First time on this trail. We started at the interpretive center (the middle starting point). We followed the suggestion here and took the lower trail toward Martin Creek. We encountered mosquitoes right away and were glad we had bug spray. This was an easy trail with several great views of the surrounding mountains along the way (we were glad it was a bright sunny day with blue skies). We took our time and checked out all the interpretive information about the railroad and history along the way, including the tunnels. We continued past the Corea crossover trail and instead took the Martin Creek crossover to the upper trail. The upper trail also offered interpretive information, tunnels, and beautiful views. The side trip to the spillway was definitely worth the quick side trip. It started out as relatively easy, but further along the trail was very overgrown. There were a few spots where water ran over the trail, but it was easily stepped over. The upper trail was also more exposed than the lower, which made it a bit warmer than we would have liked since it was early afternoon when we were hiking there. The descent just past the windy point tunnel was definitely different from the rest of the trail; quick drop in elevation with many switchbacks. If we were to do it again, we would start by doing the steep ascent to the upper trail and finishing with the leisurely, shadier lower trail. Overall, a very enjoyable hike on such a beautiful day.

Parked the car at Martin Creek trailhead -- we were the first ones there at 9:30 a.m. We planned a day-long, 12 mile trek to Wellington and back. Within a few hundred yards of the trailhead we took the Martin Creek crossover to the upper trail and hiked east, enjoying the old tunnels, concrete snowshed walls, and railway artifacts along the way. Multiple waterfalls spill over the various concrete snowshed walls but do not affect the trail. An avalanche sometime this past winter above the Spillway Spur has left a debris pile to scramble through, including hardened snow. Not too slippery but choose your footing carefully. We took a break at Windy Point to enjoy the 180-degree view. Between Windy Point and Wellington there were more artifacts, snowsheds, and somewhat overgrown trail conditions, but a group of workers were doing a great job of clearing the trail. Thank you! As we walked through the tall, long, all-concrete snowshed just west of Wellington, we both noticed that the light and sound reminded us of being in an old cathedral. The viewpoint for the avalanche disaster site was well marked and easy to find. Having read "The White Cascade" about the 1910 disaster, it was a little gut-wrenching to stand there and imagine the moment the avalanche hit. We paused for lunch at the Wellington townsite, viewed the entrance to the old Cascade Tunnel, then set out to return west to Martin Creek. One of the trail workers suggested we take the old Cascade Highway as an alternate route, which we did. Because a vehicle bridge over the river washed out a few years ago and was replaced by a foot/bicycle bridge only, not only was there no vehicle traffic on the road, but we didn't run into anyone else. This route gave us views along the river and up to the ridge line we'd hiked in the morning. The only catch to this return route is that the old road joins Highway 2 just above the Iron Goat Interpretive Site at mile post 58. We didn't find a trail along the road, so we had to walk on the highway shoulder for 1500 yards -- ugh. Re-entered the hiking trail at the interpretive site where the red caboose sits, and walked along the wide ADA-accessible trail back to Martin Creek. Interpretive signs at points of interest all along the trail share the incredible engineering story of this rail line. Our total mileage for the day was somewhere between 12 and 13 miles. Weather was clear & sunny, about 75 degrees at mid-day. Left the parking lot at 4:00 p.m.; only two other cars were there.

Left from the Iron Goat Interpretive Site at about 10:30 am. Took the switchback trail up toward Wellington. It was a very nice hike, there was a lot of water pouring over the cement retaining wall along the way. There are definitely stinging nettles close to the trail, so gaiters or pants would have been a smart idea. The snow has since cleared off of the trail, but the remains of the avalanche are still there. We didn't see too many people, and there were lots of wildflowers blooming. Ate lunch at Wellington, and then walk/ ran parts of the trail back to the Interpretive Site. Overall a nice easy hike with lots to see. The dog was happy with the many runoff streams along the trail, he sampled water out of every one of them.

Walked from the interpretative trail-head to Wellington. The trail was in fine shape except for 30 yards of snow from the earlier avalanche (pretty easily traversed), and some brush from same that encroaches on the trail. Water is running through a seam on the ceiling of the cement snowshed, the water has caused some of the cement to separate from the ceiling. Its probably not a good idea to stand under that seam for an extended period of time. There was plenty of water for Jayne on the trail.

This was the perfect first hike after a winter knee surgery for me. There is a lot of obvious avalanche debris, in some places that means lots of snow on the trail. That said, the trail is always easy to follow. The forest seems particularly lush at the moment, perhaps due to the long spring. Weather was beautiful for us which facilitated some excellent views of snow capped peaks.