Currently, the Dawkins Line Rail Trail is 18 miles long. When the second phase of the trail is completed, it will be 36 miles.

The first 18-mile leg of the trail, from Hagerhill in Johnson County to Royalton in Magoffin County, was opened to hikers, cyclists and horseback riders on June 15, 2013. This 18-mile section features 24 trestles and the Gun Creek Tunnel, which is 662 feet long. The trail follows the old Dawkins Line railroad bed that runs from Hagerhill to Evanston. The Dawkins Line Rail Trail is the largest rail-to-trail in the state.