Monte Cristo townsite, a popular hiking destination off of the Mountain Loop Highway, will be off-limits beginning April 15. The area will be closed to allow work to clean up toxic metals that are leftover from mining in the area.
You can read more about the clean-up work in an earlier story here.
If you’d like to see the area before it closes until at least October, you have one more weekend left.
The trail is about 8 miles long and not difficult. It gains just 700 feet. There is a log crossing at the river that can be slippery in wet conditions, however.
For more about the hike itself, I have an earlier trip writeup here.
To get there: From Granite Falls, head east on the Mountain Loop Highway for about 30 miles to Barlow Pass. Park at the trailhead. NW Forest Pass required.
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