The Old Government Trail is a pleasant stroll through lowland forest. The trails begins on the Barlow Point Trail #709 and at 0.3 miles you will see a sign pointing to another trail descending to the lower forest, this is where the Old Government Trail begins. The trail starts where the old Monte Cristo – Everett Railroad use to run connecting the hopeful mining prospects with the smelter in Everett, a 70 mile trip.

The railroad to Monte Cristo was plagued with hardships from the day it was started in 1892. Severe storms causing heavy snows, floods and landslides, delayed completion of this project. In 1893 the train finally reached Monte Cristo. After the mining began to dry up, the Rucker Brothers from Hartford, near Lake Stevens, operated a gas car to bring wealthy guest to their  lavish Big Four Inn.

About mid way on this hike you will come to a woodland bog a great place to sit quietly and observe wildlife or enjoy a chorus of frogs. At about this point you will notice the large burnt stumps along the trail. This is a recovering forest from a massive fire that started from a locomotive spark in 1905. The fire started at the Buck Creek area and swept up the mountainside of Dickerman Mountain.  Resultant of this fire, an experimental tree nursery was started at the Silverton Ranger Station in 1909 in attempts to reforest the burnt areas.

As you hike, you will notice several burnt stumps from a fire long ago.  The forest has recovered over the years, new trees now large, replaced the trees destroyed by fire.  What is even more amazing is how many of the old growth still bare scares from this forest fire, a testament how powerful nature is and how it can heal itself.

Views From Old Government Trail