Explore Guide

This 0.6 mile long rail trail segment is great for hiking, biking, pets on a leash, horseback riding and cross country skiing. The Air Line Trail in this area is level and the surface is packed gravel. The parking lot at East Thompson Road is the location of one of the only four-train crashes in U.S. history. The Great East Thompson Train Wreck occured in 1891 and resulted in two deaths. There are many resources available to get more information about the crash, including the Thompson Historical Society’s website. As you walk south, you will pass areas where the East Thompson Train Station and turnstile once stood. Plans are currently underway to better note specific locations of the station and wreckage from the crash. Parking is available at both ends of this section: 3-4 cars at Sand Dam Road and 15 to 20 at East Thompson Road, where a kiosk provides information.

The Last Green Valley has assessed this trail for people with mobility challenges and has created a summary you can access here E Thompson Rd to Sand Dam Rd.