Things to Do in the Upper Sky Valley
Welcome to the ultimate outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Every year, thousands of thrill seekers make the pilgrimage to the Skykomish River Valley to take on the world-class river rafting, rock climbing, and trails. No matter what your passion is, you’ll find it across the playground that is the Sky Valley.
The Heybrook Lookout sits atop its namesake ridge at 1,700 feet. The lookout itself rises 67 feet above the ridge line and provides spectacular views of breathtaking glacial peaks surrounding the valley. The first Heybrook fire lookout was a simple tent platform built in 1925. The Forest Service replaced it seven years later with a 45-foot log leg tower, with a ground-level cabin intended as sleeping quarters for fire rangers. However, rampant rodents eventually drove the rangers up into the tower where they lived until a 67-foot lookout was built in 1964. Heybrook Lookout is one of only 106 lookouts left in Washington state and you can reserve an overnight stay there.
Reiter Foothills State Forest
The 10,000-acre Reiter Foothills Forest is a continuous block of forest land located between Gold Bar and Index providing 4 miles of single-track trail, 2 miles of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trail, and over two miles of challenging 4 X 4 trails with a high density of obstacles. These trails set a new standard for sustainable built ORV trails with quick and easy access to challenge areas, including a 9-acre bike trails area. Reiter Road is part of the Old Highway 2 system. Enjoy the scenic narrow lane as it twists and turns to match the contour of the mountains and river.
The Iron Goat Trail is a beautiful, easy hiking trail found east of Skykomish on the Stevens Pass Greenway. The trail is an excellent example of railroad archaeology as it follows the former rail grade and snow sheds that date back to before the 8-mile Cascade tunnel opened in 1929. The town of Wellington, now known as Tye, shares a tragic past with the Iron Goat Trail, as it was the site of the Wellington Disaster. To learn more, visit our blog on the Iron Goat Trail.