Mileage: 2.4 miles RT (from the parking lot, it is 1 mile from the official trailhead)
Elevation Gain/Highest: 1175ft/1720ft
Map: Green Trails Index No. 142, my GAIA
My favorite places to stop post hike with friends are: Grilla Bites, Route 2 Taproom and Grazing Place, Good Brewing Company, River House Cafe, Espresso Chalet, Gustav’s, Yodelin’s Broth Company, South, Dan’s Food Market, or just Pack A Cooler. You can learn more about these places in my Must Hike Must Eat Eating Out Guide.
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty please.
Hike Details:
This is one of those hikes that I do regularly, especially when I don’t have a lot of time or if the weather is questionable. Short but steep, originally a climbers route, it gets the job done in a small amount of time. The trail itself is 1 mile but it is .3 miles from the parking lot to the official trailhead, see directions below.
Just be careful headed up, there are plenty of boot paths off the main trail. New signage last year has made it easier to follow. Watch your step at the top, it’s a sharp drop down from the viewpoint. I also wrote up some tips on my How To Hike The Index Town Wall post!
1/28/2024
You can read more about this trip at A Creepy Moment At The Index Town Wall.
4/2/2022
Not much to say about this trip other than I took two co-workers up to Index as they had not been before and they wanted to start their training for Mount Rainier that summer. We didn’t have views so they were not super impressed but it was a good workout anyway.
6/11/2021
I hoped by heading up early on a Friday morning I would avoid people and I was lucky to find only one car in the parking lot (but had the trail to myself).
My last trek up had been last January (2020) after a major wind storm that had tore up the trail with uprooted root balls, it was nice to see some trail work (steps) that fixed one particular nasty spot .2 miles in from the official trailhead (.5 miles from parking lot)) and enough folks taking the trail to tamper down the tread in another section further up.
There were a few trees down over the trail on the level sections but nothing major and I was able to pick one laying lengthwise up and off the trail that was causing folks to step up on the backslope. I forgot my hand saw so the others will have to wait. And the section shown in the previous trip report where the trail was torn up has been evened out so you wouldn’t even know.
I enjoyed the views at the top and eyed Heybrook Ridge for another adventure but was dismayed to see 3 fire rings were folks had had campfires in the open space near the ledge (which is not a large area). I hadn’t thought about overnighting here but looking at past trip reports it must be a thing now. Not sure why there would need to be 3 and I hope folks are smart enough to not have them this summer.
On the way down I noticed a shelter someone had built with branches and downed trees, I am seeing more and more evidence of people spending time here on the wall. My guess is maybe some scouts or kids practicing skills as there was not any garbage like someone had spent much time in it.
1/24/2020
Well, it’s been a few years since I’ve hiked the Town Wall after a weather event and just like then it was interesting!
Basically, there were trees down, branches everywhere and four root balls uprooting the trail. In one place it was a scramble up through mud and loose soil a few feet to reconnect with the trail. Snow patches started at about 1000 feet and the last quarter mile or so was mostly snow.
There are branches down starting on the access road but they are easy to go around. A root ball greets you right after the trailhead, again easy to maneuver. The next 3 are a bit more tricky. The trail was muddy and eroding on the edges in several places where it is water logged.
Where the snow completely covers the ground it would be good to be familiar with the trail or keep an eye out for the blue diamonds that show you the way to the upper ridge. Since I was post holing in the wet, sloppy mess that is snow right now, you would have a path to follow.
The view from the top did not expand far and the surrounding ridges were completely obscured. As usual the clouds danced in front of me and I didn’t stay long as the wind picked up. My favorite moment was realizing THAT THE STUPID DOWNED TREE ON THE LEFT OF THE LEDGE WAS GONE!!!! That silly one that used to stick out and mar an otherwise stellar view.
I managed to clear all the branches and trees within my pay grade that blocked the trail but left a few that would be better met with more than one person (and a hard hat). Added another hour to my hike but satisfying.
Don’t forget this trail really is a glorified climber’s route and it is easy to miss a switchback. Hands are often needed.
11/8/2019 my GAIA
I don’t know where the impulse came from but I decided last night that I wanted to be on the wall at sunrise. With sunrise as late as 7am, it seemed totally doable! Unfortunately, I left the house about 30 minutes too late to watch the sun inch over the horizon BUT I did get there in time for it to climb over Baring so it was still a worthwhile experience.
There was only one other car in the lot but it looked like either someone was sleeping in it or it was abandoned. There seem to be more campers by the river across the road each time I hike here, mostly a hodgepodge of climbers and fisherman.
I started out around 6:19am from the car and made my way over the tracks in the dark. The sky was just starting to evolve from pitch black to amber glow along the edge of the mountains. There was gravel built up around the crossing which was new to me, I had to walk around a bit to the other side.
I only stopped once on the ascent to take off layers but my time to the top was much longer than normal. Oh well, I still had it to myself which was the main goal anyway. The trail was quite dry, littered with decomposing leaves.
It was 10 minutes past sunrise when I arrived at the ledge, the horizon a dull tangerine under a baby blue sky. I sat until 8am before heading back down, observing a train snaking on the tracks below and a new memorial marker for a loved one.
Next week, I’m getting up earlier!
1/2/2019
I knew I had another hike coming tonight so I opted for a short jaunt up the Wall hoping for better views than when I was here before Christmas! That same root ball twists up the trail after the 4th turn since the storm in 2016, heading down and over the rock slab can be tricky when icy.
I had the ledge to myself with moody views up the valley and passed 4 small groups on the way down, a record! Glad to see more folks are getting out and enjoying this trail!
12/21/2018
Happy Solstice! The longest day of the year and we headed up in sloppy rain to work out the legs before the weekend on this snow free hike. The views at the top were obscured but we did catch a few glimpses of the peaks across the valley, making for a somber and moody summit. The trail had a few small trees down because of our windstorm yesterday but nothing that one couldn’t maneuver around.
I did notice the last two times I have hiked this that at the last “T” junction where you need to turn left, enough people have gone right that it would appear that is the more traveled trail. Even I have doubted and taken it. It does get you there eventually but the best route is still to turn left, look for a blue diamond in a tree above on the left to confirm.
The best part was that as I note down in the directions, there is now a privy close to the trailhead (just as you cross the tracks)!
5/2/2018
The sun was out and the mountains beckoned so we hightailed it up HWY 2 towards Stevens Pass for the steep hike up the town wall and a view of the sun warming the peaks. Couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the day. It looked like some vandals had made off with the trail sign at the beginning of the hike but the kiosk is still there. Despite the increased publicity of the hike, we still had it all to ourselves.
Even for someone who has done it plenty of times, it was easy to get off trail on a side climber’s route. Look for signs and blue diamonds on the trees and remember, “Right, right, left, left”. The trail was clear and mostly dry with just a few fallen trees. The major uprooted tree near the top hasn’t seen any trail work since it fell a few years ago but the boot path around it has become more defined making it easier to navigate the huge rock slab next to it.
1/7/2017
With a long list of chores and the Wild Card game at 5pm, I opted for a quick hike up HWY 2 today. As soon as you turn off HWY 2, the road is covered with compact snow and ice but any car should be able to make it. There was snow from the parking lot so I had my spikes on as I headed up from the trailhead. About 98% of the trail had ice and compact snow but enough folks hiking it that this was the easiest trip I’ve had as far as following the trail. I would not have hiked it without spikes, there was so much ice I would have spent a lot of time avoiding it. Or falling on my behind (pretty proud, only one gash on my leg).
As per usual, I didn’t see anyone else today, love it. The trees were blowing with the wind and I although I brought hot cocoa and a down quilt, I only enjoyed the view for a bit before my eyes began to freeze shut. I explored a little bit past the main lookout area, I wish that tree hanging over the ledge wouldn’t obscure my view. Perfect way to start the day. I am trying my hand at the GAIA thing, you can check out my track HERE. Not sure how my descent was more than my ascent!
3/22/2016
After heading up the road to Beckler Peak to retrieve my hiking poles I left on Saturday by my car (oops!), I had time to show a friend my favorite after work training hike. It has been a month or so since I was here and someone has clearly been busy taking care of the trail. Not only were all the downed trees cleared but there are new signs directing folks most of the way up the trail, in addition to new blaze on the trees. The uprooted tree ball stills makes that one spot on the trail a bit “sporty”.
Locating the correct trail to the top takes observation even with the signs because of the climber’s routes (my friend said she would have made several wrong turns if I hadn’t know the way) but just keep looking for markings on the trees. The DNR clearing (destruction) up at the top increases with the timber sale going on.
Our first views at the top were obscured but by the time we left we had had some lovely glimpses of both the town and peak of Index. My friend vows to come back on a nicer day.
2/5/2016
I wasn’t going to do a trip report because I’ve been up here a few times lately, only to say the trail was snow free and there is no need to go all the way around the trail damage near the top where the tree uprooted a good section of it.
Someone put branches down to encourage folks to start a boot path (damage) around but enough people have gone straight through that you can make it over the root ball and rock face. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty! Also, it was a little (actually a lot) disappointing to see the logging that is happening at the top. There is a road coming up from the other side and trees have been cleared, destroying the forest feel that used to be up there. At least the view from the ledge is still untouched.
1/8/2016
I decided to end my day and check out the Index Town Wall. You can see the last trip report for it, most of that still applies. The snow started in earnest after the 3rd Y in the trail, but I didn’t need to switch to spikes as my poles were enough. There was not much ice, and the snow was crunchy but soft enough to posthole in places. If the trail could be hard to find before, the snow does not help. Others have hiked it so it is possible to follow the impressions, but there were no current boot prints to follow because the snow has started to melt. I left you some, but I can’t say I always took the most direct route.
1/20/2015
This is my favorite after work hike, just a quick jaunt up HWY 2 for some burn. The storm really brought down quite a few trees on the trail and one really good tree uprooted taking away part of the trail.
The views from the top never cease to amaze. This trail is littered with climber’s routes so just remember “Right, right, left, left” when you come to each fork in the trail. There is no signage for the parking lot, it is just a break in the bushes after you pass a parking lot on the left for the river. There is a small gravel lot next to the train tracks.
Directions: Take HWY 2 and turn north onto Index- Galena Road. Make another left over the bridge into town and go to the second stop sign. Turn left on Index St. and follow the road until it turns left again and stops at another stop sign. Turn right on Avenue A and the unmarked trailhead is on your right about a mile up the road. From the parking lot, go up over the railroad tracks and follow them a short distance to the right on gravel until you see a “road” to the left. You will see a picnic table and a large cement barrier in the cliff face where they practiced drilling for an underground tunnel. The trailhead is on your right. There is a privy where you cross the railroad tracks, no parking pass is needed.
Click here for more hikes on HWY 2.
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