 100 miles from Port Townsend, Washington to the Pacific coast near Forks, Washington. The ODT follows portions of the now defunct Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad right-of-way. The trail passes over historic railroad trestles, through productive agricultural land, and along portions of the coast of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Trail users will pass through peaceful residential and wooded areas, as well as deep forest and spectacular Lake Crescent as the trail goes farther west.
Currently, 49 miles of the trail are complete, accommodating hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians (equestrians only allowed on county-administered portions of the trail, not inside Port Angeles or Sequim city limits).
22 miles of trail are completed connecting the communities of Port Angeles and Sequim, with 12 miles of this portion of the trail administered and maintained by Clallam County. The trail between Sequim and Blyn (Jamestown S'Klallam tribal campus) is nearly complete, and will add another 3 miles of trail administered by multiple jurisdictions. Sequim to Blyn is anticipated to be usable but unpaved by end of April 2008, and paved by fall of 2008.
One portion of the trail is more of a wilderness trail, situated south of the town of Joyce, connecting Highway 112 at the Elwha River with Lake Crescent (continuing onto the Spruce Railroad Trail of Olympic National Park). This part of the Olympic Discovery Trail is 3 foot-wide with a dirt and gravel surface, called the Adventure Route. It is intended for use by equestrians, hikers, and mountain bikers. Road bicycles are not appropriate on the Adventure Route. The trail is approximately 24 miles long, and is now complete. Currently, 9.5 miles of the Adventure Route is a traditional trail and 14.5 miles follows gravel logging roads.
Up and coming: A six-mile portion of the ODT will be constructed west of Lake Crescent, on the west end of the Spruce Railroad Trail) at the end of 2008/beginning of 2009. In addition, 2 miles of trail (Dry Creek to Elwha River) and the crossing over the Elwha River are anticipated to be complete early in 2009. This will leave a missing link between downtown Port Angeles and Dry Creek. The city of Port Angeles is currently applying for grant funds to work on the missing link.
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