Although this is a fairly busy trail, it is always a good one - especially in the winter when the high country is too snowy. I have liked doing this trail on the weekends, ever since I took a day off a few years ago to hike it on a less populated weekday and my car window was smashed in. I had nothing valuable in the car. Apparently there is just no guarantees, because despite the business of the trail two nice girls that I had met on the trail had their vehicle broken into while hiking. Someone needs to put a camera up out there or something!
Now for the good stuff... even with its mud, its close-to-townness, its popularity, this trail never fails to fill me with peace and joy. The birds sing in the trees, the trail wends around turning from a road, to a trail, to a road and back to a trail again. It winds along the beautiful green of the Stillaguamish River and takes you through history. The trees themselves are covered with such thick moss, it looks like they have bright green fur.
I wish there was more structurally left here in the Cutoff Junction area than the lime kiln itself, but at least there is that! I hope its moss covered rocks remain standing for a long time.
People have found artifacts and gathered them around the kiln - interesting bricks, rusty saw blades, etc. I feel like there are less artifacts than there used to be - I hope they are just tucked behind trees and not stolen. I remember an iron wood stove top from years ago and an enameled tin bowl. Those things are no more to be seen.
If you can, I highly recommend going past the Lime Kiln to the little loop at the end of the trail and getting down onto the rocky edge of the Stilly. The sound and movement of the water makes for an inspiring and soothing place to have a trailside snack.
Happy hiking!
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