What: A sometimes taxing walk in the woods to a pleasant lunch spot beside the creek.
Where: From Granite Falls take the Mountain Loop Highway 9.6 miles past the Verlot Public Service Center. A sign indicates the trailhead on the left, with limited roadside parking.
Length: 5 to 6.6 miles round trip
Level: Moderate to difficult.
Beginning elevation: 1,400 feet
High point: 2,800 feet.
Map: Green Trails No. 110, Silverton
Notes: There are never any sweeping views on this trail, but it has its interesting points. First, it is the old route to the Marten Creek Mines, and the first mile or so was actually a road for moving ore and supplies in the 1940s. One thing I’ve learned about old miners is that they didn’t allow themselves the luxury of too many lengthy switchbacks, so the first half of this hike is pretty much an exercise in gaining elevation in a hurry. On the way up, you pass though an experimental area planted after a fire in 1915. Seeds from different locations and elevations were planted to compare the trees thus produced. You’ll see what appear to be city limit signs (Darrington, Arlington, Granite Falls, etc.) tacked to many trees, with the elevation of the seed’s origin.
After the elevation gain, the second half of the hike would be easy street, except that this is not a regularly maintained trail, and much erosion and damage from storms is evident. There’s heavy brush and downed trees to get over and under, and as you near the creek, the trail often becomes more of a gully than a walking path.
At about 2.5 miles, where the trail breaks out at the creek, there are rocks for sitting in the sun and enjoying the rushing Marten Creek, or you can step a few yards upstream and find a path up to a campsite under the trees. If this is pleasure enough, make this your turnaround point for a 5-mile hike.
If you wish to take the Forest Service trail guide’s word that there is another 0.8 of trail across the creek leading to the old mine, be sure you have a map and compass. The trail does not show beyond Marten Creek on the Green Trails map, but we found it after boulder-hopping the creek and thrashing through brush (watch the devil’s club), over downed trees and up a big wash-out that roughly paralleled the creek. That became merely a muddy gully and finally became a discernible trail. For awhile. It soon became covered with brush and snow, and it was evident no one had been this way in a long time. I estimate we covered half of the distance to the alleged mine before running out of trail and time.
A word of caution on the return: Yes, it’s downhill that last mile, but it’s steep and rocky. Watch your step.
Permits: You will need a Forest Service pass to park beside the road.
Information: Darrington Ranger District, 360-436-1155; Verlot Public Service Center, 360-691-7791.
Ron Ramey
Ron Ramey / The Herald
Marten Creek is a pleasant respite after beating the brush to get there.
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