Tommy Thompson Parkway, Anacortes, WA

Trail Description

Type of trail: 12' of paved surface
Difficulty: Easy - A rails-to-trails project

This former Burlington Northern railway was paved and opened to the public in 2005. It is named after the late Tommy Thompson, a narrow gauge railway creator who dreamed of running his train along the Fidalgo Island shoreline. Parts of his narrow gauge track can still be seen in parts of the trail. The trail begins by the marina in Anacortes and parallels a busy street for the first half mile. The businesses in this area have attempted to make the route more enjoyable by placing murals on the back of their businesses. The trail then goes slightly down hill through the back yard of an industrial area with less than ideal views. After this, you are rewarded with a trail that hugs the shoreline with expansive views to Mount Baker and the sparkling water of Fidalgo Bay. The highlight of the trail is the .75 long former railway trestle spanning the bay. The end of the trestle brings you to the turnaround point.

The tracks for Tommy's Railroad still exist and can be seen on the Northern edge of the North trail head parking lot. Tommy's Train

There are benches scattered along the route, one area for kids to play at the beach ,one bathroom and one pit toilet

Trail Statistics

Map Length: 3.40 miles / 5.47 km

Real Length: 3.40 miles / 5.47 km

Elevation Range: 0 - 33 feet / 0 - 10 meters

Elevation Traveled: 146 feet (80 up, 66 down)

44 meters (24 up, 20 down)

Elevation per Mile: 43 feet / 13 meters

Activities: Hiking,Running,Skating,Cycling

Elevation Profile