Editing Index, Washington (section)

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:Index Town Wall (304761156).jpg|thumb|right|Rock climbers on the Index Town Wall]]

Index lies along the [[Cascade Loop Scenic Byway]] and is {{convert|30|mi|km}} west of [[Stevens Pass]], which has a [[Stevens Pass Ski Area|ski area]] and other winter activities.<ref name="Times-Guide">{{cite news |last=McQuaide |first=Mike |date=June 29, 2011 |title=A mile-by-mile driving, hiking and roadside-wonders guide to scenic Stevens Pass |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/outdoors/2015459519_nwwstevenspass30.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=March 2, 2019 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306061802/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/outdoors/2015459519_nwwstevenspass30.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The Index Town Wall, a set of granite cliffs that face the town, is among the most popular [[crag (climbing)|crags]] in Washington and draws climbers from the Puget Sound region.<ref name="Times-Climbing"/> It includes 402 [[climbing route|routes]] for climbing and [[bouldering]] that range in difficulty, including beginner's courses that are nicknamed the "classroom".<ref name="Climbing-2009"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Heller |first=Seth |date=December 4, 2017 |title=The Best Climbing Spots in America |url=https://www.mensjournal.com/travel/the-35-best-climbing-spots-in-america-w481605#gid=ci02b8d14da0082605&pid=the-midwest-vertical-endeavors--glendale-heights |work=[[Men's Journal]] |accessdate=February 8, 2025}}</ref> Most of the area was acquired by private climbing organizations, who collected $250,000 in pledges, and donated in 2010 to the state government for inclusion in [[Forks of the Sky State Park]].<ref name="PI-Wall">{{cite news |last=Connelly |first=Joel |date=September 18, 2010 |title=Index Town Wall: Climbers' classroom preserved |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/index-town-wall-climbers-classroom-preserved-889054.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |accessdate=February 5, 2025}}</ref> The {{convert|20|acre|ha|adj=mid}} Lower Town Wall was acquired by the Washington Climbers Coalition in 2010 to prevent it from being sold to a quarry operator; it was added to the state park later that year.<ref name="Herald-Crag"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Gilmore |first=Susan |date=August 27, 2010 |title=Climbers group buys famed Index Lower Town Wall, saves it from quarry |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climbers-group-buys-famed-index-lower-town-wall-saves-it-from-quarry/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=May 12, 2025}}</ref> Non-profit climbing groups have also purchased parcels near the Town Wall for recreation and conservation, including donations to expand the state park.<ref name="Times-Climbing"/>

The Skykomish River is a popular whitewater [[rafting]] corridor with several companies based out of Index that operate along the river and within the [[Wild Sky Wilderness]] area.<ref name="Times-River2008">{{cite news |last=Mapes |first=Lynda V. |date=September 28, 2008 |title=The Skykomish: A case study in why protection as a Wild and Scenic River matters |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw/2008206149_pacificprivers28.html |work=The Seattle Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201011843/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw/2008206149_pacificprivers28.html |archive-date=December 1, 2008 |accessdate=February 8, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sheets |first=Bill |date=August 20, 2013 |title=Those who pushed for Wild Sky Wilderness celebrate its 5-year mark |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/those-who-pushed-for-wild-sky-wilderness-celebrate-its-5-year-mark/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 8, 2025}}</ref> The river includes sections that are rated from Class III to V on the [[International scale of river difficulty|international scale]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Burge |first=Erik |date=May 15, 2003 |title=Hike, climb, paddle: Index keeps outdoor recreationists happy |page=S17 |work=The Bellingham Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bellingham-herald-hike-climb-paddl/165034510/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=February 8, 2025}}</ref> The river is also used for fishing, particularly for [[steelhead trout]], and has swimming areas around waterfalls east of the town.<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref name="Times-River2008"/> The sole [[city park|urban park]] in Index is Doolittle Pioneer Park, which includes a [[picnic shelter]] and public barbeque.<ref>{{cite web |title=Doolittle Pioneer Park |url=https://www.cascadeloop.com/account/doolittle-pioneer-park |publisher=Cascade Loop Association |accessdate=February 6, 2025}}</ref> Doolittle Pioneer Park was opened in 1976 for the [[United States Bicentennial|national bicentennial]] and displays a rock-cutting saw from the former granite quarry near Index.<ref name="Herald-1977"/> A [[rail trail]], named Crescent Trail, follows the former trackbed of the Great Northern Railway west of the town.<ref name="ComprehensivePlan">{{cite report |date=January 30, 2025 |title=Town of Index 2024 Comprehensive Plan |pages=55–58, 72 |publisher=Town of Index}}</ref>

The surrounding area also includes several hiking trails maintained by the [[United States Forest Service]] and the Snohomish County Parks & Recreation Department.<ref name="PI-Wall"/> The [[Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest]] includes the [[Lake Serene]] Trail, which records 45,000 visitors annually and leads to the base of Mount Index.<ref>{{cite news |last=Van Sistine |first=Ta'Leah |date=December 11, 2023 |title=Near Mt. Index, Forterra secures key piece in conservation puzzle |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/near-mt-index-forterra-secures-key-piece-in-conservation-puzzle/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 9, 2025}}</ref> An outdoor [[shooting range]] on national forest property near Index was opened in 1947 and operated until 2004, including for several decades without a valid special use permit from the Forest Service. The range was permanently closed due to lead contamination.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=April 3, 2016 |title=Forest Service to get the lead out of former Index shooting range |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/forest-service-to-get-the-lead-out-of-former-index-shooting-range/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 11, 2024}}</ref> Heybrook Ridge County Park, which has several trails and a historic [[fire lookout]], opened in 2017 after nine years of development by the county government.<ref name="Herald-Erinswood">{{cite news |last=Bryan |first=Zachariah |date=July 14, 2021 |title=In Index, Erinswood Trail will be a place for everyone |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/in-index-erinswood-trail-will-be-a-place-for-everyone/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 5, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=August 16, 2016 |title=Heybrook Lookout near Index vandalized again |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/heybrook-lookout-near-index-vandalized-again/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 5, 2025}}</ref> The land was acquired in a [[public–private partnership]] with a volunteer conservation group in 2008 to prevent the area from being [[clearcutting|clearcut]].<ref name="Herald-Hoedown"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Nohara |first=Yoshiaki |date=August 11, 2008 |title=Index spared clearcut view of neighboring hill |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/index-spared-clearcut-view-of-neighboring-hill/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 5, 2025}}</ref> Another trail in the county park, Erinswood Trail, opened at the bottom of the ridge in 2021 with full [[accessibility]] for wheelchairs.<ref name="Herald-Erinswood"/>