The Dangerous Monte Cristo Road in Washington Was Washed Out Several Years Ago

Monte Cristo Road is a short mountain trail located in eastern Snohomish County in the U.S. state of Washington. The road was washed out several years ago due to the South Fork Sauk River.

Monte Cristo Trail

Where is Monte Cristo Road?

The trail is located in the northwestern part of Washington, in the Cascade Range. Bring water; do not drink any of the river water, as there are still contaminants from former mining operations. Surface water in the area has been found to contain arsenic and other heavy metals in amounts that exceed drinking water standards.

Where Does Monte Cristo Road Start and End?

The trail is completely unpaved. It starts on Mountain Loop Highway, at the summit of Barlow Pass, a mountain pass at an elevation of 720m (2,361ft) above sea level. It leads to Monte Cristo, a mining ghost town abandoned in 1907 when the mine closed, at an elevation of 842m (2,762ft) above sea level. There are several historical plaques with photos and stories about the town.

How Long is Monte Cristo Road?

The trail, also known as the Old Robe Trail, is 4.3 miles (6.92 km) long. The road was washed out several years ago due to the South Fork Sauk River and is currently gated but open for foot and other non-motorized travel. The road is impassable to vehicles as the shore on either side of the bridge is washed out. It’s extremely dangerous to try to drive it. Proceed at your own risk. Snohomish County does not warrant the bridges on this road for vehicular traffic. The way is fairly level, with a few steep spots. Floods in 2003 and 2006 also took chunks out of the road, providing ample evidence as to why this road was never re-opened.
Pic: Jim Dockery

 

 

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