Lime Kiln Trail


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As I was finishing Hiking Washington’s History, I learned about the Lime Kiln Trail, a relatively new trail that follows portions of the old Everett and Monte Cristo Railway grade. The Old Robe Canyon hike in the book follows the South Fork Stillaguamish River on the north bank as the river flows west.  The Lime Kiln Trail starts south of the river and joins it after a mile and a half, going east along the south bank of the river to the concrete remains of a bridge that once crossed the river.   Engineers warned early on that the force of the river would wash out man-made structures.

Yes, there is a lime kiln on this trail–quite impressive on site.

Lime kiln on the Lime Kiln Trail
Lime kiln

During the 1800s, the kiln converted limestone into lime (calcium oxide) to make mortar and plaster for construction, including parts of the Everett & Monte Cristo Railway. Limestone from a nearby quarry was carried to the top of the kiln by small cable cars and burned in the kiln to change the rock to powder. Interpretive panels at the trailhead give the history of the railway and the lime kiln.  Artifacts along the way (pieces of rotary saw blades, bricks, a bucket) tell a visual story.

This is a 3.5 mile trail, one-way, fairly level (600 some feet of elevation gain, gained in several places) and hikable year-round. (In mid-May 2016 the salmonberries were already ripe.)  The first part follows a logging road through regrowing clear cuts but then reaches the old railroad grade and canyon.

Directions: Take State Route 92 east to Granite Falls. In town, turn right on South Granite Avenue. In three blocks, go left on Pioneer Street, which becomes Menzel Lake Road. In a few miles, go left on Waite Mill Road to the signed trailhead on the left.

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3 thoughts on “Lime Kiln Trail

  • March 26, 2016 at 10:38 am
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    Love your book Judy, happy to find this, but sad to report that the cooking pot pictured must have been taken!

    Reply
    • March 30, 2016 at 1:32 pm
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      At least the pot itself wasn’t taken. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll fix it.

      Judy

      Reply
    • May 20, 2016 at 8:11 am
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      I realize I misread your post. You meant the cooking pot itself was taken from the trail. Yes, I was there a week ago, and the white pot was no longer there, but there were the remains of a blue enameled pot, which I did not photograph. Some folks don’t realize the value of leaving artifacts in place; perhaps photographing them is not a good idea.

      Reply

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