Trip

Day Hike - Iron Goat Trail: Martin Creek to Wellington

We'll travel along an old rail line as it retraces the tracks of history through a scenic and challenging engineering (not the hike) section of the abandoned railroad pass crossing.

Wed, Nov 6, 2024
Committee: Seattle Hiking Committee
Activity Type: Day Hiking
Audience: Adults

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Leader Rating: Moderate
Mileage: 12.6 mi
Elevation Gain: 920 ft
High Point Elevation: 3,150 ft
Pace: 2+ mph average moving pace

Availability: 2 (10 capacity)
Assistant Leader Availability: FULL (2 capacity)
Registration Open: Fri, Nov 1, 2024 at 8:00 AM
Registration Closed: Tue, Nov 5, 2024 at 3:00 PM
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Add to Calendar: iCal Google

Leader's notes

Conditions and elevation still seem clear of snow. The weather forecast looks cool/cold but without precipitation so far. It's a fair distance but with limited elevation gain. We'll travel at a good pace but take time to explore some of the historical points.

Route area summary:

"The trail described is the "Iron Goat Trail," which follows the abandoned route of the Great Northern Railroad on the steep slopes of Windy Mountain near Stevens Pass, a location historically marked by a devastating 1910 avalanche that is considered one of the deadliest in American history, where trains were toppled off the tracks due to massive snow slides; this tragic event led to the construction of additional snow protection structures like tunnels and bridges before the route was eventually rerouted to the modern Cascade Tunnel."

Key points about the Iron Goat Trail:

Historical significance:

It follows the old Great Northern Railroad route, showcasing the impressive engineering feats of the past.
Avalanche disaster site:

The trail passes through the area where the 1910 Wellington Avalanche occurred, which caused a catastrophic train wreck.
"Iron Goat" name:

This name likely comes from the mountain goat featured on the Great Northern Railway logo