Old Robe Canyon Trail

NOTE: The trail is currently closed about 1 mile in due to landslides. 

This trail starts right off the Mountain Loop Highway outside of Granite Falls. Look out for a brick sign with the trail name, as it's easy to miss otherwise. There's parking next to the highway, but since there is a history of car break-ins around this area, keep valuables in the trunk. 

After about .25 miles, you'll start dropping on a trail leading towards the river, which you'll eventually follow. The trail is flat from here, and you'll pass some marshlands and the former town site. There are some artifacts here, including bricks, foundations, and the like from the mining days. You'll then see the old railroad ties and tracks, following right next to the sheer drop-offs to the churning river as it narrows in the canyon. At 1.8 miles, the trail sign warns to not continue past. If you do, be prepared for some light bouldering, washed-away trails, unstable footing, and clambering over downed trees. 

You'll soon see the opening of the first cave, which is the biggest. There are a bunch of downed trees to negotiate at the other end. There's a second tunnel, quite a bit shorter than the first. Another .5 mile along the trail, there is a rope to help you negotiate a steep slope downward. 10 minutes after that, you'll come to a sketchy bridge about 50 feet above the rapids, about 3 feet wide. We didn't continue past that, but there is a third tunnel beyond.