The main section of the Centennial Trail, a paved trail that stretches through Snohomish to the Skagit county line. It follows the original route of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railway; sections of this railway have since been acquired by Nortern Pacific and Burlington Northern. The name is thanks to efforts by locals in the late eighties, who lobbied for a trail to be established in 1989, which was the year of Washington state's centennial.
Users of the Centennial trail will pass through forests and farm land, cross creeks and rivers, and have options to create larger, longer routes by connecting to the Whitehorse Trail near Arlington. While bikes, equestrians, and pedestrians share the trail, note that equestrians are prohibited between the Snohomish and Pilchuck trailheads and between Armar Road and Bryant, because of congestion concerns.
Heading north, the trail climbs very gradually after Lake Stevens and through to Lake Cassidy. Views of the Olympics peek through trees on the way into Arlington, where there's a connection with the Whitehorse Trail.