The Great Redwood Trail

If you are a landowner in Humboldt, Mendocino or Trinity County, California, and your property is next to the Great Redwood Trail Line, then you may be entitled to compensation. This railway is part of a proposed multi-use trail system spanning 320 miles from San Francisco Bay to Arcata in Humboldt County.

It is established law that the federal government must pay you for the portion of your land that is currently the railroad or once was the railroad and is now being converted into a trail. Since the railway was an easement granted to the railroad, you may still hold title to the land.

The newest section of railway that is to be converted into a multi-use trail spans 176 miles, from Willits to Eureka. As of June 19, 2022, the Surface Transportation Board approved the abandonment of the railway, effectively approving the trail. With the abandonment approved, the trail sponsor, the Great Redwood Trail Agency, now owns this abandoned railway. We want to ensure that you, as a landowner, are justly compensated under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Our firm has extensive experience handling lawsuits asserting the property rights of landowners against the federal government in the United States Court of Federal Claims. These lawsuits are referred to as “Rails-to-Trails” cases.

At Flint Cooper, our dedicated team of attorneys take pride in making your claims process simple and stress free. There are no upfront fees and no out-of-pocket expenses. The time to file a claim is limited. If you would like to discuss your claim and understand your rights in more detail, please contact us toll-free at +1.618.205.2105, complete the Free Case Consultation form on this page, email us at railstotrails@flintcooper.com or schedule a time with our team to meet with you at your home or property.