Sign at the Iron Goat trailhead
It has been a couple of years since we hiked the Iron Goat Trail. It is one of our favorites for flowers and getting our legs used to extending the distance. There are two trails, the upper trail and the lower trail. It is an interpretive trail with signs along the way explaining the history of the old railroad. While it is possible to make a loop, we most often do an out and back on the lower trail. At this time of the year, we know there will be some flowers in special places along the lower route.
The lower level provides a gentle rise in elevation and a round-trip distance of 5.5 miles. This trail was designed as an ADA (Americans with Disability Act) trail that allowed for baby strollers and wheelchairs. The trail surface has been mostly packed earth with a layer of gravel. It is really not suitable as an ADA trail currently as there has been significant water and slide damage recently in several places.
When we started out the trail condition looked like this …
Snowshed wall
Part of the trail runs beside the old snowshed that was built to protect the railroad line.
There are the remains of old railroad tunnels built in 1916.
One of the first indications that something was different this year…
And then this, the trail disappears, the stream has been redirected onto the old trail …
Downed logs
And this, a huge pile of downed logs from wind, water and slides sometime during the winter. Note this is the exact same place where an avalanche of snow and ice piled up a few years ago.
A miracle, the small wooden bridge survived with only minor damage.
We managed, with some care, to edge our way around the slide and water damage to continue on to the Martin Creek Trailhead, our normal turn around place.
It had rained earlier in the morning and most of the plants were still still wet. In addition to the ones pictured we also saw a few bedraggled Salmon Berry blossoms and some almost finished trillium. There were probably more Fairy Bells than we have seen before on this trail and tons of Bleeding Heart as well. We saw evidence of a few more Chocolate Lilies but only one plant was okay to photograph.
Aven
Bane Berry
Bleeding Heart
Carpet Bugleweed aka Ajuga
Calypso Orchids
Chocolate Lilies, almost done blooming
Elder Berry
Fairy Bells
For-Get-Me-Not
Fringe Cup
Mertensia
Red Columbine
Spotted Coral Root
Star Flower
Starry Solomon Seal
Thimble Berry
Trillium
Count for the day:
7 people, no dogs
RT 5.5 miles
400 ft elevation gain
Forest Service Pass required
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