This Railroad Hike In Washington Was Named One Of The Scariest Haunted Hiking Trails In The U.S.
Washington certainly has its share of paranormal activity. However, a haunted hiking trail may seem like a bit of a stretch… at least, at first. But recently, The Travel Channel put together a list of the Scariest Haunted Hiking Trails in the U.S., and we were not surprised to see the Iron Goat Trail on that list. Once you understand the tragic history behind this place, you’ll understand why hiking there often feels a little eerie.
Despite its length, it's considered a fairly easy hike, and it's definitely scenic.
At the time of its construction, it was thought to be the best engineered of all the transcontinental railroads
The Wellington Avalanche is an incredibly dark spot in our history.
During this unforeseen blizzard, two trains were trapped at the Wellington Depot, an old train station on what is now the Iron Goat Trail in the now ghost town of Wellington.
A huge mass of snow half a mile long fell toward Wellington. The avalanche barreled into the railroad depot, sending the sleeping train passengers 150 feet downhill and into the Tye River valley.
The 23 survivors were pulled from the wreckage by railroad employees who were able to rush over and help. But sadly, the snow didn't let up for quite awhile, and it took even longer to fully melt. Most of the bodies from the accident weren't retrieved until July of that year.
Some have even seen full-on apparitions, felt as if hands were touching them, or felt their hair standing on end for no apparent reason.
The Iron Goat Trail is a beautiful, relaxing hike. Just be aware that you may end up seeing (or hearing) a little more than you bargained for.
Address: Iron Goat Trailhead, Iron Goat Trail, Leavenworth, WA 98826, USA
