Posted in Washington Attractions, Small Towns January 27, 2023 by

Step Inside The Creepy, Abandoned Town Of Lester In Washington

Finding a ghost town in Washington will make you feel like you’re starring in your own movie. As if you’ve suddenly stumbled into something lightly creepy, the kind of place that once mattered to an entire town, and now simply belongs to the earth once again. Walking through the creepiest abandoned town in Washington which was once a bustling place, which has simply been laid to rest truly makes for an unforgettable experience. Curious where you can find ghost towns in Washington? We can help with that! Keep reading to find out all about one in Lester, Washington!

Though many of Washington’s ghost towns are on private property, there are still quite a few spots you can hike to and explore to get a slight glimpse at the state’s past. This one in particular is one that’s full of local legend and that requires quite a hike to reach. Don’t let the hike deter you though, folks! It’s all in the experience. The town of Lester, Washington, located just south of Snoqualmie Pass in King County, just might be one of the creepiest abandoned towns in Washington.

The town of Lester, WA, was initially founded in 1892. It was created in response to the bustling economy required by the Northern Pacific Railroad as it laid track over Stampede Pass.
Diablo_119 / Flickr
Unfortunately, a handful of forest fires in 1902 devastated the logging industry in the area. This, of course, is what jumpstarted the town's later fall into a legendary ghost town.
By the 1950s, steam engines and passenger service were declining, and so was the population of the town.
Diablo119 / Flickr
Folks simply didn't want to live out in the wilderness any longer. As jobs became scarce, so did the people. And as people became scarce? So did the upkeep in Lester. The town began to slip backwards into its natural state.
Lester was eventually closed down by the city of Tacoma to protect the drinking water quality of the Green River Watershed. Washingtonians simply didn't want to live here anymore. It was quiet and remote, and it wasn't easy to travel to Lester.
Diablo119 / Flickr
Still, some stayed. The last remaining resident, Gertrude Murphy, died in 2002 at the age of 99, officially making Lester a completely abandoned town in Washington.
If you're looking to reach the Lester, WA ghost town, you must take I-90 exit 62 near Snoqualmie Pass and drive over Stampede Pass, a steep and bumpy road, until you reach the bridge that’s closed to vehicles.
Diablo_119 / Flickr
Then comes the eerily quiet two-mile walk, which takes you through the most beautiful wilderness, of course, but quiet and remote as a whole. It's a necessary journey to make it to one of the creepiest abandoned places in Washington.
Step inside the buildings at your own risk, and know that we wouldn't recommend it. The structures are not safe for visitors, so for your own safety please ogle the ghostly town from the outside.
Diablo_119 / Flickr
But definitely catch a glimpse of these deathly silent abandoned rooms. Peek through the windows at a world that's been lost to the plod of time.

Would you hike two miles to see one of the creepiest abandoned places, Lester, Washington? You can find a bit more information about the Washington trek through the wilderness, if you’re looking.

Have you ever visited a ghost town before? Which one and what was your experience like? Share with us in the comments section below.

If long drives are more appealing, try going on a ghost town road trip.

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Address: Lester, WA 98045, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center

Creepiest Abandoned Town In Washington

September 28, 2019
Meghan Kraft

What other abandoned places are there in Washington?

The state of Washington is home to many a crazy, abandoned place. From the Govan schoolhouse to the Bodie ghost town, from Iron Goat Trail tunnels to the Northern State Hospital, the Pacific Northwest state has a shocking number of ghostly spaces. Most require quite a bit of research to see or visit, so make sure to take caution when visiting these ghost towns in Washington. It can be dangerous!

Are there any hiking trails to abandoned places in Washington?

The Iron Goat Trail Tunnels are perhaps the most famous hiking trails to an abandoned place in Washington. Made up of six miles, you can view the now unsafe tunnel from a viewing area along an adjacent trail. Located in the Central Cascades, walking the Iron Goat Trail is worth it for a glimpse of something long lost and perhaps even full of ghosts.

What ghost towns can you find in Washington?

Washington has a shocking number of ghost towns! There's even an entire website dedicated to filtering out the different experiences each one is bound to bring about. Visit Alderdale or Ainsworth, Guler, Lester, as mentioned above, the towns of Liberty or Knappton or Laurel. It seems, sometimes, that Washington is as full of ghost towns as is it living spaces.