Iron Horse State Park facts for kids
Iron Horse State Park is a cool place to visit in Washington State. It's a big park, about 1,612 acres (652 hectares), located in the Cascade Mountains and the Yakima River Valley. The park stretches from Cedar Falls in the west all the way to the Columbia River in the east.
This park is special because it's built on an old train track! It's part of a long trail called the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail. This trail used to be owned by a train company called The Milwaukee Road. After the train company stopped using the tracks in the early 1980s, the state of Washington bought the land. They turned the old railway into a fantastic trail that's 110 miles (177 kilometers) long. You can use it for hiking, mountain biking, and even horseback riding. Iron Horse State Park has the most developed and popular parts of this trail.
At the western end of Iron Horse State Park, near Cedar Falls, the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail connects to another trail. This one is called the Snoqualmie Valley Trail. It's also built on an old train line that used to go from Cedar Falls to Everett.
Fun Things to Do at Iron Horse State Park
Iron Horse State Park is a favorite spot for people who love to be outdoors. It's especially popular with hikers and cyclists. Many places along the trail have modern facilities, like restrooms and plenty of parking. Some even have campgrounds where you can stay overnight!
Exploring the Trail
The trail takes you through beautiful woodlands. You'll see pretty lakes and even waterfalls along the way. One of the coolest parts is going through the old Snoqualmie Tunnel. This tunnel goes right through the mountains! It's easy to get to the park from I-90, a major highway.
Iron Horse State Park is loved for its amazing scenery and its interesting history. While it might not be as famous as places like the Alpine Lakes Wilderness or Snoqualmie Falls, it's definitely worth a visit.
Historic Train Stops
As you travel along the trail, you'll pass through the town of South Cle Elum. Here, you can see the old Milwaukee Road train station and a special building called a substation. These buildings, along with the remains of the old train yard, are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There's even a small museum inside the old train station!
Further along, in Kittitas, the trail goes by another old Milwaukee Road train station. This one is also a historic landmark. Besides these buildings, you'll also see other old train structures, like tunnels and bridges, that are still standing. They remind us of the park's past as a busy railway.
