Today we hiked 2.4 mile roundtrip Old Robe Canyon Trail after camping at Verlot Campground near Granite Falls, WA. 120 years ago railroad crews built tracks along the river to connect the mines at Monte Cristo with the smelters in Everett. Narrow Old Robe Canyon proved particularly challenging spot to lay tracks due to frequent floods and rock slides. The line was eventually abandoned. In the 1960s, this hiking trail was built. It quickly leaves the Mountain Loop Highway behind as it descends 300 feet down a steep bluff toward Stillaguamish River.
I love this segmented plant stalks.
Undercut banks and eroded trail locations are prevalent as seen on the first creek/wetland crossing.
Mighty rapids pick up pace in the narrow canyon.
Our first evident of old railroad ties
Canyon cliffside waterfall
Not easy to get a photo of a waterfall with water drops falling on the camera lens
Joe with another canyon waterfall
Waterfall
Jackie & waterfall
Mossy river rocks
More railroad ties
Now that river is moving!
At 1.2 miles, a rockslide blocks the path, marking the official end of the trail.
The trail leads beyond to several tunnels, that signs read as unsafe to venture to but all trail reviews and fellow hikers note that 2 tunnels are accessible for the agile hiker.
First tunnel
Second tunnel
The major washout after second tunnel which marked our turnaround point
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