Trail History

The Rail-Trail Hall of Fame

1978

Original Trail Opening

The Burke-Gilman Trail was first established in 1978, transforming old rail lines into a community greenway after 7 years of community effort.

2001

Missing Link Project

A crucial extension that has been delayed by lawsuits for over 20 years.

2019

Fix the Burke-Gilman

Ongoing efforts involve bicyclists in reporting maintenance issues and advocating for their resolution.

2020

Ballard Corridor Initiative

An innovative project enhancing multimodal connections and improving trail user experience.

Trail Origins

Learn about the establishment of the Burke-Gilman Trail and its initial impact on Seattle.

Hall of Fame

Seattle’s Burke-Gilman Trail was Trail of the Month: November 2024. This is a very informative page about the history of the trail.

Expansion Projects

Discover the Missing Link initiative and efforts to extend the trail network.

VIDEO “From Rail to Trail: Looking Back on the Burke-Gilman Trail”

An informative 6 minute video covering some of the history of the Burke-Gilman Trail Park.

Ballard Multimodal Corridor

Understand how the trail supports multimodal transportation and local connectivity.

VIDEO “From Rail to Trail: Looking Back on the Burke-Gilman Trail”

A 51 minute more in-depth video covering the history of the formation of the Burke-Gilman Park.