Chronicle Photo Editor Ridley Hudson used the Old Highway 603 parking area to enter the Willapa Hills Trail and capture these fall scenes.
“Once a railroad, this trail allows visitors to travel between the towns of Chehalis and South Bend without having to drive,” the Washington Trails Association writes online. “This makes an excellent outing, whether you want a quick jaunt or a longer bike ride, though the trail is in varying stages of development, so be sure you are prepared for pavement, gravel or possibly dirt, depending on your route. Access is available for hikers, runners and bikers from the Pe Ell entrance in Chehalis; or off Dieckman Road, Ceres Hill or Meskill Road, all near Adna. You can also hop on the trail from Rainbow Falls State Park, where you can ride or walk a short distance from the park’s entrance to the trail itself.”
Learn more about the trail and plan your own trip at https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/willapa-hills-trail.
To submit your own photos for possible publication by The Chronicle, email news@chronline.com.
