Old Robe Canyon Trail

Sunday, June 2, 2013

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

Verlot Campground & Lake 22

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Today we drove to the Mountain Loop Highway outside of Granite Falls, WA to possibly camp for the night along the Stillaguamish River and at least go camp to an alpine lake in the Cascade Mountains.

We made camp at a nice site at Verlot Campground where we could hear the rushing of the river beyond. 

We chose to hike to Lake 22, a 5.5 mile roundtrip trail to an alpine lake at the base of Mount Pilchuck. Cascading Twentytwo Creek through an ancient forest of cedars 

Hiking fools in mossy ancient forest 

Mossy tree 

My cute Chance is my scale figure, showing the massive size of this tree. 

An opening in the forest with our first view of the Cascade peaks. 

Water lilies growing in the Pacific Northwest forest 

We’ve now come across the point on the trail that is still covered with snow. 

Lake 22 set beneath an impressive vertical wall of rock. 

Joe, Jackie & Chance at Lake 22. 

Jackie at Lake 22. 

Lunch break on the one portion of the dock not covered in snow. 

Clear, beautiful lake water 

Waterfalls crash off the sheer cliffs. 

It was still too early in summer to safely circumnavigate the lake on a 1.2 mile trail so we turned back to the car.

The clouds cleared a little on the way back down the trail to reveal a bright blue sky. 

One more family photo 

Roasting his wiener over the fire 

My turn roasting my hot dog dinner over the campfire

Followed by roasting marshmallows