Location: Skykomish
Top Things to do in Skykomish
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The 5 Best Things to Do in Skykomish, United States
Skykomish is a town in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 198 as of the 2010 census, down from an estimated peak of "several thousand" in the 1920s.
1. Deception Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By rusty_fwg - Camano Island, Washington
We found a good Midway stopping point between Leavenworth and the city today. We've had a lot of snowfall this winter, so the rapids were really moving on our stop here today.
Great nature views, several easy trails through some great river country. Several picnic tables and pit toilet on site. Will make a habit to take lunch from Leavenworth to go next trip!
2. Iron Goat Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By capableengineer - Redmond, Washington
There's no doubt that hiking is a wonderful pastime. Each hike reveals an experience that is unique in all aspects, from flora and fauna, to physical challenges, to fantastic views.
But imagine, if you will, that your hiking experience takes you one step beyond, carrying you into the past, where you can see relics of a time many decades ago. There, quietly tucked away in the wilderness, exist great, massive structures that have withstood the test of time, and the relentless encroachment of nature which has reclaimed and changed both the appearance and purpose of these giants, who in quiet decay, are never to serve a purpose again.
This is the Iron Goat Trail, an "interpretive" site that captures the history of the Great Northern Railroad, and its precarious passage across the Cascade Mountains, astride Stevens Pass. Built in the year 2000, it is a lovely, well maintained trail that is both beautiful and educational.
For the visitor, the journey begins at milepost 58.3, on the north side of US route 2. Clearly marked, the turnoff into the parking area is easy to find, equipped with restrooms, a display board that is chock full of historical facts about the trail and railroad, and even an authentic Great Northern caboose, whose end platforms are open for inspection.
The trailhead is neatly paved as it curves into the woods, at which point the visitor can make two choices; a western route (not covered here), or an eastern route which carries you to the extinct town of Wellington, and the Cascade tunnel. Signs on the trail are clearly marked - head in the direction of "Windy Point Overlook".
Hikers need not believe that this trail does not offer challenges, as the beginning of this route is a series of steep, rocky switchbacks that wind amongst trees, cross large roots, and skirt wide expanses of small boulders that have fallen from the mountainsides. The ascent can be tiring, (a 700 foot climb), but because it is a shortcut, you will reach the main, flat trail in less than a mile.
At the top of the climb, signs are again posted, for both western and eastern routes (at this point, you are more or less at the center of a dogbone). Continuing on the east route, the first stop is "Windy Point Overlook", which offers an expansive view of the Tye River valley, Route 2, and the surrounding mountain ranges beyond.
The journey then continues through a wooded canopy that breaks out into a massive boulder field, through which the trail neatly winds. To the left, the boulders expand upwards onto sheer rock walls, and the variety in terrain is substantial. After about a quarter mile, you encounter a huge, rounded concrete structure that suddenly juts out from a large rock spill in the mountainside. Extending upwards over twenty feet above you, you must walk along a narrow shelf of concrete adjacent to the structure, with a steep hillside to the valley at your right.
As the "shelf" ends, you are surprised to discover that this concrete structure is a large, wide tunnel, built in 1914. While the entrance to the tunnel is open, it is barricaded within, but allowing you to walk in about forty feet and look into the dark, forlorn tube. At the barricade is a grounded plaque/stand which tells you more about the snowshed, and warns the traveler not to venture beyond the barricades.
The next mile or so takes the hiker down a narrow path, within a much wider flat area, upon which the old railbed used to exist. Here, you see the remains of a collapsed wooden "snowshed" (built over the former rail line to strategically prevent snow from piling up on the rails). Further along, you meet with massive monoliths of concrete embedded into the hillside, embossed with construction dates (1914, '15 and '16). These walls are all that remains of former snowsheds - stronger than those constructed of wood - whose rooves and pillars have long since been dismantled. The advances of nature here are obvious, with unexpected waterfalls pouring over the concrete walls, large cracks revealing rusted rebar, large expanses of moss coverings, and trees and plants of many varieties flourishing at the tops. The trail is peppered with splashes of flowers, and many small trees. Interestingly, a couple ahead had stopped, and were able to snap a black bear who had stood up in the bushes ahead of them. It was a magnificent and surprising sight!
Continuing across small man made bridges, a few logs, and some rocky terrain, the last half mile welcomes you into a trek through an expansive, wide, and reasonably intact concrete snowshed, replete with tall concrete pillars, at least thirty five feet in height. It is a wondrous sight, almost cathedral-like in appearance. And, appropriately, a path leads you outside of the shed to a wooden deck/overlook which is fitted with several plaques that tell of "The Wellington Disaster", a tale of historic loss that occurred there in 1910. On March 1st, at 1:45 AM, a lightning strike into the mountain above caused a massive avalanche of snow, decimating the rails below. Two passenger trains, delayed and idled by heavy snowfall, filled with 96 people, were swept one hundred feet into the Tye River valley below. A humbling experience, the overlook features a number of archival photographs that recant the event, and a list of the people who perished. Sadly, the large snowshed was built AFTER the disaster.
As you exit the snowshed, the path leads you into the "remains" of the actual town of Wellington, which has been reduced to a handful of concrete footings that have remained for over 100 years, and plaques identifying where structures once stood. At an information board, there is a beautiful aerial photo of the town in its heyday; looking at it, it is truly hard to believe that so many buildings once populated the area, and people once lived and worked here, where now only a parking lot, restrooms (locked during this visit), a storage building, and picnic table exist.
The final few hundred feet take you to the best part of the journey - the Cascade tunnel, built in 1900 - a 2.8 mile long passageway through the mountains that now sits forlorn and abandoned, but still sports a magnificent portal with the word "CASCADE" embossed at the top center. The tunnel literally has water coming out of it, signaling that it has decayed within, allowing a stream of water to flow through it. Hard to imagine that over a century ago, great steam locomotives carried freight and passengers to and through this place, left only now for nature to reclaim.
The Iron Goat Trail is not just a hike, but a hike into history. It is noteworthy that, after the Cascade tunnel was abandoned in 1929 (a new tunnel, 7.8 miles long, in the valley below, replaced it), that the remnants of the railroad remained undisturbed for 70 years, until a trail was built. Seeing these artifacts was wonderful, and the trail and surrounding area are beautiful to witness. It is a perfect combination of hiking and history; don't miss it!
3. Stevens Pass Ski Area
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 104 reviews
This ski area in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest offers both day and nighttime skiing.
Reviewed By Chol1a - Seattle, Washington
Everyone likes Stevens slopes, but the biggest issue is the management don't give a s**t for improving their business. Honestly, how many people around here drove it all the way up just to find that lots are full, after 2 hours in the car. If someone wants to ski/board on the weekends, must leave Seattle Metro before 6.30 AM or get pleasantly surprised at the summit.
To Stevens Pass management - show some respect to your customers, either build a multi-story garage, or put a sign down in Monroe . Its a shame that all you carry is the big cash flow.
4. Great Northern & Cascade Railway
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By Gloria S - Englewood, Colorado
Didn't even know this place was here, found it while out driving around on a Sunday afternoon. They have propane fired and coal fire steam locomotives, gas locomotives and electric locomotives. Plus the original train depot for the town of Skykomish, WA. Free attraction, donations accepted, while we were there they had two different trains running. Ride one or both, as many times as you would like. Great for little one and adults alike. Scale for these train is 1/8th. The train depot is also a museum/gift shop.
5. Skykomish River
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Starting in the Cascade Mountains, this river is known for its spectacular scenery and a ten-mile stretch of exhilarating Class III-V rapids; experienced paddlers only.
Reviewed By Tina R - Lynnwood, Washington
Love this river. Wherever you are on this long stretch of a river, there is usually some great mountains set around the river. It's not one that is gentle but if you want to witness a fast moving river this is the one. Lots of rover rafters use it
