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Friends of Heybrook Ridge
P.O. Box 265
Index, WA 98256
The Mission: Friends of Heybrook Ridge was formed to work in partnership with the Cascade Land Conservancy 
and a broad range of agencies and organizations to purchase 100 acres on the ridge for establishment of the Heybrook Ridge Education and Recreation Area. The cost was $1.2 million.
The purchasing part of our mission was accomplished in 2008 and the property was transfered to Snohomish County Parks. Since then the Friends have worked in partnership with park staff to facilitate planning for a trail system. This included paying $25,000 of Friends’ funds for a boundary survey. As soon as its project schedule allows, there will be public meetings held by the Parks department to consider alternatives for the trails. We will let our supporters know as soon as these meetings are scheduled by Parks.
Our mission remains to assist County parks to create its trail system while preserving flora and fauna of the ridge in perpetuity. We also intend to develop recreational and focused learning experiences for a diverse population, and toward that end we continue to assist the University of Washington and various schools that benefit from having their classes in cultural and environmental history augmented with information gleaned from Heybrook Ridge.
Impacts of Heybrook Ridge Education and Recreation Area
• The creation of this new recreational and educational forest area, will benefit a wide range of stakeholders along the Highway 2 corridor as well as in the region.
Protection from Flooding/ Preservation of a Fishery
• Transference to County Parks allows the continued growth of the forest which prevents excessive water run-off during heavy rains — moderating river flow and minimizing flooding which affect
s downstream communities.
• Park status protection allows the forest to continue its natural function of absorbing excess rain –helping to protect spawning areas for fish.
Increasing Skykomish Valley’s Economic Vitality
• Once the trail system is in place Heybrook County Park will be a new destination for travelers who want to learn about natural history (eco-tourism) and the history of the people in the area (cultural tourism).
• Businesses will benefit throughout the valley by providing services needed for tourism – from restaurants to overnight accommodations.
• A multiplying effect will occur through Heybrook Ridge education initiatives. Businesses such as rafting companies and “Bed and Breakfast” establishments will benefit as they form partnership to offer tourism “packages.”
Increased Recreation Opportunities.
• A new system of hiking trails with magnificent mountain and valley views is being planned.
• This will provide opportunities for family outings in an alpine setting within 60 miles of Seattle.
• Heybrook Ridge Park will be a destination hike for artists and photographers seeking mixed forest lands and mountain vistas.
Cultural and Natural History Educational Program
The park will provide opportunities for local heritage groups and the Tulalip Tribes to share the history of Native Americans, miners, loggers, the railroads and community development
• Ecological restoration classes will be held in the “living laboratory” of a 100-year old second-growth forest.
• Interpretive sign-age along trails will be designed for multiple levels of education, giving cultural and natural history information, including geological development of the area.
• The park will serve as an outdoor “classroom” for students of all ages, from local elementary schools through post-graduate continuing education.
→For more information, please e-mail us by clicking the Contact Us link at the top.
Photos top to bottom:
Heybrook Ridge from the town of Index.
(Photo by Louise Lindgren, 2007)
Louis C. Heybrook’s Mill stood on the south side of the ridge in the early days of the 20th century. It was served by the Great Northern Railway and employed many people from the towns of Heybrook and Index. (Photo by Lee Pickett, ca. 1910, courtesy Index Historical Society)
David Stokes of the University of Washington points out examples of the diversity of Heybrook Ridge forest to his students. (Photo by Steve Higgins, 2007)
Taken from high on the Index Town Wall, Mt. Index towers over forested Heybrook Ridge which augments the viewscape for the Town of Index. (Photo by Don Graydon, spring 2007)
The Mission: Friends of Heybrook Ridge will work in partnership with the Cascade Land
Conservancy and a broad range of agencies and organizations to purchase 100 acres on the ridge for establishment of the Heybrook Ridge Education and Recreation Area. 
