A Riverside Retreat is a cozy riverside ski cabin with hot tub and epic views located on the Skykomish River in the scenic town of Index, WA.
We're in the Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest only one hour from downtown Seattle, and 29 miles from Stevens Pass. This area has recently been designated as the 'Wild Sky Wilderness Area' and was featured in the hit film "Captain Fantastic" starring Viggo Mortensen.
With only 150 residents, Index is the smallest town in western Washington, and it is blessed with amazing views of jagged snow-capped mountains, huge granite cliffs, a crystal clear mountain river that runs right through town, and is surrounded by an awesome rainforest right out of the movie 'Twilight.'
This freshly refurnished 2-bedroom cabin sleeps up to 5 in absolute comfort with premium beds and luxury linens, hot tub, gas fireplace, AC, TV, DVD, high-speed Internet, fully stocked kitchen, smokeless fire pit, covered porch, BBQ grill, and additional surprises we'll let you discover.
For your safety and comfort, we follow Covid cleaning protocols and don't allow smoking or pets on the property (no exceptions).
Located right along the Skykomish River at the west end of town on a giant 5-lot property, you'll enjoy the 'best view in town' right from your covered front porch or cozy interior. This is not your typical funky dark cabin in the woods, but a bright, tastefully decorated, and sparkling clean retreat - at an incredible value. We've designed it to be warm, inviting, and perfect for a weeklong getaway for a couple, two couples, or a small family.
Though the house is brimming with entertainment options, it's also an amazing place to just relax and do nothing but watch the river go by. With resident bald eagles soaring overhead, the mountain river rushing by, the amazing fresh air purified by the surrounding forest, and the spring-fed water right out of the tap - you won't find a better place to rejuvenate your body and mind.
Index and the surrounding area is also a sporting paradise with excellent access to hiking, biking, kayaking, river rafting, fishing, skiing (cross country and downhill), ATV riding, horseback riding and more.
In the winter months, nearby Stevens Pass is a big draw as one of the top skiing destinations in the Pacific Northwest. In the summer they offer a full mountain biking experience.
In the summer, the wild Skykomish River is the star of the show offering adrenaline filled whitewater challenges, or a lazy float on a hot summer day. The Skykomish is also widely know for its excellent fishing with the top draw being the world renowned Steelhead. Known as the fish of a thousand casts, they can be extremely challenging to hook and even more so to land - but when you do, you'll have accomplished a major fishing milestone of which you can be very proud.
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Things to see in town:
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The town of Index is very small and you can walk the entire town (every street!) in under an hour. Along the way, you'll find lots of things to see. In the center of town, as you cross the bridge, you'll find the Index General Store which has been serving Index residents for longer than anyone can remember. Inside the store, you'll find a very old-school post office.
Kitty corner from the store is the Outdoor Adventure Center which is a rafting and kayaking outfitter where you can rent equipment, take lessons, and join a whitewater trip. Their headquarters, the River House, doubles as a coffee lounge offering hand-crafted coffee drinks, fresh baked goods, Internet access, and good information on what's happening in town.
Newly reopened after a decade-long restoration project, the Bush House Inn is now serving guests for lunch and dinner along with breakfast on weekends.
Also in the center of town is Doolittle park, named after one of the pioneers of the area. The park offers a covered picnic area as well as a tennis court, basketball court and public restrooms. On display is a giant saw blade that was used to cut granite at the local quarry. The granite steps of the Washington state capitol building were cut right here in Index.
To learn more about how Index came to be, be sure to visit PIckett's Museum where you can see amazing photographs and artifacts of an era gone by. You'll be shocked to learn that Index once had 2000 residents when it boomed, and you can see photographs of the giant trees that were harvested from the area. Pickett's is open Memorial Day - Labor Day from 1 to 4 on Fridays and Saturdays. They are also available by appointment during the off season by calling 360-793-1534.
In 2012 the historic Bush House was purchased and underwent a decade-long restoration. Now open, they offer coffee and baked goods in the morning as well as full-service lunch and dinner courtesy of the North Fork kitchen. You can book reservations at 1-509-780-6272.
Across from the Bush House is the Index Elementary school where local students of 6 grades share 2 classrooms. With one of the best student-teacher-ratio's in the state, the school is an excellent place for kids. They also have a nice playground that your kids are welcome to use during off hours.
In 2008 the huge ridge across the river from town was saved from logging by a local effort known as 'Friends of Heybrook Ridge.' The organization raised enough money to purchase the land from a private company and have made the ridge an eco-tourist and educational destination. There is parking lot with educational signage that leads to two different trails. This is an excellent addition to the town of Index and allows people of all ages to easily access a 100-year-old 2nd growth rain forest and learn about the flora and fauna. Get the All Trails app and find Heybrook Ridge for details.
When you stay with us, you will have no limit to the number of amazing hikes in the area. For starters, here's a few popular ones:
* Wallace Falls
* Deception Falls
* Bridal Veil Falls & Lake Serene
* The Iron Goat Trail
* Barclay Lake
* Heybrook Ridge
* Heybrook Firetower
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Day Trip(s)
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Depending on the weather, a very popular day trip for visitors is to cross Stevens pass into the eastern side of the state where you'll find yourself in the German styled town of Leavenworth. The streets are lined with tourist-attracting shops and there are several good restaurants to try. One of our favorites is Gustav's at the west end of town offering fantastic bratwurst and cold beer. Try the outdoor deck upstairs when the weather is nice - a great way to spend a couple of hours.
Heading the other direction, Seattle is only an hour away. Check out Pike Place outdoor market where you can grab coffee at the very first Starbucks, watch the fishmongers throw fish, and shop for fresh produce and handmade crafts. It's open every day of the year rain or shine! Or take a ride up the space needle where you can see the whole city, or journey off on a ferry ride to picturesque Bainbridge Island for lunch. There is certainly plenty to do in the Emerald City if you get the itch for city life during your stay. And at only an hour away, getting there and back is half the fun.
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Questions - just ask!
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We are very excited to share this amazing area with you, and we hope that you consider staying with us. If you have ANY questions about anything, feel free to ask.
We hope to host you soon!
Ken
