NORTH COUNTRY RIDER |
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Copyright 2008 World Publishing Company. All rights reserved. |
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On the Trails: Adventures in Iron Horse State Park
Washington lays claim to some of the best riding trails in the country, and that includes the more than 110 miles of horse trails extending from Cedar Falls to the Columbia River.
A favorite among horseback riders looking for a little adventure winds through 1,612-acre Iron Horse State Park, a trail that was once the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad.
The railroad operated between 1908 and 1980, when the company went bankrupt. The state’s Department of Natural Resources acquired most of the property and turned it over to the Washington State Parks department.
Also called the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, the ride offers a variety of starting locations. The trail climbs Snoqualmie Pass and crosses the Cascade Range into dense evergreen forest, overhanging cliffs and wide-open rangelands.
High in the Cascades, the trail cuts through exposed cliffs, and just west of Thorp, the path winds through a sandstone deposit. Remnants of the old railroad — trestles, bridges, signal foundations and spikes — can still be seen. The trail truly takes riders on a journey through history, and there is no better way to experience it than on horseback.
One of the most scenic and popular portions for horse riders is a 25-mile stretch from south Cle Elum through Ellensburg and into the Little Yakima Canyon. This section was the first part of the old railroad line to become a trail. It follows the river and passes through forests and open desert lined by basalt columns. It’s often closed in spring and summer for liability reasons, but makes for a beautiful fall ride.
The eastern portion of the trail is the most rugged and wild, plunging from rangelands around Ellensburg to the deserted lands of the old Army firing range, now the Yakima Training Center.
Motorized vehicles are forbidden on the trail, with the exception of snowmobiles in the winter, which are allowed from Stampede Pass Road to Cabin Creek. Horse-drawn wagon users must obtain a key to the gates of Lake Easton State Park.
Some of the drawbacks for horse riders are that the ride can be dusty and windy and is shared by mountain bikers, hikers and rock climbers. And through the more popular stretch of the trail (the 39 miles between Hyak and Rattlesnake Lake) riders can usually see and hear Interstate 90. A variety of side trails branch off from the Iron Horse/John Wayne trail and it is best to check with state park officials, who can provide riders with maps and key information before heading out.
The park is open year-round for day use, although the Snoqualmie Pass tunnel closes between Nov. 1 and June 1. A Sno-Park permit is required Nov. 15 through April 30. The 2.3-mile tunnel is most commonly used by bike riders and requires a flashlight or headlamp. The extremely dark and void environment — which offers nothing but a speck of light at the end of the tunnel — would present a great danger for horse riders.
DIRECTIONS
From Thorp, leave Interstate 90 at Exit 101 and turn north on Thorp Highway. In half a mile, turn left on Thorp Depot Road and travel one quarter of a mile to the parking area. For more details about the trail, visit Washington State Parks on the Web: http://www.parks.wa.gov/parkpage.asp?selectedpark=Iron%20Horse
