Apple Rock Cabin Guidebook
Restaurants
There’s limited options on this stretch of highway 2, but here are our favorites within a 20 minute drive, with the last being a longer drive and a good pit stop if you head to/from Leavenworth.
*Host’s favorite!*
Great place in nearby town of Index for weekend brunch, lunch, or dinner! Typically open 10am - 8:30pm but check online for hours (they update them as needed). You can call to reserve but we haven’t found that necessary thus far for smaller groups (2-4ppl).
North Fork Kitchen at The Bush House Inn Restaurant
*Host’s favorite!*
Great place in nearby town of Index for weekend brunch, lunch, or dinner! Typically open 10am - 8:30pm but check online for hours (they update them as needed). You can call to reserve but we haven’t found that necessary thus far for smaller groups (2-4ppl).
Just east of Gold Bar on your way to the cabin; my go to for tasty milkshakes
19 locals recommend
Zeke's Drive In
43918 U.S. 2Just east of Gold Bar on your way to the cabin; my go to for tasty milkshakes
Cascadia Inn
210 E Railroad AveQuaint sit down cafe in historic Skykomish.
*temporarily closed, reopening soon (early 2024)*
Decent bbq considering the remote location!
6 locals recommend
Smokey's Restaurant & Brewery
90000 Stevens Pass Hwy*temporarily closed, reopening soon (early 2024)*
Decent bbq considering the remote location!
LouSki's Deli
Good spot for breakfast and lunch
A local bar but with tasty fried chicken and jojo’s. Note their limited food menu are all deep fried.
28 locals recommend
Whistling Post Saloon
116 E Railroad AveA local bar but with tasty fried chicken and jojo’s. Note their limited food menu are all deep fried.
Rico's Pizza
40709 State Rte 2Closest pizza place to the cabin with decent hours.
45 minutes from the cabin but a fun place to check out! Especially since our cabin was built in 1959 :) burgers and milkshakes (LOTS of milkshakes) are their thing!
30 locals recommend
59er Diner Leavenworth/Lake Wenatchee
15361 US-245 minutes from the cabin but a fun place to check out! Especially since our cabin was built in 1959 :) burgers and milkshakes (LOTS of milkshakes) are their thing!
If you’d rather have espresso than drip coffee, drive 10 or so minutes west from the cabin along Highway 2 to the Espresso Chalet. Get a pic with Sasquatch and check out their pretty view hidden behind the chalet!
17 locals recommend
Espresso Chalet
50000 Stevens Pass HwyIf you’d rather have espresso than drip coffee, drive 10 or so minutes west from the cabin along Highway 2 to the Espresso Chalet. Get a pic with Sasquatch and check out their pretty view hidden behind the chalet!
Hikes
Nearby hikes we recommend! Ordered from easiest to hardest (per our opinion).
*TIP: Check out Washington Trail Association’s website for latest trip reports on any of these hikes to get the scoop on how conditions are!
www dot wta dot com
*BEST WINTER HIKES: Wallace Falls & Heybrook Lookout. Check snow level to confirm you won't have to hike through snow but for most of the year, these locations are snow free.
4.4mi roundtrip, 500ft elevation gain. A pretty hike through older forest to a lake. NW Forest Pass required (can get day passes online or get an annual pass from Fred Meyer in Monroe on your way out to the cabin).
20 locals recommend
Barclay Lake Trailhead
National Forest Development Road 60244.4mi roundtrip, 500ft elevation gain. A pretty hike through older forest to a lake. NW Forest Pass required (can get day passes online or get an annual pass from Fred Meyer in Monroe on your way out to the cabin).
2.6mi roundtrip, 850ft elevation gain. Short hike but a solid thigh burner with a really pretty view at the end. This is a very popular hike so I strongly recommend getting there very early (6-7am) to enjoy less crowds. No pass needed.
33 locals recommend
Heybrook Lookout Trailhead
313 9th St2.6mi roundtrip, 850ft elevation gain. Short hike but a solid thigh burner with a really pretty view at the end. This is a very popular hike so I strongly recommend getting there very early (6-7am) to enjoy less crowds. No pass needed.
3.3mi roundtrip, 775ft elevation gain. Just as pretty as the Lookout hike but without the fire lookout at the end (and usually a lot less people, but I still suggest an early arrival). No pass needed.
7 locals recommend
Heybrook Ridge
3.3mi roundtrip, 775ft elevation gain. Just as pretty as the Lookout hike but without the fire lookout at the end (and usually a lot less people, but I still suggest an early arrival). No pass needed.
There are 3 tiers of the waterfall you can hike to: Lower falls (3.2mi round trip), Middle falls (4.2mi r/t), or Upper falls (5.5mi r/t, 1300 ft elevation).
Placed it here in the order as it’s easier than Bridal Veil if you just go to Lower or Middle Falls, but a little harder if you go to Upper Falls.
Even if it’s a cloudy or rainy day, I’d recommend this one so you still have the reward of a waterfall at the end with a gorgeous hike through an old growth forest.
89 locals recommend
Wallace Falls State Park
14503 Wallace Lake RoadThere are 3 tiers of the waterfall you can hike to: Lower falls (3.2mi round trip), Middle falls (4.2mi r/t), or Upper falls (5.5mi r/t, 1300 ft elevation).
Placed it here in the order as it’s easier than Bridal Veil if you just go to Lower or Middle Falls, but a little harder if you go to Upper Falls.
Even if it’s a cloudy or rainy day, I’d recommend this one so you still have the reward of a waterfall at the end with a gorgeous hike through an old growth forest.
4mi roundtrip, 1000ft elevation gain. Gorgeous waterfall.. highly recommend if you haven't seen it before! And some peekaboo views along the way and at the falls. NW Forest Pass required.
20 locals recommend
Bridal Veil Falls
4mi roundtrip, 1000ft elevation gain. Gorgeous waterfall.. highly recommend if you haven't seen it before! And some peekaboo views along the way and at the falls. NW Forest Pass required.
8.2mi roundtrip, 2000ft elevation gain. Best part about this one is that you can just continue to Lake Serene after Bridal Veil Falls (it makes the whole hike closer to 9mi). Highly recommend as well! It's a gorgeous Alpine lake to visit. NW Forest Pass required.
8 locals recommend
Lake Serene
8.2mi roundtrip, 2000ft elevation gain. Best part about this one is that you can just continue to Lake Serene after Bridal Veil Falls (it makes the whole hike closer to 9mi). Highly recommend as well! It's a gorgeous Alpine lake to visit. NW Forest Pass required.
7.6mi roundtrip, 2240ft elevation gain. An awesome hike with great views. Yes it's more strenuous, but the views are worth it! And no pass is needed.
Beckler Peak
7.6mi roundtrip, 2240ft elevation gain. An awesome hike with great views. Yes it's more strenuous, but the views are worth it! And no pass is needed.
Nearby towns
Nearby small towns to the cabin, plus one of the reasons we bought the cabin, Steven’s Pass!
The last “major” town you pass through along Highway 2 as you head East towards our cabin. Last grocery stores and where more restaurant options are.
7 locals recommend
Gold Bar
The last “major” town you pass through along Highway 2 as you head East towards our cabin. Last grocery stores and where more restaurant options are.
Small town worth a visit to see their unique location. Known for their rock climbing. Sometimes they have fun events going on in their small community, too.
13 locals recommend
Index
Small town worth a visit to see their unique location. Known for their rock climbing. Sometimes they have fun events going on in their small community, too.
Skykomish
Small historic railroad town.
One of our top reasons for having this cabin- its proximity to Steven’s Pass! Great place to ski or snowboard in the winter, with hiking and mountain biking in the summer. Arrive early (1hr before opening) to get a good parking spot on weekend ski days.
169 locals recommend
Stevens Pass
U.S. 2One of our top reasons for having this cabin- its proximity to Steven’s Pass! Great place to ski or snowboard in the winter, with hiking and mountain biking in the summer. Arrive early (1hr before opening) to get a good parking spot on weekend ski days.
Worth the hour drive from the cabin, especially if you haven’t been! Bavarian themed town with lots of restaurants and shopping.
281 locals recommend
Leavenworth
Worth the hour drive from the cabin, especially if you haven’t been! Bavarian themed town with lots of restaurants and shopping.