John Guilford's Hikes

Date: 2025-08-02

Location: Iron Goat Trail

People: (including myself): Pam

			  	Alt.	Miles
Martin Creek Trailhead:	10:30	2450	0
Interpretive Site:	12:00	2100	3
Top Switchbacks:	12:25	2800	4
Windy Point:		12:30	2850
End of lunch:		1:00
Trailhead:		2:30	2450	7

The old rail line comes up the valley from Everett, did a large sweeping U-turn at Scenic, went up the side of the valley (the railroad could only gain 100' per mile of track) to Martin Creek (the lower grade) where it did another large U-turn, and continued almost parallel to the lower grade (but higher) passing above Scenic 9the upper grade) and continuing on to Wellington and the old Cascade tunnel. 

The lower grade is an easy trail that is accessible to wheelchairs.  You pass by a number of remains of old snow sheds and tunnels. 

At the Interpretive site, we climbed steep switchbacks to the upper grade.  Unfortunately we didn't have time to go to Wellington (a variation that would add six miles to the hike).  Instead we went only a short ways east to Windy Point where we stopped for lunch. 

We then came back along the upper grade, a trail rougher and more overgrown than the lower grade.  Near Martin Creek we took the Martin Creek cutoff trail back down to the lower grade and then back out to the trailhead. 

One of the tunnels and concrete archway. 

View from Windy Point