Franklin Ghost Town — Attraction in Maple Valley

What a great family afternoon hike. What I loved about this hike was that it was easy for all levels. There was a fork that went down to the river and if you chose to continue straight ahead you would eventually hit remnants of the Franklin ghost town. There were some old buildings that had burned up and other remnants that there was once a town. The best part though was going to the cemetery. You end up crossing the mineshaft which is about 1300 feet down it’s covered by a crate for safety purposes but it had nice signage explaining some history regarding the mine. We decided to head to the cemetery and I was surprised how long we want until we reach the cemetery. Which makes me think that this one’s thriving town was much larger than it would seem. There were several headstones and the best part was that people left offerings mostly coins and sometimes other gifts on the headstones. We spent about 2 1/2 hours exploring this area.

There is ample parking in a mud lot and the trail starts on private property before entering the state line. There is a five dollar donation requested. I initially didn’t pay when I first parked but I was so impressed with the hike that I felt that spending five dollars to keep up the parking lot and other parts of the trail were worth it. You can’t use any Discover pass or anything like that. There’s no one there collecting money The five dollars is completely on an honor system so it’s your decision. But this is a great place to take the family and I would definitely recommend visiting. And on a final note there are no restrooms at the parking lot or on the trails. Nature will be your bathroom. Just make sure to pack it out. Hope you guys decide to make this one of your family adventures it’s worth it just remember that the trail goes in many different Forks - A separate trail down to the left when you start to go to the river you have to walk back up the same direction then head on the main course and then there’s another side trail to the cemetery which does...

Franklin Ghost Town Trail is a fascinating slice of history, but be ready to earn it. The overgrown route led me past the remains of an old Ming cart, a coal mine with a 1,300‑foot shaft and I spotted suspended tracks, ending at an 1800s cemetery. Trail conditions were rough, brambles everywhere forced me to use gardening shears and literally perform a bit of trail restoration. Along the way I made a blood sacrifice to the Blackberry Gods (wear long pants). For anyone who loves history and isn’t afraid to get a little messy, discovering the relics of the mining era makes the effort well worth it.

-🥾Trail Condition: I’m breaking this up into two sections. First half was easy. Well maintained. Gravel path that’s 2 people wide. The second half, past the mine shaft, is when the trail because rough. Not good for those with mobility issues. Extremely overgrown with blackberries (wear long pants if you don’t want to make a blood sacrifice). LOTS of spider webs to walk through and found several in myself. There is one section where the trail is degrading down the mountain. -🧗‍♀️Incline: 10-15%. Easy for the average hiker. -🚗Parking: Lot could hold 50 cars. Fee required $5 cash only. Discovery Pass not accepted. The parking lot was confusing. There was a gate preventing entrance with a sign saying hours were 7am to 9pm. This was at 10am and the gate was closed. It does t look like anyone is closely monitoring this site. -🧍🏽Popularity: didn’t see anyone else (Thursday at 10am) -☀️Sun: 50% shade -🦋Insects: spiders -🚽Bathrooms: none -📲Cell Phone: 1 bar the whole time (Verizon) -🐇Wildlife:...

I have been wanting to go there especially after reading the history about how this town started and sadly ended! It's beautiful out there and looking at the pictures from when Franklin was an active running town, that had a train coming through the at one time. Just learning about the people that lived in Franklin and ran the town putting Franklin on the map was facinating! It definitely has a vibe of something or maybe alot of something's, that you sence like hair standing up on the back of your neck. Through the entire walk I swore "as crazy as it sounds" I kept seeing a man following us. The very quick glimpse I would get of him, he was talk and lean, but strong. He almost seemed just as curious about us as I was about him. I never said anything to anyone about what I was seeing because, I wanted to wait to see if anyone else saw him too. When we were done going through the town a younger girl said "I'm embarrassed to say this, but, did anyone else see a man at all". I didn't want to leave her feeling crazy so I did speak up and told her that yes I did. She asked me what I saw of him, and our description were almost identical! Not only did I feel better, but I know she did too. If anyone gets the time or chance to check it out, my advice is go! The history is very cool but if you get the chance to see something you'll never forget! Fyi... Nothing felt malicious...