Welcome to The Sky Valley
Each year, thousands of thrill seekers pilgrimage to the Sky Valley to enjoy world-class river rafting, rock climbing, horse-back riding and more. The Sky Valley is naturally photogenic any time of the year and attracts photographers from all over the year.
Conveniently located only 1 hour NE of Seattle on Highway 2, the Sky Valley is home to numerous highly acclaimed guide outfits. These businesses look forward to working with you to plan your perfect adventure based on your individual skill, time allocation and budget.
Planning Your Sky Valley Adventure
On Your Own
Guided Tours
Food and Lodging
Classes
Shopping
Parks
Planning Your Sky Valley Adventure
The winter months offer majestic views of snow-capped mountains, cross country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, dog sledding and so much more.
In the spring, visitors come to hike among the wildflowers and enjoy one of our many unique classes ranging from logging sports to hunter safety.
Summer is festival season in Sky Valley. The Sultan Shindig, Index Arts Festival, Gold Dust Days Festival and the Skykomish Show-N-Shine Car Show are among the most popular yearly events. Summer is also when our campgrounds come to life as visitors from all over the world enjoy fishing, rafting, hiking, and relaxing in our scenic forests.
In the fall, there is no place on earth more beautiful than the Sky Valley. The changing leaves create a breathtaking spectacle. Take a Sunday drive on the Steven's Pass Scenic Greenway or hire a guide to take you and your friends through the valley on horseback to take in the splendor.
On Your Own
Wild Sky Wilderness Area: Included in this national treasure is beautiful forest which has been set aside as a protected wilderness area for future generations to enjoy. Together, with the Mt. Baker Snoqualimie National Forest, there are over 1.7 million acres for those who like to hike, bird watch, fish, hunt and camp.
Reiter Foothills Recreation Area: This area caters to motorcycles, ATV enthusiasts, BMX and Mountain bikers.
The Index Town Wall: Rock climbers from far and wide travel to climb the amazing Index Town Wall. The Town Wall is a group of steep granite cliffs. The Wall features several challenging cracks and a surprising number of face climbs, with hidden edges and overhangs.
Hiking: Hike for a day or escape for a month or more along the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from Canada to Mexico. There are hundreds of gorgeous trails to choose from in the Sky Valley. Wallace Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and the Iron Goat Trail are some of our more popular hiking destinations.
Bird Watching: Eagles, owls, geese, swifts and more put on a show and will help any "Big Year" birdwatcher build the ultimate Pacific Northwest birding list.
Guided Tours
Pack your bags and leave the rest to us. If your idea of a good time involves drifting down a lazy river or riding a gentle horse through our pristine wilderness, we have a guided tour for you.
Rafting: If you prefer life in the fast lane, we have guides who will escort you down our raging class 5 rapids near Index.
Horse Country: Let the horses so the leg work. Trained wranglers will guide you through our magnificent mountains atop a horse matched in skill and temperament to each rider. Enjoy moonlit rides, or go by day and enjoy breathtaking veiws around every corner.
Dog Sled Rides: Learn to "mush" with a team of highly trained Alaskan Huskies through the wild terrain surrounding Index, Skykomish and the Steven's Pass area. Experience the quiet beauty of the Cascades and celebrate the timeless bond and athletic interaction between musher and sled dog.
Food and Lodging
Take off your coat and stay a while. Sky Valley visitors have numerous hotels, motels, and rental cabins to choose from. For dinner, visit on of our many locally owned and operated restaurants.
Cabin Rentals: Wake up to sweeping mountain view and fish from your private deck. Stay for the night, or reserve on of our many rustic cabins for a week or more.
Hotels: The Sky Valley is home to historic hotels, who pay tribute to the dedicated railway workers and trailblazing adventure seekers of yesteryear.
Where to Eat: Sweeten your drive with a visit to a Sky Valley bakery. Featured items include fresh pastries, homemade fudge, chocolate and steaming hot cups of fresh-roasted coffee. Dine in or get it to go; the Sky Valley can meet all of your needs for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Classes
There is so much to learn about in the Sky Valley! From our rich history of logging and gold panning to the natural sciences flourishing in our wilderness, the opportunity to learn lies around every corner.
Logging Classes: Have you ever seen a lumberjack toss an axe at a target and thought to yourself, "Hey, I could do that!" Have you driven past the spar poles in Sultan, WA and thought, "I wonder if I could climb those?" The Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the area loggers, is pleased to offer beginning logging classes. Students will learn the art of axe throwing, spar pole climbing and line splicing.
Index Sportsmens's Club: Trap shooting enthusiasts of all ages are welcome to join the Index Sportsmen's club for Thursday evening and Sunday shoots. The Club is on of the oldest sportsmens's clubs in Washington State. The Club offers trap shooting classes for novices, complete with all the equipment needed.
...And More: Other classes include mushroom and plant identification, fly fishing, survival,, astronomy, rock climbing, kayaking, hunter safety courses and much, much more.
Shopping
The Sky Valley is a friendly place to shop complete with small town independently-owned businesses waiting to serve you. Take a walk down Main Street Sultan or Monroe and you will discover a treasure trove of shops from bookstores to clothing. Our business owners are proud to offer visitors to a unique and fruitful shopping experience.
Parks
Monroe
The City of Monroe has twenty-sevn parks with amenities ranging from playgrounds and beaches to fishing holes. For a complete listing and details about Monroe city parks please visit the City of Monroe Parks and Recreation Department website.
Sultan
Sultan's parks are a wonderful place to get away from the crowd. More information on Sultan city parks can be found at the City's website.
Index
Index is internationally know for its granite cliffs and churning rapids attracting rock climbers and kayakers from around the globe. Please contact the Town of Index at 360-793-2488 or visit our business directory for more information on Index parks.
Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest contains many scenic and historical points of interest. Mountain tops gradually rise from 5,000 to 6,000 feet (1,800 m) on the south end of the forest to 7,000 to 8,000 feet (2,400 m) in the north. Two tall volcanoes, Mount Baker and Glacier Peak, tower thousands of feet above the adjacent ridges. For more information on recreation in the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, visit the US Forest Service website.
