Iron Goat Trail –Hike back into time to one of Washington’s most tragic events

Quick Facts:

Location: Stevens Pass

Land Agency: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Roundtrip: 12.0 miles

Elevation gain: 650 feet

Green Trails Maps: Alpine Lakes Stevens Pass no. 176S

Contact: Skykomish Ranger District: Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest 

Notes: Northwest Forest Pass required

Access: From Everett follow US 2 east for 55 miles to Milepost 55. Turn left onto the Old Cascade Highway and proceed for 2.3 miles turning left onto FR 6710. Continue for 1.4 miles to trailhead.

Good to Know: dog-friendly; kid-friendly, historic

Follow an old rail line back into time to the no longer town of Wellington, site of the worst avalanche disaster in American history. Marvel at engineering feats required for building the Great Northern Railroad across this rugged terrain over a century ago. Admire the tenacity of tycoon James J. Hill and the backbreaking work of the thousands of laborers who constructed this transcontinental railroad. And praise the hundreds of Volunteers for Outdoor Washington (VOW) who converted miles of this line into a topnotch trail.

While the focal point of this trail is definitely historic, there’s plenty of great scenery to be enjoyed along the way, too! Lined with ferns and alders the trail takes off east which is actually westward on the old rail line due to switchbacking. Soon come to a junction with the Martin Creek Crossover Trail. The original rail line continues straight. Take the trail left climbing stone steps to reach the upper grade of the old rail line. Then head right following what was the Great Northern Railroad line from 1893-1929 resurrected in the 1990s as the Iron Goat Trail.

Soon pass the remains of one of the many snow sheds and tunnels that helped protect the line from frequent avalanches. Next pass the first of several handsome rail line milepost replicas. The numbers represent miles from St Paul, Minnesota, the line’s eastern terminus.  At .7 mile come to a junction with the Corea Crossover Trail which leads back to the lower grade. After another mile come to the 0.1 mile Spillway Spur, a mandatory side-trip heading left to an old reservoir.

Just shy of three miles reach the western end of the quarter mile long Windy Point Tunnel. Shortly afterwards come to the junction with the Windy Point Crossover Trail which steeply descends 700 feet to the US 2 trailhead and interpretive site (an alternative start). Continue walking the line soon reaching the Windy Point Viewpoint providing excellent viewing towards Stevens Pass and the Surprise Creek Valley.

Heading east the terrain gets more interesting as the trail crosses dark forest groves, brushy avalanche slopes and lots of maples and cottonwoods that add vibrant colors in autumn. Catch glimpses of the Old Stevens Pass Highway winding below. Eventually reach and enter a half mile intact all concrete snow shed.  The trail continues through it passing the Avalanche Disaster Viewpoint. It was here in 1910 where the worst avalanche disaster in American history occurred claiming 96 lives.

At 6.0 miles reach the former site of the railroad town of Wellington. Nothing remains of this once bustling community; abandoned when the rail line was rerouted to a new tunnel in 1929.  Wellington now serves as the eastern trailhead to the Iron Goat and the old tunnel through the Cascade Crest still survives. But it is closed to entry being extremely dangerous to travel. You may however still hear whispers of trains coming through it as well as voices from the past blowing across the trail.

For more information (including maps and historic sidebars) on this trail and many others nearby, check out my Day Hiking Central Cascades second edition and Hiking Washington’s History (with Judy Bentley).

 For information on places to stay and things to do in the Stevens Pass area, check out Northwest Tripfinder.

A great nearby place to grab a bite to eat and stay for the night is the historic Cascadia Inn in the railroad town of Skykomish.

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