Take US 2 east out of Monroe east past all the small towns. Just a few miles past the index turnoff on a straightaway, look for a large pull off area on the left as you are entering the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
WillhiteWeb.com
Haybrook Lookout
Heybrook Lookout is a low elevation lookout just above highway 2, a bit east of Index. The trail only climbs 850 feet in 1.3 miles, so the trail is very popular with just about everyone. The payoff is a nice view of Mt. Index, one of the most impressive mountains in the Cascades. Thanks to the low elevation, the trail is clear while most nearby trails are under snow. You can ascend the sturdy lookout up seven flights of stairs to an observation area just below the bunkhouse.
Distance: 1.3 miles
Summit Elevation: 1,700 feet
Elevation Gain: 850 feet
Access: Paved
Route:
Access:
The trail starts out easy but quickly starts climbing a few switchbacks away from the noisy highway. The trail passes through a nice second growth forest. Near the top the trail eases up as it is now on Haybrook Ridge and you might think you were on a high elevation ridge, not at a mere 1700 feet. Before you know it, you look up and there is the 67 foot lookout tower.
Mount Index from the trailhead area
Trailhead sign
Starting view from the highway
Haybrook Lookout trail
Mossy forest
Nice trail
Second growth forest
Sun and shadows
Baring Mountain
Looking up the Skykomish Valley
Haybrook Lookout
Haybrook Lookout
Mount Index and Mount Persis
Another view of Baring Mountain
Mountains to the SE
History:
In 1925, Haybrook had a platform tower.
In 1932, a 45-foot tower with L-4 cab was built.
In 1934, panorama photos at 55 feet above ground.
In November 1936, the Assistant Regional Forester, James Frankland sent a letter to The Aladdin Co. in North Portland, Oregon, a list of numerous items that were not in the lookout cab shipment. Frankland said all of the shortages and errors appear to be due to carelessness in packing. (Not clear if the cab was used for this lookout since parts missing).
In 1936 a USGS survey party mentions a 50-foot lookout station.
On April 1, 1942, the Aircraft Warning Service activated the tower.
On October 16, 1943 the lookout was deactivated by AWS. It was manned during the winter for AWS.
In 1964, the present 67-foot timber tower was built with an Experimental R-6 flat cab.
In 1970 the lookout was abandoned.
In 1994, volunteers started work on constructing a new cab and other restoration.
In 2001, tower restoration was completed.
In 2017 progress was made to get final restorations done (Filson, USFS, NFF) and get the lookout into the rental program so the vandalism would slow down. Late in the summer, rental trials were underway. In 2018 the lookout was in the rental program.
Cab work made the local news
Access in 1942 during AWS
AWS winterized the lookout
AWS observers were Irvin and Rosa Beeman
All year AWS post
From a 1960s mountaineers trip video
1936 recreational map
Fall 2011 Lookout Network magazine
AWS document about Haybrook
Looking North in 1935
Looking Southeast in 1935
Looking Southwest in 1935