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Rails-to-trails provide perfect winter walking, and there are two YREs in Olympia which take full advantage of a lovely rails-to-trails, the Chehalis Western Trail.
The Olympia YRE starts at a Chevron only feet from the trail. In no time you are fully immersed in woods. This is a truly perfect walk in every way: the scenery is gorgeous, from horse ranches to ponds to deep, Washington woods and even, at the end, a rainforest ambiance. The trail itself is flat and nicely maintained. If the paved surface gets to your knees, there's a groomed gravel shoulder path. I ended up switching back and forth and my legs appreciated the variety. The trail also provides frequent benches and "potty shacks."
The route is a straight out-and-back, common with rails-to-trails. When the scenery is this lovely, and the trail is this easy to walk on, I don't mind out-and-back a bit. It gives me a break from having to read a directions sheet. And I appreciated the frequent signs along the way showing me exactly where I was and how much further I had to go.
One of the features I liked most about this rails-to-trails walk was that it began in a rural area, so you were really 'out in the country' right away. This trail had a definite bucolic, country air.
My only regret was having to forego the optional additional 2K that went to an overlook. I was out of time, but it looked quite worth the effort.
Thanks Capitol Volkssport Club for a great YRE!
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