Monte Cristo
Railroad to Nowhere
State: Washington
County: Snohomish County
Founded: 1889
Abandoned: 1920
Peak Population: 1,000
Monte Cristo was a silver boomtown in a remote Cascade valley. A railroad was built just to reach it, but silver prices and constant avalanches doomed the enterprise. The railroad washed out and the town died. Ruins remain, accessible only by hiking.
Silver Boom
Investors built the Everett & Monte Cristo Railway specifically to haul ore. The town thrived briefly.
Avalanche Alley
Constant avalanches damaged the railroad. After repeated washouts, repairs were abandoned.
Timeline
- 1889 - Founded Silver discovered
- 1893 - Railroad Everett & MC Railway completed
- 1920 - Abandoned Railroad destroyed by flood
Plan Your Visit
Best Time: Summer
Difficulty: Difficult - 4-mile hike
Time Needed: Full day
Quick Facts
- Railroad built just for this town
- Destroyed by avalanches and floods
- Hike-in access only today
Location
Address: Monte Cristo, Washington
Coordinates: 48.0581, -121.4472