Serenity and Thrills

Idyllic Index offers endless opportunity

By Ellen Hiatt

The colonial heyday of felling trees and crossing the nation with the iron horse has given way in the lower Skykomish region to hiking, rafting, and relaxing.

You can hit Highway 2 and blow past the small towns, tucked off the highway. But why would you do that? We suggest you plan to stay awhile, rent a cabin, and get outside. Fall and winter are a great time to explore the Central Cascades.

Start at A Cabin on the Sky (acabinonthesky.com), a small cabin on the North Fork of the Skykomish River, at home in Index. The cabin sleeps two, and is a great jumping off point to explore the Forks of the Sky State Park, Heybrook Ridge, and the Wild Sky Wilderness.

“We had the BEST time staying here! It was the most relaxing weekend getaway we were hoping for!” Online reviewer Leona S. gushed about the location with multiple exclamation points. “The sound of the Skykomish river lulled us to sleep each night, and was there to wake us each morning.”

Proprietor David Meyer says Index is idyllic, indeed. A mile off the highway, it’s confined between the Skykomish River’s north fork and the Index Wall. Scenic views and the sounds of the river are enough to warrant making Index a national monument, if not a national park, he said. Thankfully, the Bolt Creek fire that threatened the town was confined before it reached town.

The cabin is the perfect starting point for more adrenaline-pumping adventures. Most of the trails north of Index have been temporarily shut down due to the Bolt Creek fire, which consumed 13,000-plus acres. But there is still plenty to do nearby.

Out of Index, you can climb the famed Index Wall, a state-owned, 500-foot high granite wall where peregrine falcons nest. Or catch a river rafting ride out of Outdoor Adventure Center. The rafting company is housed in the River House, the restored historic building that cozies up next to the little bridge that takes you into town. Hikers and climbers all gather here for a beer before their next adventure. It’s picturesque to a fault.

A not-to-be-missed adventure on your bucket list is Wallace Falls State Park. Head east towards Gold Bar and catch the trail for a 4.9-mile hike on Woody Trail. It’s a three-mile round trip from the trailhead to the Middle Falls. The trail is on the easy side of moderate, with the lower falls a first destination for an even easier hike.

Wallace Falls is such a spectacular hike, as accessible to new hikers as it is popular with veteran outdoor enthusiasts, that it can be, well, a little crowded on the weekends. Keep in mind and prepare for company, or take a well-deserved vacation day and enjoy a little more elbow room on a weekday. It’s worth it, either way.

Wallace Falls Trail is everything you could hope for in a Pacific Northwest hike: thick, evergreen forests and magical trails, picturesque views, and a rushing waterfall.

Whether you stop at the lower, middle, or upper falls, views of the evergreen forest and waterways of the Central Cascades surround you in all their glory.

Come prepared for winter conditions with spikes for your hiking shoes, and all the appropriate gear. The National Park Service is a helpful guide (nps.gov/articles/000/ winterhikingtips.htm).

After all this adventuring, it’s likely you’ve decided to settle in for the night at the Bush House Inn, or A Cabin in the Sky. If so, kick back. Pizza is delivered. Rico’s Pizza in Gold Bar will deliver if you call early enough. Meet up at the Mt. Index SandBar for a cold beer or a glass of wine in a little bit of the tropics right here in the Sky Valley. It’s a great place to meet up with friends for an evening of fun!