This Haunted Tunnel In Washington Is Not For The Faint Of Heart
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Jessica Wick
Author
With fall in the air and Halloween on the horizon, our thoughts naturally turn to all things spooky and scary. Washington has its share of houses, hotels and other buildings that are allegedly haunted… and apparently this hiking trail and its creepy tunnel should be added to that list.
The Iron Goat Trail looks unsuspecting. Sure, it’s a little eerie, but you’ll also see beautiful wildflowers and scenery on the 5.5 mile loop, which is located near Skykomish.
But the trail marks the site of one of the worst railroad disasters in US history. In the year 1910, an enormous avalanche on Windy Mountain swept two trains off the tracks at the Wellington depot and into Tye Creek.
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The wreckage was terrible and the loss was great. Debris was strewn all over the mountain and into the creek. 96 people lost their lives that night, and only 26 were pulled from the mountain alive. The bodies had to be removed by sled, and it took 12 days to dig the snow away from the tracks. It was the most devastating avalanche in the United States.
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Many improvements were made after the disaster to ensure the safety of future train travelers. The new Cascade Tunnel was completed in 1929, but the decaying tunnel from the old railroad days remains, and you’ll see it on the hike. It’s intact, but barely.
Needless to say, there has been reported paranormal activity on the Iron Goat Trail. People have been touched by invisible hands, had their hair stand on end for no reason and even spotted full-on apparitions. Some people claim they’ve heard voices coming from the Old Cascade Tunnel entrance.
The Old Cascade Tunnel, which dates back to 1900, is not safe to enter. It could collapse fully at any time. Even if you hear the sounds of disembodied voices from inside, steer clear. You’re probably hearing the ghosts of Wellington.
The Iron Goat Trail is a beautiful place to hike, but it’s definitely a somber area. For hikes that are a little happier, try one of these 15 trails.
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