Heybrooke Ridge
Length: 3.3 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 775 feet
Highest Point: 1327 feet
Location: Highway 2
Parking Pass: None
Dog-Friendly: Yes
I don’w know about you but when I find a hike that doesn’t require a NW Forest Pass or Discover Pass I get pretty excited. Yes, I know these passes collect funds to help keep the trails open, but a girl can also appreciate some free parking. That being said, Heybrook Ridge hosts a pretty large gravel parking lot that does not require any pass and is free to all.
Queue, a sunny Saturday morning in Seattle. I was getting over a cold but I wanted… needed to get outside. Obviously a long, strenuous hike was out of the question; I needed a hike that was low risk, high reward.
So, I opened up my laptop in search of an “easy hike” on the trusted Washington Trails Association website. WTA is my go-to website for all hikes in Washington state; always has been, always will be. After using their simple search engine, Heybrook Ridge seemed very doable for this time of year, and perhaps promised a few pops of fall foliage at the top.
PRO-TIP: IF YOU’RE USING A SMARTPHONE MAP APP, ALWAYS TYPE IN THE NAME OF YOUR HIKE FOLLOWED BY TRAILHEAD TO GET THE SPECIFIC LOCATION OF WHERE YOU’RE GOING
For example, for this hike, I typed in Heybrook Ridge Trailhead. Otherwise, your map app can (and will) sometimes inadvertently lead you in the wrong direction and have you driving up random forest service roads, rather than to the actual trail-head.
The hike itself is easy. We took one small break on the way up, mostly so I could blow my nose and give the pups a drink of water. Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Mt. Index. Keep walking until you see a bench and take a seat to soak it all in. I will forewarn you that there are a handful of power lines that can obstruct views/ photos in certain directions but don’t let that stop you. Shoot some photos, enjoy a drink or snack and breathe in that fresh, mountain air.
The jaunt back down is all downhill so expect the time to pass much quicker than your way up so you might find yourself with some free time. After your hike, drive over the bridge and take a break in the tiny town of Index. And when I say tiny, I mean it. Index is itsy-bitsy with a population of around 200 people. You’ll enjoy views of the Index Town Walls, featuring 500 foot tall granite cliffs, offering a variety of high-quality cracks for rock climbers across Washington state. Be sure to check out The River House as well; home to The Outdoor Adventure Center, doubling as a wedding venue.
