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Trip Report

Lester Ghost Town — Monday, May. 29, 2017

Snoqualmie Region > Cle Elum Area
Gate. Just keep driving on 54 until you find it.

A friend and I hiked this today!

The drive out was gorgeous—and really all you need to know is to stay 54 once you get onto the dirt road. Deep potholes, but easily passable in a Subaru—I imagine they might be a little less awesome in a sedan or something too low to the ground. Just keep going. Stay on the road that looks like the road you should be on. Eventually you'll get to a yellow gate with some parking area around it. There was plenty of snow on the sides of the road for a bit of the drive—but 100% passable, and eventually you drop back below the snow line before getting to the trailhead. The potholes on the ride were the only real part of the journey that required a sports bra for us womenfolk. :| 

The hike is not at all vigorous—we saw some kids and a heavily pregnant woman on it. Naturally, that made us feel like sissies for driving out into the middle of nowhere with our trail shoes and day packs and thinking we were going on an adventure. 

It's a pretty hike—but there's virtually nothing left of Lester. Even the "artifacts" some other reviews mentioned after they tore down the town remains were gone. You'll spend a LOT of time in the sun on a sunny day. There are long stretches of the trail that aren't shaded at all. Get that sunscreen on. 

There are some live railroad tracks out there, so be careful hanging out on the tracks—if the rails are shiny, keep off 'em! Especially if there was a train coming. 

There is so little left of Lester (alliteration!) that you'll probably walk right past it, and wind up at the "NO TRESPASSING" signs from the Green River Watershed protector folks. Lame. We turned around and went back at that point. 

Well worth it just for the drive and walk with a friend, not quite the adventure we'd hoped for. 

River vista in the first bit of the trail.
A bit of trail washout, but there's a lower section to the right that's easily passable.
Long stretches of open/unshaded trail.
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