ACTIVITIES:
If putting your feet up and relaxing isn't what you came up here for, there are plenty of activities to get your blood pumping and your body feeling exhilarated.
Summer Fun:
Just up the road from the lodge is the town of Index, which is a charming little historic town with a small grocery store, post office, museum and the famous Index Wall for those rock climbing aficionados. Some classic routes offer a 3 star climb, with the names 'Godzilla' and the 'Town Crier'. Check out the stanford.edu website for more details.
If you are not up to scaling the wall, it's fun to sit down below and watch them climb that sheer rock face. Also in town is a wonderful rafting and kayaking company called Outdoor Adventure Center.
Rafting along the Skykomish River offers some wonderful scenery and the exciting boulder drop. I've done this rafting trip and its quite exhilarating! They really take care of you, show you the ropes, provide all the equipment and treat you to a great meal at the end. Alpine Adventures also offers some terrific rafting experiences as well, they are located in Gold Bar.
If you are into fishing, come on up and catch some Trout, Steelhead and Salmon. There are lots of various fishing holes to be found on both the North and South Fork of the river. This site may provide more information for your fishing experience. http://www.avidangler.com/FC_skykomish.html
There are numerous hikes up and down Highway 2. From Gold Bar, which is about 8 miles from our road there is Wallace Falls State Park. This is a 4,735 acre park with many waterfalls, rivers, biking trails, hiking trails and rock climbing.
Heading East from Gold Bar, very popular hikes are the Lake Serene Trail and Bridal Veil Trail. The trail head is just down the road from the Lodge and one of the most beautiful hikes I've been on. A gorgeous mineral green lake greets you after a steep 3.5 mile hike, with Mt Index soaring straight up from there. If you want a shorter hike, its just 2 miles up to Bridal Veil Falls. What greets you here is a sheer granite rock face with a cascading white veil of water coming off it. Plus a picturesque view of the valley below.
Other incredible hikes include the Heybrook Trail (1.5 miles up), with a magnificent view from the fire tower at the top. Barclay Lake Trail (2.2 miles up), is an easy hike to a serene lake. Deception Falls (a 0.5 mile nature loop) is a terrific place for a picnic, pit stop, or short hike around the breathtaking falls and crystal clear creek.
Further up Highway 2 is The Iron Goat Trail, where the Great Northern Railway used to thunder by, through the Cascades. Now it is a wonderful interpretive site with numerous hikes and trails, some for bikes and wheelchairs. There are various hikes along this area. Some are as short as a 0.6 mile round trip, and others are as long as 8.6 miles one way. So come up and get a history lesson and some grand views from all the look out points.
Even further up, by the Stevens Pass Ski Resort, is the Pacific Crest Trail.
There are plenty of other hikes in this area and you can head up to the Ranger Station, past Skykomish for more maps and details.
A few other waterfalls close by are Sunset Falls, Eagle Falls and Canyon Falls. Sunset Falls is .8 of a mile down from the Lodge. Gorgeous Falls! Canyon Falls you will drive over coming in. Eagle Falls is just up Hwy 2. Go about 2 miles east of Index and there is a little area to pull off on the side and hike down to see it. Great swimming holes here too.
Winter Fun:
Can't wait for snow and ski season? Stay at South Fork Lodge and you are just 30 minutes away from Stevens Pass Ski Resort and you'll be able to get plenty of time to buzz down that hill and enjoy all that fresh powder. They have at least 37 major runs and various trails and fun for all down hill skiing, snow boarding, sledding, and a lodge to warm up in.
Just 5 more miles down the road, is the Nordic Center that offers 25 km of groomed trails for those cross country skiers.
Restaurants:
If you are not in the mood to cook, there are various restaurants down from the Lodge, in Wallace Falls, Start Up or Sultan, or head up into Skykomish for a bite to eat. Here are a few of the choices:-
Gold Bar:
La Hacienda, Mt. View Diner, Prospector's Steak and Ale house, Zeke's Drive In, Wallace Falls Cafe, and Rico's Pizza (Take out).
Sultan:
The Bakery, Sahara's Pizza, Peking Chinese Restaurant, Ixtapa Restaurant.
Startup:
Alpine Drive In, McDonald's.
Skykomish:
(Up past Mt Index Rd about 20 minutes)
Cascadia Inn Cafe and Lounge Sky Deli and Liquor.
Leavenworth:
(About 1.5 hrs East of the Lodge)
Bavarian themed town, great for shopping, hiking, rafting, and theatre.
I hope you'll have a great time inside and outside of the Lodge and end up feeling like your mind, body and soul finally had a break from all the stuff everyday life throws at us.
Enjoy your immersion into Nature.
For more information, questions, or to reserve:
Phone: 206-735-3231
Email: Stay@TreeLineRentals.com
Also SouthForkLodgeVacations.com
