Have you hiked the Index Town Wall yet? Did you get lost and not make it to the top? Learn here how to hike the Index Town Wall without fail!
January has been a busy month and I have found myself heading up into the mountains with a short amount of time to hike but wanting to get a good workout in along with some views of the mountains I love.
If you live in Seattle, you head to Tiger Mountain or Mount Si. For me, it is the Index Town Wall. And unlike Tiger or Si, I usually have the trail ALL TO MYSELF.
Isn’t The Index Town Wall A Climbing Wall?
You might say, isn’t the Index Town Wall a climbing wall? Like, for people who climb with ropes? Yes, the Index Town Wall is a popular climbing destination, people come from all around to ascend its surface. Fred Beckey climbed there!
But, if you know the scoop you can actually hike the wall to the upper ledge, no ropes needed. There is a 1.2 mile trail off to the side of the main Lower Town Wall that allows you to hike up to the ledge of the Upper Wall. Sure you have to gain 1,200 feet to do it in little under a mile but the sweat is worth it!
Index Town Wall Details
The trail starts out crossing railroad tracks and turning right to walk along them. There is a privy on the left but that is NOT where the trail starts. An access road appears on the left where it heads into the trees along the base of the wall. The trail quickly climbs up several steep switchbacks to the northeast to quickly gain 600 feet in about .3 miles! Then, it cuts back to the west on an angled traverse that gives you slight relief from the brutal climb and avoids another cliff band.
Soon, though, you are climbing again to each the last 600 feet but at a grade that alternates between level and scrambling. Yes, there are a few spots where having your hands free is helpful. Just remember, the distance of 1.2 miles is from the parking lot, you begin to climb the 1,200 feet starting about .3 miles in.
When To Hike The Index Town Wall
Year round! The hike is accessible during all times of the year and all types of weather. It offers a steep climb to get your heart pumping and unrivaled views at the top for how close it is to SR 2. Rain or shine, you will find something to love (and maybe curse) about this hike.
Even when I have gotten to the top and had a curtain of cloud in front of me, it was still fun to see them drift by and tease me with glimpses of the peaks beyond. That said, the only time you might not want to hike this trail would be during high winds or thunderstorms, but that can go for most hikes.
Don’t Get Lost On The Index Town Wall
I have heard of quite a folks having a hard time finding the trailhead or getting turned around on the trail as there are a number of social and side trails where climbers head up to different areas of the wall. Even I, someone who has hiked it multiple times, have found myself taking a wrong turn!
There have been signs added in the last year along with blue diamonds and green directional arrows up on trees to follow but when you come to a junction and it goes either way OR the wrong way looks more developed than the correct one, it is easy to head the wrong direction. There are four “junctions” where the trail looks like it go in either direction and I have learned to remember the first two are right turns and the second two are left turns.
The trickiest one is the last one where enough people have turned right because the trail left is tucked back and less obvious. Going right gets you there eventually but with a lot more scrambling involved. Look for the green arrow up in the tree at the junction.
If It’s So Great, Shouldn’t We Keep The Index Town Wall A Secret?
No. One, I’m not into keeping trails a secret. Some maybe shouldn’t be announced all over social media, but others could use a little more publicity, especially if they are not wilderness. And in the years I have been hiking this trail and talking about it, I have yet to get to the top and have another soul already there.
I am normally all by myself and the last time I hiked it I passed a total of about 10 other people as I was headed out, a record. Everyone heads to Lake Serene just down the road, let’s spread the wealth. I love taking my friends up so they can see for themselves!
How To Hike The Index Town Wall
This last time I ventured up, I made sure to take enough pictures and gather enough detail to make a little video of how to hike this amazing trail and not end up on a climber’s boot path short of the upper ledge destination. Plus, you can see what your reward is from the top! Just remember my mantra when it comes to the junctions on this trail, “Right, right, left, left.”
What Else You Should Know About The Index Town Wall
There are some great places to visit along SR 2 and in Index. If you find yourself venturing over to the Index Town Wall trail, please give yourself some time to stop and see what treats the local business’ have to offer. Espresso Chalet on SR offers the largest list of milk alternatives I have seen at a coffee stand and if you are looking for Sasquatch, he’s there too! The River House Cafe in Index has post-hike snacks and burgers along with a large selection of local ales to quench your thirst.
If you would like to read some of my trip reports, find my GPS track and see more pictures from the trail, head on over to my Index Town Wall Page. Not sure you want the steepness of this hike? Heybrook Lookout just a bit further up the road makes a great alternative with some of the same views. And for any of you who think this isn’t long enough for a training hike, DO IT TWICE! Been there, done that.
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