The Washington Ghost Town That’s Perfect For An Autumn Day Trip

Nestled between the Puget Sound and the Central Cascades, Snohomish County is especially beautiful in the autumn. And if you need an excuse to pay this area a visit before winter, just spend a day exploring the ghost town of Monte Cristo.

Monte Cristo is an old mining town that would later become a resort town.

These days, it's just a plain old ghost town, which you'll find near Granite Falls.

One way to reach the ghost town is by hiking the 8-mile (round trip) Monte Cristo Trail.

Despite is length, the trail is a fairly easy walk, and the payoff is worth it.

In 1889, gold and silver were discovered in this area by Joseph L. Pearsall.

The town of Monte Cristo was founded in 1893 by the Monte Cristo Mining Company.

Monte Cristo was the first live mining camp on the west slopes of the Cascade Range.

In 1893, the railroad came to town.

Before long, the town was at the center of a mining boom that attracted thousands of miners and businessmen, including John D. Rockefeller.

But the mining boom didn't last long, and operations ceased here in 1907. For awhile, Monte Cristo was used as a resort destination, but the only remaining business in town, a lodge, burned down in 1983.

While there aren't many remaining structures, the ghost town has been fairly well preserved.

Hike out to Monte Cristo and spend a day exploring part of Washington's mining history.

If you enjoy exploring our local ghost towns, you'll love this ghost town road trip.