Seattle: Iron Goat Trail
Trace the abandoned Great Northern Railroad to remarkable stone tunnels, collapsed avalanche sheds, and super views of the Cascades on this 12.2-mile, out-and-back historical hike.
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Trail Facts
- Distance: 9.9
Waypoints
IGT001
Location: 47.7297897338867, -121.206443786621
Head SSW on trail
IGT002
Location: 47.7274055480957, -121.205108642578
Turn L, bearing N up Martin Creek Crossover
IGT003
Location: 47.7288856506348, -121.205337524414
Veer R onto Iron Goat Trail, heading SSW again
IGT004
Location: 47.7250480651856, -121.203872680664
Abandoned RR tunnel
IGT005
Location: 47.7243041992188, -121.201614379883
Stay straight; pass the Corea Crossover Trail on R
IGT006
Location: 47.7214622497559, -121.182098388672
Reach first of many concrete retaining walls dating back to early 1900s
IGT007
Location: 47.7206001281738, -121.180221557617
Turn L
IGT008
Location: 47.7194061279297, -121.1767578125
Short RR tunnel
IGT009
Location: 47.7144966125488, -121.158592224121
Windy Point Tunnel
IGT010
Location: 47.714469909668, -121.154067993164
Windy Point; views of the Cascades and an old rail town appropriately named Scenic: trail swings NE
IGT012
Location: 47.7405471801758, -121.134460449219
West portal to a ½-mile long concrete shed built to protect the railroad from avalanches
IGT013
Location: 47.7473068237305, -121.127166748047
Wellington trailhead; return to car via same route
IGT011
Location: 47.721363067627, -121.146606445312
In 1910, the deadliest avalanched ever in the U.S. broke from the steep, clearcut flanks of Windy Mountain, pushing two trains off the tracks into Tye Creek; 96 died