Sea to Sky: A Fall Day in the Mountains

The Cascade Mountains. You know of them. They are iconic. You can close your eyes and see their peaks and summits vividly in your mind: towering conifers and foggy mountain valleys. You want to go to here. You want to wander up and down a riverbed with the burnt umber leaves and craggy peaks with a piping hot mocha in your hand.

You get the picture. Let’s go.

Index

Start in Index, Washington with Espresso Chalet, located just off of Highway 2. Here two giant statues of bigfoot tower like twin guardians of the forest. Walk up to the airstream trailer-turned-coffee stand (or use the drive through option) and get some coffee. Odds are you’ll want to get out of your vehicle or off your bike to check out these sasquatches up close and get a selfie.

Bush House Inn

Stop in at the Bush House Inn for lunch. This hotel dates back to the late 1800s when Index was a remote outpost for miners and loggers. The building fell into bad disrepair and was about to collapse when it was rescued and lovingly restored to its original glory by a local family. Today the Bush House is a modern inn that holds onto some vintage features like a river rock fireplace and tables made from the original floorboards of the hotel. Their restaurant offers gourmet foods and quality beverages. Definitely a unique experience!

Heybrook Ridge

If you’re a hiking type of person, head over to Heybrook Ridge. There are two trails that head up the ridge. Take the southern route (find the trailhead directly off of State Route 2, just after the sign for the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest). This path ascends some 1,700 feet in just over a mile and a half to a fire lookout that offers fantastic views of the Skykomish River Valley, Mount Index, and Mount Bering.

Where to Stay

Spend the night in an A-frame cabin in Index. According to AirBnB, there are literally hundreds of cabin options in Snohomish County. Be sure to book your stay ahead of time – there shouldn’t be too much competition for lodging in autumn, making this “shoulder season” a great time to travel.

Overview and Additional Days of the Itinerary