[tigermn]

Ok well this wasn't a hike but a mountain bike trek but it seemed like a hike. I thought about walking it but 18.5 miles one way was just a bit too much. I arrived at the parking lot near Rattlesnake Lake with only 1 car in the parking lot.

Parking lot near Rattlesnake lake.

I decided to check my front tire on the bike after unloading it. The valve broke/popped off. So flat tire change in the parking lot. It was also my only spare tube. I thought about bagging and just hiking up to the East Peak or something but noticed I had a patch kit so decided to change the tire and go for it. As expected it was a pain getting a mountain bike tire on and off the rim. At least I thought to throw a real pump in the back of the van. This delayed my start a bit but I was off and riding. Very shortly you arrive at the actual Iron Horse (or John Wayne) trail. It said 18 miles. I think it was a little more.

Start of Iron Horse trail at Cedar Falls (Rattlesnake Lake).

It was cool but I was dressed perfectly for the ride up the trail. I saw two women walking dogs near the start and that would be it for a while other than some people weed eating by the side of the trail near the Cedar Butte trail.

Cedar Butte trail leaving from Iron Horse trail.

(By the way I just lost this form and the firefox form recovery thing worked great). This is a gradual but fairly constant 1-2%ish type of grade. Definitely noticeable on a bike, not really walking. I settled into a nice rhythm/pace for the entire trip up. Stopping for pictures though did kind of disrupt the pace but that wasn't important for this trip. The bike was really just the means to "hike" this trail in a more reasonable time frame especially on the return/descent. As you proceed you get various points where you have views as well as passing various "town" signs.

Ragnar on Iron Horse trail.

Iron Horse trail at exit 38 access.

Looking across Iron Horse trail.

Looking across Iron Horse trail.

I would make decent time but stopped frequently for pictures and such. On a bike this is more of a pain than hiking.

Views of Mailbox peak from Iron Horse trail.

Views from Iron Horse trail.

I-90 from Iron Horse trail.

Crossed the Garcia (shooters pardise) road. I didn't hear any shooting today.

Garcia road crossing on Iron Horse trail.

Sign near Garcia on Iron Horse trail.

More views come in and out through the trees/powerlines as you proceed.

Views from Iron Horse trail.

Views from Iron Horse trail.

Reached the McClellan Butte trailhead and Alice Creek campground complete with bathrooms and picnic tables. In my previous attempt some time ago I didn't get much further than this due to snow.

McClellan Butte trail (west end) going up from Iron Horse trail.

Alice Creek backcountry campsite.

Sign at east end of McClellan Butte trail on Iron Horse trail.

I was now in territory I had never been.

Views from Iron Horse trail.

Rampart Ridge from Iron Horse trail.

Another camping area/bathroom is passed.

Backcountry camping on Iron Horse trail.

Backcountry camping on Iron Horse trail.

Entering Bandara which was basically nothing at this point.

Entering Bandara on Iron Horse trail.

Granite mountain starts to come more into view. The top initially was under a cloud. It would burn off.

Granite from Iron Horse trail.

Granite from Iron Horse trail.

Waterfall on Granite from Iron Horse trail.

The avalanche area right before the Annette Lake trail junction is kind of cool. With an old roof/shed.

Entering Avalanche/slide area just before Annette Lake junction.

Entering Avalanche/slide area just before Annette Lake junction.

Avalanche/slide area nearing Annette Lake trail junction.

Avalanche/slide area nearing Annette Lake trail junction.

Avalanche/slide area nearing Annette Lake trail junction.

Avalanche/slide area nearing Annette Lake trail junction.

I reached the Annette Lake junction and saw two people there looking around. They weren't sure what was the Iron Horse trail and what was the Annette Lake trail. They were geocaching. The guy had some type of computer or something in addition to a GPS.

Annette Lake trailhead crosses Iron Horse trail.

Sign where Annette Lake trailhead crosses Iron Horse trail.

Now only moments away from the tunnel.

Views from Iron Horse trail.

First full view of Granite Mountain lookout from Iron Horse trail.

Iron Horse trail nearing tunnel.

Iron Horse trail nearing tunnel.

Views from Iron Horse trail nearing tunnel.

Almost to tunnel on Iron Horse trail.

Almost to tunnel on Iron Horse trail.

Then the tunnel appears fenced/closed. I would have thought it would be more boarded up etc.

Iron Horse trail tunnel (closed).

Sign at Iron Horse trail at tunnel.

Iron Horse trail tunnel.

Iron Horse trail tunnel.

I would find a picnic table and eat my lunch which I didn't forget this time. Some nice views. Could have done without the power lines though.

My lunch spot near tunnel.

Views west from my picnic table.

Views from my picnic table near tunnel.

McClellan Butte zoom from my picnic table near tunnel.

Freeway from my picnic table near tunnel.

Views up towards pass from picnic table near tunnel.

Views up towards pass from picnic table near tunnel.

I would also see more geocachers in this area and also coming up from the Annette Lake trail on the way back. After soaking up the sun and eating I would revisit the tunnel attempting (not too successfully) to take a picture down the tunnel.

Tunnel shots before departing.

Tunnel shots before departing.

Looking down the tunnel.

Some nice views of McClellan Butte shortly after leaving.

McClellan Butte heading back down Iron Horse trail.

McClellan Butte heading back down Iron Horse trail.

Of course what goes up must come down. I didnt' stop as much and it is a gradual downhill. Not where you can just coast but... I did stop for a few shots on the way out.

Views from Iron Horse trail.

Flower on Iron Horse trail.

Flower on Iron Horse trail.

Views from Iron Horse trail.

Views from Iron Horse trail.

Si and Teneriffe.

Si Teneriffe ridge from Iron Horse trail.

Teneriffe from Iron Horse trail.

Si from Iron Horse trail.

I made it back to the car uneventfully which was nice since I had used my only spare tube.

Back to Ragnar.

Ragnar remnants.

Views from Iron Horse trail.

Entering Cedar Falls. Almost back to car.

Back to parking lot.

This was something I had wanted to do for a while. After looking at that tunnel. Cold damp, and dark I'm not sure how bad I would want to go in there. Lots of lights for sure if they ever reopen it. Packed up and headed home with still enough time to get to my afternoon golf league (which I totally sucked in but oh well).

[The Angry Hiker]

That's one of the post underrated hikes in the area, IMO. Some of the most scenic views in the I-90 corridor are right along that trail. I thought they opened the tunnel, though. I guess they're still futzing around in there.

[tigermn]

Yea but it doesn't have 5000 feet of elevation gain and exposed scrambling opportunities so by many it is dismissed. It could give you some serious mileage though if you hiked the whole thing round trip I'd now likely add the area over by the tunnel to an Annette Lake hike and it's lack of views in general. Hike up to the lake (probably bug infested anyway about now), then walk the easy 1.6 miles down the Iron Horse trail to head over to the picnic tables by the tunnel with nice views across I-90.