Park overview:
Iron Horse State Park is a 1,612-acre park that was once part of the path of the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad. More than 100 miles of trail extends from Cedar Falls to the Columbia River. High trestles provide spectacular views of the valley below.
There is a burn ban in effect at this park. Iron Horse Trail – Kittitas: No open flames of any type; no smoking allowed; (internal RV stoves are allowed). Iron Horse Trail – Lake Easton fires are allowed in all designated fire pits.
Tunnel closures: Due to continued safety concerns, tunnels 46 through 50 on the Iron Horse State Park - John Wayne Pioneer Trail (JWPT) will remain closed until further notice.
The closure affects the two tunnels between Thorp and South Cle Elum, one tunnel along Lake Easton, one tunnel between Easton and USFS Road 54 (Stampede Pass Road) and the 2.3 mile-long tunnel at Hyak (Snoqualmie Pass). Visitors are not permitted to use any of the tunnels and must turn around at the portals. Westbound visitors can only get within a half-mile of the eastern portal of the Snoqualmie Tunnel because of a large washout caused by the January floods.
Tunnel 49 between Easton and USFS Road 54 has a well-marked detour route that goes over and around the tunnel and is of moderate grade.
The tunnel along Lake Easton also offers a detour. Directions to take this detour are as follows:
- Westbound visitors need to leave the JWPT in the town of Easton and turn right at the fire station.
- Cross the railroad tracks to Railroad Street (stop sign) and turn left.
- Travel through the town of Easton and turn left into the entrance of Lake Easton State Park.
- Turn right at the main park intersection, travel one mile to the next stop sign, and then turn right again.
- Travel approximately a half-mile, crossing the old highway bridge to the end of the pavement.
- Turn left onto the gravel road and follow this road approximately ¾ mile until it merges with the JWPT.
Park staff is working with other agencies and private land owners to identify detour routes in the areas near the other tunnels. For up-to-date information on the tunnel closures, please call the Lake Easton State Park Area message phone at (509) 656-2230.
Campsite Information:
There are four campgrounds along the trail, each with three to four campsites, one picnic table and a vault toilet. They are located at milepost 2109.5 at Roaring Creek, milepost 2113.2 at Cold Creek, milepost 2123.2 at Carter Creek and milepost 2127.1 at Alice Creek.
Camping is also available near the trail at U.S. Forest Service campgrounds at Tinkham, Denny Creek, Lake Kachess and Crystal Springs. There is state park camping at Lake Easton and Wanapum.
Camping Fees:
Please note that the following
general fee information is not customized for each individual park, so not
all fees will apply to
all parks (for example, primitive campsite and dump station fees listed apply only to parks that have primitive campsites and dump stations).
2010 FeesStandard campsite, $19.
Full utility campsite, $26.
Partial utility campsite, $25.
Primitive campsite and water trail camping, $12
An additional $3 fee (standard) or $5 fee (utility) may be charged for select premium campsites at some parks.
Maximum eight people per campsite.
Second vehicle: $10 per night is charged for a second vehicle unless it is towed by a recreational vehicle. Extra vehicles must be parked in designated campsite or extra vehicle parking spaces.
Dump stations (if available): Year-round dump station fees are $5 per use. If you are camping, this fee is included in your campsite fee.
More about park hoursCheck-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.
Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park during the summer; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.
Park hours/updates:
Summer: 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Winter: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The park is open year round for day use. The Snoqualmie Pass Tunnel closes Nov. 1 each year. The tunnel is scheduled to reopen June 1.
A Sno-Park permit is required from Nov. 15 through April 30.
Park Winter Schedule
| Campground Closes |
| Campground Reopens |
| Day-Use Closes |
| Day-Use Reopens |
| Watercraft Launch Closes |
| Watercraft Launch Reopens | |
| None |
| None |
| Partial |
| Partial |
| None |
| None |
|
Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks
Driving Directions
Located from Rattlesnake Lake to the Yakima River Valley in King and Kittitas Counties.
From Cedar Falls:
Leave I-90 at exit #32. Drive south on Cedar Falls Road 3.5 miles.
From Twin Falls:
Leave I-90 at exit #38, eastbond traffic turn right off exit, cross river and turn right into parking lot marked “Twin Falls natural area.”
Westbound traffic:
Turn left at exit, drive approx. two miles and park in the second lot on left marked "Twin Falls Natural Area."
From McClellan Butte:
Leave I-90 on exit #42, USFS Trailhead, turn south at exit. Follow signs.
From Annette Lake:
Leave I-90 on exit #47, USFS trailhead, turn south at exit and follow signs.
From Hyak:
Leave I-90 at exit #54, turn south at exit, turn east (left) on Hwy-906, 1/2 mile turn right on Lake Keechelus boat launch road, turn right on next road approx. 200 ft. In winter, you will need a Sno-Park permit to park in this lot.
From Easton:
Leave I-90 at exit #71, turn south to stop sign, cross Railroad Street, railroad tracks, turn left. Drive 1.4 mile to the parking area.
From South Cle Elum:
Leave I-90 at exit #84, follow signs to South Cle Elum. Once in town, follow signs to parking area.
From Thorp:
Leave I-90 at exit #101, turn north on Thorp Hwy, 1/2 mile turn left on Thorp Depot Road and 1/4 mile to parking area.
Park Maps
Iron Horse downloadable pdf map #1
Iron Horse downloadable pdf map #2
List of all downloadable Washington State Park
maps.
Park Features
The park offers more than 100 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trail along the route of a historic railroad. Winter sport opportunities are available.
History
Originally, the trail right-of-way was part of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. The railroad operated between 1908 and 1980, when the company went into bankruptcy. The state's Department of Natural Resources acquired much of the property and turned it over to State Parks, which continues to acquire land and make improvements to the area.
Interpretive opportunities
Kiosks and panels are installed at Hyak, Easton, South Cle Elum, Thorp and Kittitas with a map of the trail and interpretive information.
Services/Supplies
| | Available in the area |
| | • Camping
• Groceries
• Hardware
• Hospital
|
Most services are within a few miles, either side of the length of the trail.
Activities
| Trails | Water Activities | Other |
• 110 mi. Hiking Trails
• 110 mi. Bike Trails
• 110 mi. Horse Trails
| • Fishing (freshwater)
| • Bird Watching
• Interpretive Activities
• Mountain Biking
• Rock Climbing
• Wildlife Viewing
|
The 100-mile-long John Wayne Pioneer Trail meanders through a variety of ecosystems and geological zones. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail with the exception of snowmobiles in winter, which are allowed from Stampede Pass Rd. to Cabin Creek. Horse-drawn wagon users must obtain a key to the gates of Lake Easton State Park.
New shuttle service: Agate Pass Transportation, LLC is providing a new shuttle service for hikers and bicyclists using the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. Users from Seattle and Western Washington can park at Rattlesnake Lake and Cedar Falls, take the shuttle up I-90 and then hike or bike back down. From Eastern Washington, users can park at the Hyak trailhead, hike or bike down to Cedar Falls and then take the shuttle back to their autos. For fee and schedule information call (877) Bus-up-90, (877) 981-2022, e-mail info@busup90.com or go online at www.busup90.com. |
Winter Recreation
• Cross-country Skiing
• Dog Sledding
• Snowmobiling
• Snowshoeing
Events
Full list of
events at Washington State Parks
Wildlife
| Mammals | Birds | Fish & Sea Life |
• Bears
• Bobcats
• Chipmunks
• Coyotes
• Deer or Elk
• Marmots
• Otters
• Rabbits
• Raccoons
• Skunks
• Squirrels
| • Crows or Ravens
• Doves or Pigeons
• Ducks
• Eagles
• Geese
• Grouse
• Hawks
• Herons
• Hummingbirds
• Jays
• Ospreys
• Owls
• Pheasants
• Quail
• Woodpeckers
• Wrens
| |
Environmental Features
| Physical Features | | Plant Life | Special |
In the Cascade Mountains, the trail cuts through basalt outcroppings, exposing large cliffs that tower above the trail. West of Thorp, the trail cuts through a sandstone deposit.
| | • Cedar
• Nobel Fir
• Ponderosa Pine
• Yew
• Alder
• Apple
• Maple
• Oak
• Daisy
• Foxglove
• Lupines
• Orchids
• Paintbrush
• Rose
• Berries
• Ferns
• Moss or Lichens
| Remnants of the old railroad are still present: trestles, tunnels, bridges, signal foundations, ties, spikes, etc.
|
Park photo gallery
We'll be adding photos to this page soon.