Robe Canyon Historic Trail facts for kids
The Robe Canyon Historic Trail is a special place for hiking and exploring in Washington. It's a county park located east of Granite Falls. This park is looked after by Snohomish County. It covers about 970 acres (3.9 km²) of wild nature along the Stillaguamish River. Here, you can find old railroad tunnels, pretty river beaches, and fun hiking trails.
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Journey Through Time: The Robe Canyon Railway
The Robe Canyon area was once very important for a railway. This railway was built to move gold and silver. These valuable metals were mined at a place called Monte Cristo in the Cascade Mountains. The railway carried them all the way to Everett.
Building the Everett and Monte Cristo Railway
The Everett and Monte Cristo Railway was built in 1892. The part of the railway that went through Robe Canyon had six tunnels. However, much of the track was built on wooden structures right next to the river. Because of this, floods often washed parts of the railway away. This meant workers had to fix it all the time!
A Scenic Trip in the Mountains
Even with the challenges, the railway was very popular in the 1800s. People loved taking the train for a beautiful trip into the mountains. It was known for its amazing views.
Caring for the Trail: Volunteers in Action
Starting in 1995, Snohomish County began to buy parts of Robe Canyon. They bought about 970 acres (3.9 km²) from different companies. This land included a section of the old railway.
Volunteers Keep the Old Robe Trail Open
Since 1995, many volunteers have helped take care of the Old Robe Trail. They work hard to keep it safe and open for everyone. In 2002, groups like Volunteers for Outdoor Washington led these efforts. They do yearly maintenance, put up log railings, and even moved a part of the trail that the river had washed away.
Building the New Lime Kiln Trail
A big project for the volunteers was building the new Lime Kiln Trail. This trail is at the west end of the park. Work on it started in 1998. Over 90 volunteers spent 262 work days on this project in one year! They finally reached an important spot in the late fall. This was the site of the old railway bridge. It used to cross the South Fork of the Stillaguamish River, right across from Tunnel #1.
How to Visit Robe Canyon
The Robe Canyon Historic Trail is easy to find. It's located on Forest Service Road 41. This road is near the Mountain Loop Highway. You can find it about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Granite Falls.
