Walked the Heybrook Ridge trails to the main and super secret second viewpoints this morning.  Parking at the main lot across from the bridge is free and relatively plentiful with space for about 20 vehicles.  Interestingly, the port-a-potti is no longer there - must be summer only maybe.  Restrooms are available a couple blocks away in the Index city park across the bridge and they were open and fully functional.  The trail is generally in good condition with the upper 3rd and utility corridor walk over to the 2nd viewpoint a little more brushy, though honestly better than I was expecting.  It is a relatively steep trail with some roots and rocks, (so not a paved superhighway) but is short and doable for most folks.  You could see the wildfire smoke high up looking east but nothing down lower today.  Note there is signage indicating construction of the attached Erinswood trail and parking area Summer/Fall of 2025 (though no evidence of any at this point.)  Limited wildlife out today, small forest birds, squirrels, one raven way up high but that was about it.  The views off both the primary view point and super secret second viewpoint just a quarter mile or so east along the utility corridor really are very nice, excellent for such limited effort getting up there.  

Driving towards Index on Highway-2 you couldn't see the mountains but once I parked the clouds were on the move. When you hike this trail you have no idea what is in store at the top because of the forested route up. The trail was in good condition. The only unpleasantness was foliage at about 1.2 miles where you couldn't help but get wet from overhanging greenery on both sides of the trail from yesterday's rain.

The view of Mount Index and Mount Persis was dramatic poking out of the clouds from time to time-better than all grey or plain blue behind the peaks. The peaks to the east, Baring, Merchant, Gunn, Tail Gunner, etc. were docked in. I went up the Powerline Trail to check out the view, but nothing to see at any distance.

When it was time to head back down I lengthened my pole a bit and told Sykes the dog he was just fine without any adjusting as he has great clearance. 

I saw about eight other hikers. A party of four turned around jus past the rock steps and once I got to the viewing point there was no one until I was on the way down. The porta-potty is open and stocked.

An excellent hike for a nice payoff that exceeds the effort required. Arrived around 10:00a on a Saturday and was the fifth car in the lot. Shaded almost the entire way until the top. Used the public restroom in the park just over the bridge instead of the porta-potty at the trailhead. 

My youngest daughter doesn’t love to hike, so when she agrees to come along, I try to pick a trail that’s short or sweet, or in this case short and sweet.
The trail is in great shape. Kudos to the work crews who have placed rock steps in all the right places. It’s very lush right now, with the perfect amount of moisture on the trail. Not wet and muddy and not dry and slippery.
Large honey bucket in the lot but we used the public restroom across the bridge.

It was a sunny Sunday morning, but the trail was far from crowded; only 4-5 cars in the parking lot when we arrived, and we only passed about six people along the way. The trail is in great shape, alternating between steady incline and level sections to catch your breath. It is shaded until it breaks out on top of the ridge and the powerline break. The little bench mentioned in the trail guide would be a lovely spot to sit and soak in the wonders of this forest, but the creek has gone dry for the summer so we pressed on. Plenty of evidence from past logging operations lays beside the trail, reminding hikers of the history of the area and our good fortune that visionary people saved the ridge from another round of clear cutting. 

On this day the views from the top were breathtaking. We enjoyed some snacks at the first lookout, taking in the wonder of Mt. Index and Bridalveil Falls, and then headed east to the Canyon Falls viewpoint for the views of Baring Mountain and Eagle Falls below. Even at our leisurely pace and time spent taking in the views, it took less than 3 hours from departure to return. I suspect this trail gets less usage than many of the more popular hikes nearby, but it is well worth doing.

Pro tip: the coffee shop/bakery at the Bush House in Index makes a nice reward after the workout of running up and down a mountainside.