After seeing hikingwithmybrother's write-up (from 3/12/2012) I put this one on my mental to-do list. Today was the day. Their description is good. The trailhead is actually an old rusty gate w/ No Parking and Towing signs on it. Beyond you can see a yellow gate w/ the WA State Parks logo on it. There are many no parking and no trespassing signs in the area. A place that is ok to park is on the other side of the street closer to the Green River Gorge bridge. There is a turnout that can accomodate 3 to 4 vehicles. I was the only one around today.
Despite there being private property signs it is ok to walk the gravel road to the yellow gate where it is WA state parks land (there's apparently an easement thru the private land). I got caught in a downpour heading up to the site of the old ore cart labeled Franklin. It is probably less than a mile to this junction which is signed. If you go right, it heads to sites of old foundations for structures (houses?). I passed one foundation before seeing a No Trespassing sign so I turned around. I then headed straight (which would have been left going up) which took me to mine shaft entrance #2 which is covered with a metal grate for safety purposes (in 1984). This mine was over 1300 feet deep. The hayday of the mine was from about the late 1800's to the 1910's. After the mine shaft the trail changes from a road width trail to a single track. There is water and mud across the trail in several places and also foliage over the trail in a few places. I noted an old elevated trestle not too long before the cemetery off to the right. Apparently this was part of the system of water pipes that delivered water to the town of Franklin back in the day. I came upon the cemetery almost without realizing it. It is becoming quite overgrown. I noticed at least 10 or so grave markers. A few of babies (quite sad). It is probably close to 2 miles to the cemetery. The trail beyond the cemetery quickly joins a gravel road. I did not explore to find out where the road came from or led to. There is a sign stating Franklin Cemetery facing toward the gravel road. The rest of my time on these trails the sun came out & quickly dried me off. Pretty serene other than the constant gunfire off to the west (which got louder/closer as I hiked the trail). I didn't hear any stray bullets, thank God. Interesting area worth exploring.
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