The Iron Goat Trail follows the abandoned Great Northern Railway with easy grades, accessible trails, beautiful views of surrounding mountains, educational interpretive signs and comfortable trailside benches. The Great Northern route was the best engineered of the transcontinental railways. The original route over the pass consisted of an intricate set of switchbacks cut into the mountainside. The railroad reached Seattle in 1893 and that same year the Great Northern built its first snowshed with several more added for safety for the trains often stopped for days in winter storms. Twelve miles of switchbacks were ultimately bypassed with completion of the Cascade Tunnel in 1900.
The project employed nearly 800 workers, mostly immigrants, including many Japanese. The trail includes Wellington, where a bunkhouse and station once stood, serving as living and working quarters for these early Japanese American laborers.
Walk among preserved historic structures along the Great Northern Railway helped built by Japanese American railway workers.
A main trailhead lies at the Iron Goat Interpretive Site at Scenic, with extensive historical interpretive displays and additional signs along the trail to Martin Creek or Windy Point. Learn how the intercontinental Great Northern Railway became a pioneering force through this region of the Cascades. Different hiking options are available at each trailhead to accommodate hikers of all abilities. The distance to the Martin Creek trailhead on the barrier-free and wheelchair-accessible easy lower grade switchback is 2.8 miles. Or, for a challenging uphill climb, follow the Windy Point crossover trail to the Windy Point overlook for a great view of the western portal of the 8-mile long Cascade Tunnel. There is also a 3-mile barrier-free section of moderate difficulty from Wellington to the Windy Point Tunnel. Travel 9 miles through a lovely forest of ferns, alders and evergreens from the Iron Goat Interpretive Site at Scenic to the Wellington townsite and trailhead. The trail is barrier-free from the interpretive site to Martin Creek and from Wellington to Windy Point, a total of nearly 6 miles.
The Iron Goat Trail is located on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, US Highway 2 — Skykomish Area east to Stevens Pass. There are three trailheads that access the Iron Goat Trail. Check for current trail conditions at Scenic, Martin Creek, and Wellington on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest website or call the Skykomish Ranger Station at 360.677.2414.
Getting to the Iron Goat Interpretive Site at Scenic trailhead: The site and facilities are off US 2 (left) at milepost 58.3, 10 miles east of Skykomish (6 miles west of Stevens Pass). A Northwest Forest pass is not required at this trailhead. Brochures with map are available at the trailhead.Travel into Sea-Tac International, then from Seattle head approximately 90 miles and just under 2 hours to the Iron Goat Trail Interpretive Site.
Getting to the Martin Creek trailhead: From Everett head east on US 2 (Wenatchee). The Martin Creek trailhead is off US 2 where a remnant of the Old Cascades Highway begins (MP 55) or about 6 miles east of Skykomish. Take the old highway and continue to Forest Service Road No. 6710, continue 1.4 miles to the Martin Creek trailhead and facilities. A Pacific Northwest Recreation Pass is required for parking at this site.
Getting to the Wellington trailhead: Drive US 2 to milepost 64.4, just west of Stevens Pass, and turn north on the Old Stevens Pass Highway. If you are traveling eastbound, because of limited sight distance you should proceed east to Stevens Pass, turn around at the crest of the hill where visibility is optimal, and return to Milepost 64.4. Continue on Old Stevens Pass Highway for 2.8 miles until you reach the junction with FS Road #050 and turn right. This will take you to the parking lot and trailhead. A Pacific Northwest Recreation Pass is required for parking at this site.
Information for planning purposes only. Contact the site for up-to-date information on access. When visiting, please practice Leave No Trace. Find Out More: Trail Volunteers USDA History Link