Heybrook Lookout: A Scenic, Kid-Friendly Hike 90 minutes from Seattle

If you’re craving a quick mountain adventure that even your kid can tackle, Heybrook Lookout delivers big views with little effort.

Just 1.5 hours from Seattle, this short but rewarding trail ends at a 67-foot fire tower perched above a sea of evergreens — with sweeping views of Mount Index, Baring Mountain, and Mount Persis. On a clear day, you might even spot the glimmer of Bridal Veil Falls in the distance.

We hiked this trail with our three-year-old, and it struck the perfect balance of challenge and joy. It was the perfect ste-up for our little hiker after tackling some other easy hikes near Seattle. Whether you’re easing into hiking with little ones or just looking for an epic view without a full-day commitment, this trail hits the sweet spot.

• Mileage and Elevation: ~2.6 miles RT, ~850 ft elevation gain.
• Difficulty level: Easy, Kid-friendly (detailed kid report below)
• Location: Highway 2 aka Stevens Pass Highway, Index, WA. Part of Mt.Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
• Estimated time required: 2 to 3 hours.

Heybrook Lookout Hike Step-by-Step Guide

The hiking guide is broken down into 3 steps – Trailhead to Heybrook Lookout tower, At Heyrbook Lookout tower, Back to the trailhead.

1. Trailhead to Heybrook Lookout Tower [1 hour]

As you start from the trailhead, the walk parallels the highway, but you soon take a left and start on the elevation through a beautiful forest which transports you into another world.

This initial elevation is a bit steep and rocky, but very manageable. This part of the hike is a good way to stretch the hiking abilities of your little ones if they have only been on flat trails until now. There are chances they may trip on a stone, rock or a root along the way, so you may want to watch your unexperienced hikers.

After the initial elevation, the latter half of the hike is relatively easy as it is not as steep, has a gentle grade and continues under a beautiful forest canopy. This is where we let our toddler take the lead on the hike and she absolutely loved it. Take plenty of stops along the way and enjoy the forest bathing.

Just before you are reaching the base of the lookout, you will start getting views of the surrounding mountains. This is your clue that that the views from top of the lookout are going to be even more panoramic.

2. At Heybrook Lookout Tower [30 mins]

Once at the foot of the tower, climb the steps to the top of the lookout for the most spectacular views of Mount Persis, Mount Index, Bridal Veil Falls (if you can spot it) and Philadelphia Mountain as well as other surrounding mountain peaks.

The cabin at the top is not open to public as it is reservable for overnight stays. But you can go up to the viewing platform one level below the cabin. The stairs and the viewing platform are pretty safe for kids, but we can’t help but continuously keep watching over our kid.

After an hour of hiking, we spent almost 30 mins admiring the views and taking in all the scenery. There is a picnic table at the base of the lookout if you want to take a breather or snack break. With our toddler, there is constant snacking along the way sometimes.

3. Back to the Trailhead [45 mins – 1 hour]

The hike back is as enjoyable as your way in. We end up letting our toddler lead the way back more easily as we know what to expect. The forest is a nice cool respite if you are here on a hot summer day.

Getting to Heybrook Lookout Trailhead

Heybrook Lookout Trailhead Directions

Located near Index, WA on Hwy 2 (aka the Stevens Pass Highway), the drive from Seattle to Heybrook Lookout trailhead is ~1 hour. We entered Higway 2 at Monroe from 522 (via 405) and as expected the scenery starts changing as you continue your drive further east.

If you are traveling with younger toddlers, you can start this drive after lunch to coincide with toddler naptime. 

Being a single lane highway, you can expect traffic on weekend evenings and hence take longer to go back than you took to come here.

Heybrook Lookout Parking

Parking is free. There are about 25-30 spots for parking near the trailhead. The parking is by the side of the road.

Tips for Hiking Heybrook Lookout Trail

Estimated Activity Time

With the roundtrip hike and time spent at the tower, you can estimate ~2- to 2.5 hours for this activity. This is at kid speed, so there is definitely scope to go faster.

Add to that your drive time. From Seattle, you can expect ~1.5 hour one-way to drive to the trailhead, so a total of 3 hours of round trip driving.

Kid and Family Trip Report

• Infants (upto 1 year) – If you are a regular hiker, then this is a good hike for parents to carry their infants in a carrier. This is not a stroller friendly trail.
• Toddlers (1-3 years) – If you have a very young toddler who is likely to wander around, not follow instructions or not watch their step, then I would recommend carrying them or constantly watching them in the first half of the trail. The initial stretch has elevation and the route has roots, stones, etc which requires kids to watch their step.
• Pre-school (3-5 years) and above – Can do this hike independently. This is a good hike to stretch your kids hiking abilities and make them more independent and confident. We did this hike with our 3 year old and we did fine.

Amenities

• Restrooms – None at location. Try and visit a gas station or a restaurant before you get  to the trailhead.
• Cellular network – Available.

Food

You will not find food options close to the trailhead, but there are plenty of options within driving distance.

Espresso Chalet on Highway 2 is a popular stop for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and the most amazing views of Mt.Index and Bridal Veil Falls . Its a view you will never get tired of and probably stop every time you are passing from here.

Another stop worth making is at Sultan bakery which is open till 8 PM and a good spot to grab breakfast/lunch/dinner. 

For more options, you can explore restaurants at Monroe, Bothell or Woodinville.

Heybrook Lookout Trip Planning

• Day trip – It is an awesome spot for a family friendly activity on a day trip from Seattle. Drive one way from Seattle is ~1.5 hours. After the hike, consider cooling down by the emerald green waters of Skykomish river at Big Eddy.

• Weekend trip – On a weekend road-trip from Seattle or Olympia to Highway 2, I would include Heybrook Lookout Trail as a must-do activity and in fact, stay in the cabin rental on top of the Heybrook Lookout tower, if possible. Consider adding Deception Falls and Eagle Falls on your Stevens Pass Greenway roadtrip itinerary.

• Pit stop on longer road trip – If you are looking for a 2-3 hour break on your longer roadtrip from Seattle to Leavenworth or beyond, then this is a fun hike to break the drive. There are many other hikes and attractions on Highway 2 to exlplore.

• Best time to visit – Spring, summer and fall.

Stay

Heyrbook Lookout Rental – To spend a night or two in the Heybrook Lookout tower cabin, you can look for availability and make a reservation on Recreation.gov. These book out fast!

There are many campgrounds, state parks, and Airbnbs in this stretch. Any stay option between Monroe and Stevens Pass will make for a convenient stay location.

Final Thoughts

I would highly recommend doing the Heybrook Lookout hike as a day trip from Seattle. It is a great hike to build your kids’ hiking skills and confidence. We love taking the scenic drive on Stevens Pass Highway aka Highway 2 atleast once during the year and exploring different attractions along the way.

If you like easy hikes on scenic drives near Seattle, then you will like –

• Middle Fork Snoqualmie area in North Bend, WA has many kid-friendly hikes and riverside day picnic areas.

• Mountain Loop Highway has many easy hikes to alpine lakes.

• Chuckanut Drive has a combination of hikes and beaches.