One of the most ambitious trail projects in the country just took a major step forward.
The Great Redwood Trail Agency board approved its master plan this week, laying out the blueprint for designing, building and managing 231 miles of trail through Mendocino, Trinity and Humboldt counties. The project will convert the former Northwestern Pacific Railroad corridor into a multi-use trail winding through redwood forests, river canyons, farmland and small towns along California’s North Coast.
When the full Great Redwood Trail is complete, it will stretch more than 300 miles across five Northern California counties, from the San Francisco Bay to Humboldt Bay, making it one of the longest rail-to-trail conversions in the United States.
The master plan took more than three years to develop and involved extensive community input, including over 30 community and tribal events, hundreds of surveys, direct meetings with stakeholders ranging from ranchers to first responders and formal consultations with California Native American Tribes.
Beyond recreation, the project is rooted in ecological restoration. Work along the corridor will include removing hazardous materials left behind by the defunct railroad, stabilizing damaged slopes, restoring wildlife habitat for species like steelhead and salmon and reintroducing native plants.
The economic impact is expected to be significant. The Mendocino-Trinity-Humboldt stretch alone is projected to generate more than $102 million annually in local economic benefit once complete, translating to roughly $170,000 per day in business revenue connected to the trail.
About 17 miles of trail are already open to the public in Humboldt and Mendocino counties, with another 40 miles in active planning or construction. The newest segment in Ukiah will celebrate its grand opening on April 26 as part of National Trails Day.
State Senator Mike McGuire called the plan a once-in-a-generation investment for the North Coast and teased that another major announcement about the trail is coming soon.