Worth the Hike: Old Robe Trail
Images by: James Fields
Did you know that now is a good time to go hiking? It’s too cold for the mosquitos, but just warm enough and dry enough to be a pleasant experience!
A couple of years ago I set out to hike an average of eight miles a week over the course of a year, and I succeeded! As you might imagine, I’ve hiked a lot of local hikes as a result. But one I had never done until recently was Old Robe Trail. This is largely because it’s on a major highway to some well-known and more popular hikes in the area and so it’s really easy to drive right past it. But a local friend of mine says it's one of his favs, so I packed a day bag, grabbed my friend, and headed out.
To get there, hop on Mountain Loop Highway and drive until you lose cell service and you’ll find yourself at Robe Canyon Trailhead (48.1101, -121.8558). Park along the side of the highway and follow the path. After a quick jaunt, the trail starts descending into the canyon and towards the river.
Stop at the old car wreck that someone lost over the hill some 30 years ago and see what time can do to the best of man-made inventions. I enjoyed looking back up the hill and seeing that nature had so fully taken over that there was no visible path for the car to come tumbling down this hill.
Continue down the hill and take in the beauty of trees dressed in mossy sweaters and ponds as still and serene as isolation from man can make them. There are several good viewing platforms to take in these views. One old fallen tree juts out into a pond on your right and you can walk all the way out to the roots and really feel like you’re a part of nature.
Once you reach the river make sure to keep a sharp eye out for the old railroad. You’ll see bits and pieces of railroad artifacts here and there. Crumbled walls, old rails, and even the occasional railroad tie sticking straight out of the ground.
As you follow the railway your path will keep the river on your left. You may even see some kayakers out there riding the waves. On your right will be fields and eventually cliff walls with some waterfalls interspersed throughout.
The trail officially ends right after the biggest waterfall with signs warning you that the trail is not maintained beyond that point and people have actually died by ignoring the signs and continuing on. Play it safe, and turn around and head back.
These simple beautiful hikes are one of the best parts of living in the Pacific Northwest and make it worth leaving Everett for a little day trip every now and then.
Old robe canyon
James works for a local Everett-based company and enjoys board games, hiking, and food. You can find him playing Kubb at a local park or getting lost in the woods.
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