Monte Cristo in 1894, with Wilman’s Peak in the background. (David Cameron historical photo collection)

Monte Cristo in 1894, with Wilman’s Peak in the background. (David Cameron historical photo collection)

Help plan the future of historic mining town Monte Cristo

The Forest Service wants input about the popular hiking destination off the Mountain Loop Highway.

EVERETT — More than two years after a multimillion-dollar cleanup of the old mining town, the U.S. Forest Service is asking people what they want for Monte Cristo’s future.

The Forest Service, Washington Trails Association and Monte Cristo Preservation Association are gathering feedback about access, use, care, capacity and other issues at Monte Cristo. It’s a popular hiking and historic destination off the Mountain Loop Highway. The Forest Service is working on a plan for managing the site in the years to come. That would include an environmental assessment of current and potential uses.

Two public meetings have been scheduled to talk about Monte Cristo’s future. Key questions include whether motorized access to the ghost town should be allowed, and whether the new access road built for the cleanup should be kept and opened for public use.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The first meeting is set for 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Wall Street Building, 2930 Wetmore in Everett. The second is 5:15 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Everett Library, 2702 Hoyt Ave. Everett was chosen as a central location because Monte Cristo draws people from south of Seattle, north toward Bellingham and farther afield, Darrington District Ranger Peter Forbes said Thursday.

“It’s about visiting with the public and learning what’s important to them and how they’d like to see Monte Cristo managed in the future,” he said. “That being said, we’ll have to manage all of that with budget constraints and probably other limitations.”

Monte Cristo was a thriving mining town from 1889 to 1907. Millions of dollars worth of minerals were mined there, and the work left behind tailings laden with toxins, namely arsenic and lead. An extensive, $5.5 million environmental cleanup was done in 2015. That was part of an $11 million total paid out by Asarco, the company that previously owned Monte Cristo mining interests and later went bankrupt.

Monte Cristo remained busy long after mining was over. Tourists stayed in lodges there until the road washed out in 1980 and the lodges burned down. In the 1990s, the Forest Service took over much of the land, though there still are private parcels, as well. It’s become a well-known hiking destination near Barlow Pass on the Mountain Loop. Hundreds of people visit on summer weekends.

Working within the Forest Service’s budget will be a major factor in planning for Monte Cristo, Forbes said. As far as he is concerned, closure is not an option. The challenge is maintenance and access.

“What do we want to see at Monte Cristo? Do we want to maintain the trails and the cabins and such, or do we want something different?” he said. “What does the public want to see? What kind of access would they prefer, and is that the kind of access that we can maintain?”

The Forest Service also will need to work with private property owners, he said.

The trail can be used by hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders. There are camping areas near the ghost town. Forbes said there are no plans to limit camping or access to historic structures. After the cleanup, informational signs were added.

“Some people like to go to Monte Cristo for the historical component, and others like to go for the beauty,” Forbes said.

He expects there will be additional opportunities to weigh in on the future of Monte Cristo. An environmental assessment would include public comment. The tentative plan is to start work on the that in the fall.

Those who can’t attend the meetings can email comments to: comments-pacificnorthwest-mtbaker-snoqualmie-darrington@fs.fed.us

Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen goes through an informational slideshow about the current budget situation in Edmonds during a roundtable event at the Edmonds Waterfront Center on Monday, April 7, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor recommends $19M levy lid lift for November

The city’s biennial budget assumed a $6 million levy lid lift. The final levy amount is up to the City Council.

A firefighting helicopter carries a bucket of water from a nearby river to the Bolt Creek Fire on Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022, on U.S. 2 near Index, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Snohomish County property owners can prepare for wildfire season

Clean your roofs, gutters and flammable material while completing a 5-foot-buffer around your house.

(City of Everett)
Everett’s possible new stadium has a possible price tag

City staff said a stadium could be built for $82 million, lower than previous estimates. Bonds and private investment would pay for most of it.

Jennifer Humelo, right, hugs Art Cass outside of Full Life Care Snohomish County on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘I’ll lose everything’: Snohomish County’s only adult day health center to close

Full Life Care in Everett, which supports adults with disabilities, will shut its doors July 19 due to state funding challenges.

Herald staff photo by Michael O'Leary 070807
DREAMLINER - The first Boeing 787 is swarmed by the crowd attending the roll out of the plane in on July 8, 2007 at the Boeing assembly facility in Everett.
Plane in Air India crash tragedy was built in Everett

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the crash that killed more than 200 people was shipped from Everett to Air India in 2014.

Photo courtesy of Kristi Nebel
Folk duo Steve and Kristi Nebel will be among the musical acts performing at the Edmonds Arts Festival, which takes place Friday through Sunday.
Photo courtesy of Kristi Nebel
Folk duo Steve and Kristi Nebel will be among the musical acts performing at the Edmonds Arts Festival, which takes place Friday through Sunday.
Coming events in Snohomish County

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Everett council approves another $4.8M in stadium spending

The money will pay for more detailed design work and initial costs related to acquiring the land needed to build the project.

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction faces a lawsuit from a former employee alleging wrongful termination. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)
Ex-Washington state worker claims she was fired over school board vote on trans athletes

Darby Kaikkonen has sued the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Superintendent Chris Reykdal, alleging retaliation and wrongful termination.

Traffic moves north and south along I-5 through Everett on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County saw increase in traffic deaths in 2024

Even though fatalities fell statewide, 64 people died in Snohomish County traffic incidents in 2024, the most in nine years.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.