The Old Mine Trail is perhaps one of the least known trails within Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park. Yet this short path is easily accessible and can be hiked year-round. Walk a short distance up the old Carbon River Road beneath a thick emerald canopy created by primeval giants. Then steeply climb to a fern- and moss-shrouded ledge within the surrounding ancient forest for a peek into an old mine and a glimpse back in time.

Before 2007 the hike to the old Washington Milling and Mining Company Mine in the Carbon River Valley was a mere .6 mile (1 km) roundtrip. But in the autumn of 2006, heavy rainfall caused the Carbon River to flood and washout large sections of the Carbon River Road. Rather than reopen this prone-to-washouts road, park officials decided to permanently convert it to a trail. The road-trail is a pleasure to walk and can be done by just about any hiker, young and old alike. The road-trail is also open to bicycles—so you can easily bike to the old trailhead and then do a short hike to the mine.

The Carbon River Trailhead has limited parking, but it’s possible to park on the side of the road leading to it. Be sure to have your park pass clearly displayed in your parked vehicle. At the trailhead you’ll find a privy and the old Carbon River Ranger Station. A newer ranger station was opened a couple of years ago on a new park land addition just to the west. You passed it on the way to the trailhead.

Now start walking up the old Carbon River Road. The road-trail pulls away from the roaring glacier-fed river, but remains in earshot of its constant roaring. The walking is easy with very little elevation gain. The surrounding forest is stunning—an emerald cathedral of towering ancient conifers. On sunny days, the thick canopy will do its best to keep you well shaded. And on overcast days the layered tree crowns will spare you from a soaking. When sunlight filters through the misty understory it creates an ethereal setting.

At about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) you’ll come to what looks like what was once was a road pullout on your right. It’s the old indiscreet Washington Mine Trailhead. Leave the easy road grade behind and follow the trail. After a very short flat section, the trail climbs steeply. Insanely steep actually, but it’s a lot easier than it used to be. Trail crews upgraded this lightly traveled trail with a few tight switchbacks and lots of steps. You’re sure to get your heart rate up tackling this short but down-to-business trail.

Keep your mind off of the grunt by admiring the towering old trees lining the way. Your neck is sure to get as much strain as your quads. Primeval monstrous Douglas-firs, western hemlocks, and western red cedars hold up the sky letting very little sunlight filter through the thick and elevated canopy. Enough light touches the forest floor however to allow for a thick groundcover of bushy ferns and thick mosses. Vine maples, salal, and salmonberry add to the dense vegetation, creating a jungle-like understory.

After about 300 feet (91 m) of climbing in .3 mile (0.5 km) reach the old mine shaft nearly hidden by big boughs of ferns. You can peek a few feet in where a gate prohibits any deep probing. It’s pretty dark and you won’t see much of this more than 150 foot (46 m) long bore. A short stretch of tracks for the mine carts survives, but nothing else. A funicular (incline railway) once ran from here to the valley floor to transport workers and supplies up to mine; and ore and workers back to the valley. A half dozen buildings once stood in this locale as well. You can see in the immediate area stumps and new growth where old growth trees were cleared and utilized in the construction of the mine buildings.

Unlike the nearby and copious old mines just outside of the national park boundary a little farther down the Carbon River Valley—coal was not mined here. In 1899, the same year that Mount Rainier National Park was established, the Washington Mining and Milling Company began looking for gold, silver and copper in the region. The company soon afterward made almost 40 claims, but never made any significant finds here. The company was responsible however for helping the park service build the original Carbon River Road more than a century ago. More than likely this mine was used for copper exploration. The Carbon River Valley downstream became a significant coal mining region and some successful mining operations also took place in Glacier Basin in the White River Valley within the park. But here in the park’s Carbon River Valley, the riches always were and remain, natural ones harvested by hikers in the form of incredible outdoor experiences and memories.

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All photos courtesy of Craig Romano.

Craig Romano is an award-winning author of more than twenty hiking guidebooks. Check out his 100 Classic Hikes Washington (Mountaineers Books) which includes several excellent hikes in and around Mount Rainier National Park.

Location: Mount Rainier National Park

Distance: 3.0 miles (5.0 kilometers) roundtrip

Elevation gain: 350 feet (107 meters)

Difficulty: easy

Trail notes: Dogs prohibited; National Park entrance fee (interagency passes accepted); practice Leave No Trace Principles;, kid-friendly; bike-hike possibility.

Trail highlights: historic mine, exceptional old-growth forest, snow-free winter hike in Mount Rainier National Park.

Contact: Mount Rainier National Park

Getting to the trail: From Tacoma: Drive SR 167 to SR 410 east to Buckley. Then follow SR 165 south. At 10.4 miles (17.7 km) (just beyond Fairfax Bridge) bear left onto the Carbon River Road and continue for 7.7 miles (12.4 km) to the trailhead.