This is my favorite hike of all time! we did it back in April, so it was much cooler temperature wise, and no bugs at the time. We did the entire loop. The whole trail. 15 miles round trip. oh my gosh make sure you have good shoes on!! We only expected a 7 mile hike... we didn't realize there were 2 trail heads. The trailhead up Hwy 2 further East is the better one, more stuff to see. There are some switchbacks if you choose to take that route, but other than that, this is a very easy hike once you get past the initial uphill incline to the trail, although this is the Western trailhead, not sure about the eastern one, we turned around at what's left of the little town up there, just past the tunnel/snowshed thing. Amazing hike. There is so much to see!! Bring lots of water!

I just wanted to report when passing both the Scenic and Martin Creek entrances for the Iron Goat that the snow berms prevent you from turning in with your vehicle. I did see that several folks were parking on the shoulder close to the turn in's and breaking trail through the berms.

I reached the trailhead around 9:00 and was the only car in the lot. It was a foggy morning - the solitude and the fog made for a spooky hike - I loved it!!! The history, the tunnels, snow sheds, the fog, waterfalls, wildflowers, the views... What a wonderful hike! I started off on the lower route, taking the Martin Creek trail with it's nice, gradual ascent. I went on to Windy Point where I stopped to take a break. I took the switchbacks down and walked the lower trail back. I would love to return an hike on to Wellington!!! Will definitely return - one of my new favorite hikes!!!

Following the trip report from a couple of weeks ago, we set off for the Iron Goat Trail from the Interpretive Center. Alot has changed since that last report, namely a whole lot of snow and a big field of avalanche debris across the trail at a little less than a mile out. Someone had clearly snowshoed over the top of the mountain of snow. We followed the tracks just far enough up, like 6 ft up what was the first of probably a 15 ft mound when we decided this was not a safe thing to do. Melting snow and lots of voids in the debris. We turned around and once back at the interpretive center headed down the road that eventually joins the Deception Falls turn off. We had a great time and though not quite the adventure we were expecting, we always have fun and talk to great people. And got home safely.

I have been wanting to do this trail in the winter, so I may have experienced it in all seasons. First checking avalanche conditions at the Skykomish Ranger Station, we parked at Scenic, across the highway from the closed Interpretive Center. Taking only the lower trail from there to Martin Creek was a tough three-mile slog in 16 inches of new snow, but we were the only ones to enjoy this winterscape capped in blue sky. Icicles were abundant, and thin branches balanced disproportionate loads. It is hard to believe this trail was bare just last week. From Martin Creek trailhead, we hiked another three miles by the Tye River on easy snow-catted USFS road #6710 back to the gate to complete our loop by helping to push a car out. A very satisfying day.

I drove to the Martin Creek Trailhead at the west end of the Iron Goat Trail looking to snow shoe with my 10 and 13 yr old daughters. The snow started at 2300 ft, shortly before the Iron Goat Trailhead. We tried to drive past the trail head to find deeper snow, but the shallow snow was wet and too slippery for street tires. Snowshoed 2 miles up the road. Snow was 3'+ deep at 3,000 ft. We were passed going up hill by a well mannered jeep, but on the way down was passed by the same snow mobile 6 or 7 times. The snow wasn't deep enough for walking off the road. Although we didn't try it, the west end of the iron goat trail was probably passable (i.e., not much snow in the woods)