Melmont +

Melmont is/was a ghost town in Pierce county, along the bank of the Carbon River, south of Carbonado.

Trail to Melmont

Melmont can be reached by hiking along what was the railroad from Carbonado to Melmont (and beyond). The trail can be accessed from a turn-off on highway 165, or by scrambling down a hill at the O'Farrell bridge, or perhaps hiking downstream from the Kolisch bridge.

Old coal mine entrances are scattered throughout the area. If you happen across them, look but don't enter. Coal mines are notoriously unstable and are well known to build up methane gas which is highly poisonous! When active, all the mine tunnels were supplied with fresh air from large fans.

The turn-off is about 1 mile south of Carbonado, with a gray/silver gate at 47.0708928, -122.040982. The town is 3 miles upstream from the turn-off.

Or, one can drive across the one-lane O'Farrell bridge (completed in 1921), park on the other side, walk back across the bridge (250 feet above the river!), and slide/scramble down from the side of the bridge to the trail. It's very steep, and the bridge is coated in creosote. Use gloves, and perhaps ropes to more safely reach the trail. The town is only 1 mile upstream from the bridge. I walked this way ... and one of our party fell/slid the last part down the hill. I can't really recommend this route, but it is shorter.

Coordinates for Fairfax (O'Farrell) bridge: N 47° 02.522 W 122° 02.444

The townsite is on Plumb Creek Timber Co. property.

Springs & Mud

Going south, the river is to the right, and springs are to the left. Very pretty ... but it makes for a muddy/slippery trail here and there. ATVs have torn up the trail here and there. Have good boots and be ready for the mud.

From 2010-07-24 Carbon River Valley Expedition

Old rock wall and Mine entrance

About 3/4 of a mile upstream from the bridge you start to find foundations of an old retaining wall. The mine was actually on the south side of the river there and is still there closed off with huge old timber doors. Remember ... it's a coal mine. Even if you could go in ... don't.

Melmont Powder Bunker

http://northwestjournalonline.com/index.php/puget-sound-ghost-towns

From 2010-07-24 Carbon River Valley Expedition

Somewhere past the powder bunker, on the same side of the trail (away from the river), was the mine Superintendent's house ... a little off the trail. I don't know where yet.

Further on was one of the schools in the Melmont area. (not the one below)

Melmont School Ruins

At the Y in the trail, take the left fork (up the hill, following the stream) to the School.

N 47° 01.847 W 122° 02.001

or maybe N 47° 01.850 W 122° 02.004 N47.0308 W122.0334

From 2010-07-24 Carbon River Valley Expedition

Melmont School

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/wa/melmont.html

Melmont Townsite

Besides the clearing at the school up the hill, there are two clearings for the townsite. Going south on the trail, you will pass the northernmost clearing, then come to a steep road going to the southern clearing. I suggest skipping that path, since just a little further south is a much easier road to the townsite.

The southern area of the townsite appeared to me to be a big grassy meadow with depressions here and there. I believe the large depression near the SE corner was the old hotel, but I could be mistaken.

I didn't go to the northern clearing. Maybe next time.

Southern clearing for the townsite

From 2010-07-24 Carbon River Valley Expedition

Melmont Hotel

http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/wa/melmont.html

Traffic Accident

Someone drove off the road above the southern clearing into the trees. The trees still have the vehicle. This view is from the trail, just after the steep path to town.

From 2010-07-24 Carbon River Valley Expedition

Old bridge foundation

part of the foundation of a bridge ... where? near townsite?

Map

This map has some solid locations ... and some guesses.

View Melmont in a larger map

Links