Old Robe Canyon
Mountain Loop HighwayBest Apr–Oct
An old railbed descending through mossy forest to the Stillaguamish at the site of a vanished mining town.
About This Trail
Old Robe Canyon follows the ghost of the Hartford Eastern Railway down a steep bluff to the Stillaguamish River, where the grade once carried ore from the Monte Cristo mines to the Everett smelters. Gentle switchbacks descend through alder and big-leaf maple hung with moss, over a forest floor of ferns and salmonberry, before meeting the river and tracing its north bank upstream.
At 1.2 miles from the water's edge, a rockslide ends the current legal trail. Railroad ties, bolts, and concrete footings lie scattered through the canyon. The river narrows into a boil of rapids and eddies worth standing beside, and the canyon walls press close enough to feel the spray.
Passage past the rockslide is prohibited due to ongoing slope failure and rockfall. Undercut banks along the river trail shift during high-water years, and Snohomish County periodically adjusts the closure. Respect the signs — this is beautiful country precisely because the mountain is still moving.
Astronomy
Trail Conditions
Scorecard
Close to Granite Falls and accessible year-round. Expect company on weekends.
Safety & Considerations
Persistent Hazards
- Rockfall and slope slump closes the trail beyond 1.2 miles from the river
- Swift deep current along the Stillaguamish during spring runoff
- Undercut banks and eroding railbed near the river
Getting There
Roadside shoulder parking along Mountain Loop Highway. No toilets, no fee.
