Heybrook lookout
Dark Site
Heybrook Lookout is located just past the town of Index, WA. It is normally accessible via a fairly difficult hike from a parking lot in US 2. It is a fire tower with full accommodations, but bookings usually fill up within hours of coming available. You can hike to the tower anytime but “quiet hours” are after 10pm and should be respected by both crews inside the cabin and without. The ascent is around 1,200 feet (3658m).
Site Stats
| Location | Index, WA, USA |
| Latitude | 47° 48’ 37.98” N |
| Longitude | 105° 16’ 58.94” W |
| Elevation | 1,700’ (518m) |
| Bortle | 3 |
These are all images I captured from that location.
Images
The Milky Way viewed from a fire tower lookout
During the trek up a 1-mile, 1,200-foot fire service road to reach the lookout, we encountered thunder (but not lightning), a black bear, storm clouds and more. However, later that evening the skies clear and this happened. After verifying the Milky Way was visible with my 12mm lens, I decided to switch to the 50mm lens.
2023-06-26
Milky Way on Fire (spotted from tower)
The fruits of our labour: spotting the fiery glow of the Milky Way as it rises like smoke on the hoirzon.
2023-06-26
The Antares Region: a fast study
I captured this target from the top of Heybrook Lookout in Index, WA (Bortle 3).I only spent about 20 minutes on Antares, a region that deserves hours of exposure. But even with the limited time, I captured more details than ever before, trumping the hours of filtered shooting through light polluted skies from my house.
2023-06-26
Videos
A group of photographers summited Heybrook Lookout seeking dark skies. After dealing with cold winds, thunderstorms, and an encounter with a black bear, they almost lost hope. Then the skies cleared, and the Milky Way unfurled.
2023-06-23 00:00:00 +0000