Rockdale

Washington's ghost towns are mill towns and mining camps in country so green the forest is already taking them back.

Rockdale is a ghost town in the northwest United States, in King County, Washington. The GNIS classifies it as a populated place. A post office called "Rockdale" was established 114 years ago in 1912, and remained in operation until 1915. The community in the Cascade Range was named for the abundance of rock near the original town site. Just south of Snoqualmie Pass, it was at the west portal of the Snoqualmie Tunnel, constructed by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (the Milwaukee Road) from 1912 to 1914.

The on-the-ground condition of Rockdale is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Rockdale is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Rockdale is roughly 47.3920, -121.4550 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.