Campground

Heybrook Lookout

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest · Skykomish · Washington — managed by USDA Forest Service

Books out fast — 3 of 3 weekends we sampled are sold out
Heybrook Lookout campground
Photo: Recreation.gov · USFS

Weekend availability at Heybrook Lookout

Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 19, 9:54 PM PT

Sold out 3 of the next 3 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.

  • Fri, Sep 25
    Sold out
  • Fri, Oct 2
    Sold out
  • Fri, Oct 9
    Sold out

Friday + Saturday nights, sites bookable both nights. Counts come from a rotating sweep and can lag a cancellation by up to a day — alerts watch your exact dates within minutes.

How booked is Heybrook Lookout?

as of September 20

Weekends book out well ahead here — 3 of the 3 Saturdays we sampled, as far out as Oct, are already sold out. When a site frees up it's gone again within minutes, so people watch Heybrook Lookout and hear the instant one opens for their dates. Even weekdays are booked.

Weekends (Saturday night)

Sep 26Sold out
Oct 3Sold out
Oct 10Sold out

Weekdays (Wednesday night)

Sep 23Sold out
Sep 30Sold out
Oct 7Sold out

Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 3 months ahead.

Campsites & amenities

Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.

Campsites
1
Max rig length
25 ft
Lookout

About this campground

Overview The Heybrook Lookout sits atop its namesake ridge at 1,700 feet. The lookout itself rises 67 feet above the ridgeline 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.Recreation Hiking, birding and wildlife viewing are popular activities around the lookout.Facilities The 14 x14-ft. lookout cabin sleeps four and is furnished with one twin-sized bed with mattress, two additional floor mattresses, a table and chairs, propane stove, pot, pan, silverware, coffee pot and battery operated lanterns. A primitive vault toilet is located several hundred feet down the ridge from the lookout. There is a picnic table at the bottom of the tower. There is no water at the site. Guests must bring water for drinking, cooking and washing. Guests must also bring flashlights, sleeping bags, towels, dish soap, matches, a first aid kit, toilet paper and garbage bags. All trash and food must be packed out, and guests are expected to clean the cabin before leavingNatural Features On a clear day, guests at Heybrook Lookout see views of Mount Index and Bridal Veil Falls, Mount Baring, Mount Persis and the Wild Sky Wilderness. Wildlife is abundant, and guests may catch a glimpse of black bears, bobcat, elk or bald eagle. Wolves are making a comeback to the area, but they are usually heard and not seen. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (360) 677-2414. Nearby Attractions Deception Falls Picnic Area, Lake Serene/Bridal Veil Falls hikes, and the Iron Goat historic interpretive trail.

Getting there

Drive U.S. 2 for 2 miles east of the town of Index, just past milepost 37. Limited parking for the trailhead is located on the north side of the highway across from the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest sign. From the trailhead, it is a 1 mile hike to the lookout with an elevation gain of 900 feet. Tenants must climb 84 steps in order to reach the main cabin.

Elevation
781 ft
Contact
360-677-2414

Activities

  • WILDLIFE VIEWING
  • WATER SPORTS
  • HIKING
  • FISHING
  • CLIMBING
  • RAFTING
  • KAYAKING

Nearby federal campgrounds

Never miss an opening at Heybrook Lookout

Popular Washington campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Heybrook Lookout around the clock and alert you the moment a sold-out site reopens for your dates, so you don't have to keep refreshing Recreation.gov.

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Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office or on Recreation.gov before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.