Iron Goat Loop
Oct 31, 2009
by
abwolfe
—
last modified
Nov 17, 2009 12:51 AM
- Type of Outing
- Day hike
- Read More in our Hiking Guide
- Hike: Iron Goat Loop
- Region: Central Cascades -- Stevens Pass - West
- Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Skykomish Ranger District
- Trails: Iron Goat Trail (#1074)
- Avg Rating: 4.06
- Why You Should Go Now
- Fall foliage
- Be Aware Of
- Mudholes
- Water on trail
Snowshed backwall at MP 1715. (abwolfe)
Nothin' like a good Halloween hike to burn off calories before succumbing to candy corn. So 11 of us laced up and did a through-hike of the nine-mile Iron Goat Trail on this gray, drizzly day. What a wonderful trail - both for the visible evidence of its railroad history and for the impressive restoration by Volunteers for Outdoor Washington (VOW). The fall foliage was mostly on the ground, but still colorful, and we found maple leaves as big as turkey platters!
After meeting at the Iron Goat Trail Interpretive Site (red caboose) on Hwy 2, we organized a car shuttle to the high point at Wellington trailhead (3100 ft). From there, we hiked west (downhill) six miles along the upper grade to the Martin Creek TH (2450 ft), and then a final three miles down the lower grade to the Interpretive Site (2100 ft). A couple folks opted out at 3.5 miles and took the Windy Point Crossover Trail back to the Interpretive Center, descending 700 ft down the steep switchbacks.
At Wellington, we admired the immense concrete snowshed and reflected on the 1910 avalanche disaster that claimed 96 lives when two stalled trains were pushed down the mountain into Tye Creek. This being Halloween, we wondered if any spirits were hovering about. After reading the interpretive plaques, we skirted a few small patches of snow and commenced our hike.
Hiking in the downhill direction made this an easy trek, suitable for all fitness levels, children, and dogs. The mile markers were helpful indicators of our position, although we misremembered their origination - 1712 is the rail distance from St. Paul, MN (not Chicago, doh). The interpretive signs were great, and we spent plenty of time studying the many tunnels, snowsheds, and backwalls, plus other relics we found along the way. The softened wood on the collapsed snowsheds made them look like they melted into the hillside, and the dark tunnels with their crumbling interiors were suitably spooky.
Almost as impressive as the railroad history was the amount of water pouring down the mountain after recent heavy rains. Water, water everywhere - not just in creek beds, but over the tops of snowsheds, down the middle of trails, wherever it could find a course. This was especially true of the trail section between Windy Point (where we had lunch) and Martin Creek (the western end). This is the only section of trail that's not ADA-accessible; instead of a broad, well-groomed track, it's a typical wooded path, a bit brushy in spots. Today, it had ankle-deep streams running across it, mud holes, and minor flooding. Near MP 1715, the Spillway Spur Trail WAS a full-on stream - the spillway doth spilleth over!
When we reached Martin Creek, we were hoping for a bio break, but the restrooms were locked. The final three miles down to the red caboose were uneventful. We inspected the twin tunnels (learned what an "adit" is) and snapped a few final pics before strolling across the nifty pedestrian bridge on our way to the parking lot.
After meeting at the Iron Goat Trail Interpretive Site (red caboose) on Hwy 2, we organized a car shuttle to the high point at Wellington trailhead (3100 ft). From there, we hiked west (downhill) six miles along the upper grade to the Martin Creek TH (2450 ft), and then a final three miles down the lower grade to the Interpretive Site (2100 ft). A couple folks opted out at 3.5 miles and took the Windy Point Crossover Trail back to the Interpretive Center, descending 700 ft down the steep switchbacks.
At Wellington, we admired the immense concrete snowshed and reflected on the 1910 avalanche disaster that claimed 96 lives when two stalled trains were pushed down the mountain into Tye Creek. This being Halloween, we wondered if any spirits were hovering about. After reading the interpretive plaques, we skirted a few small patches of snow and commenced our hike.
Hiking in the downhill direction made this an easy trek, suitable for all fitness levels, children, and dogs. The mile markers were helpful indicators of our position, although we misremembered their origination - 1712 is the rail distance from St. Paul, MN (not Chicago, doh). The interpretive signs were great, and we spent plenty of time studying the many tunnels, snowsheds, and backwalls, plus other relics we found along the way. The softened wood on the collapsed snowsheds made them look like they melted into the hillside, and the dark tunnels with their crumbling interiors were suitably spooky.
Almost as impressive as the railroad history was the amount of water pouring down the mountain after recent heavy rains. Water, water everywhere - not just in creek beds, but over the tops of snowsheds, down the middle of trails, wherever it could find a course. This was especially true of the trail section between Windy Point (where we had lunch) and Martin Creek (the western end). This is the only section of trail that's not ADA-accessible; instead of a broad, well-groomed track, it's a typical wooded path, a bit brushy in spots. Today, it had ankle-deep streams running across it, mud holes, and minor flooding. Near MP 1715, the Spillway Spur Trail WAS a full-on stream - the spillway doth spilleth over!
When we reached Martin Creek, we were hoping for a bio break, but the restrooms were locked. The final three miles down to the red caboose were uneventful. We inspected the twin tunnels (learned what an "adit" is) and snapped a few final pics before strolling across the nifty pedestrian bridge on our way to the parking lot.
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Start of hike - concrete snowshed at Wellington (MP 1711). (abwolfe)
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Water, water everywhere - including over the trail. (abwolfe)
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Ladies with leaves. Really big ones. (abwolfe)
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