The area is not "touristy", yet attracts thousands of visitors due to the scenic and outdoor recreational attractions. Whispering Waters Sky Beach Cabin and Mountain View cabins are just off Highway 2, a National Scenic Byway winding through the beautifully rugged Cascade Mountains with numerous waterfalls and crystal clear rivers along the way. In addition to the abundance of conifer trees there are many native evergreen plants that keep Western Washington green year round. The air is fragrant with the smell of cedar. We are also on the southern limb of the 440 mile scenic Cascade Loop Highway and the south fork Skykomish which is a Washington State Scenic River. Partly because of the protections provided by these desinations and partly because of the ruggedness of the land, development has been limited which makes it a great place to enjoy the natural beauty of the mountains.

Scenery: More area photos

Location: All three cabins are located in Baring, WA 60 miles (1.5 hours) northeast of Seattle, 40 miles east of Everett, and 60 miles west of Leavenworth. Each cabin is located in a semi-private location and are scattered throughout Baring (maps) which is between Index and Skykomish in the foothills of the North-Central western Cascade Mountains of western Washington. The closest airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) 1.5-2 hours away. The roads to the cabins are in very good condition-no need for 4WD except occasionally in winter. Baring sits at the foot of magnificent 6,000 ft Mt. Baring which towers over the unincorporated town of approximately 300 full-time residents, with the general store/deli the hub of activity where locals gather for coffee & breakfast. The store also sells antiques and hosts the Baring post office. Two of the cabins are within walking distance (less than a mile) to the store.

It is an easy drive (1.5 hours if you avoid rush hour traffic) to Seattle for sightseeing. Leavenworth, a Bavarian theme town with unique shops and good restaurants in a mountain setting is 60 minutes in the other direction on the east side of the Cascades. This area is about half-way between Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker (as the crow flies), and about half-way between Seattle and Leavenworth, so it is a good base to visit other areas from.

Like most of the towns in the "Sky" valley, Baring began as a logging and mining town in the early 1900's along the Great Northern rail line. There aren't any operational mines now, nor much logging; but the trains still rumble through and logging trucks are a common sight on the highway.

Two of the cabins, Mountain View and Sky Beach Cabin are accessed via a historic one-lane wooden suspension bridge. The bridge is regularly maintained by the county bridge crew and is very safe.

Local Activities: This area is known for its abundance of outdoor recreational activities during all seasons. The cabins are located on privately owned land within Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Hiking/Walking in the Woods is fantastic in this beautiful area, and there are dozens of close-by hiking trails to choose from ranging from easy family walks through the woods to strenuous climbs for the more athletic. You can hike to waterfalls, trout lakes with crystal clear water surrounded by wildflowers, historic lookout towers, old growth forests, and to spectacular mountain top viewpoints. Click here for photos and descriptions of some local hikes. The normal hiking season is about June through October, but even during the winter there are some low elevation trails accessible and there is a list of these in the area information book available for your use while staying at the cabins. Hikes to higher elevations (4000ft & above) are usually snow-free by the end of July, but the trails will be hiked long belong then by eager hikers who pack the snow down. All trailheads can be reached by 2WD vehicles. A parking pass is required at many trail heads and can be purchased at most local stores (daily $5, annual $30) and at the ranger station in Skykomish.

Mountain Biking: Abandoned logging roads make great mountain biking and 4-wheeling roads. 2 mountain bikes and a bike rack are available at $15/day/bike. Drop-off and pick-up service can sometimes be arranged.

For rock climbers there is the vertical 500 ft Index Town Wall, featuring some of the most technical rock climbing in the state. For those who don't climb, it is still fun to watch the climbers before hiking a steep trail to the top of the wall that has a fantastic view.

Rafting/kyaking A little further west is Boulder Drop, class IV rapids, which thousands of rafters and kayakers conquer yearly. Spring and early summer are the best times for rafting, as the water level is usually too low by mid to late July, depending upon snow pack and current rainfall. There are also gentle family floats on parts of the Skykomish River. Bring your raft or kayak to float the south fork Skykomish to the cabin, starting at either Skykomish (9 miles) or Money Creek (4 miles). WARNING:  There are 3 sets of dangerous falls 2, 3, & 5 miles dowstream of he cabin. These are not in the immediate vicinity of the cabins but ask for locations before floating downsream on the south fork. Bring your own equipment or go to links for a list of rafting companies that provide trips.

Horses are available at Skyland Ranch in Gold Bar 360-793-2611.

Local Railroad History: For railroad buffs, the 7.8 mile Cascade Tunnel can be visited on the way to Stevens Pass, and the wheelchair accessible Iron Goat Trail retraces the path of the original railroad grade, avalanche sheds and the original 3-mile Cascade Tunnel at the site of the Wellington train disaster.

There is an interesting history of turn-of-the century mining endeavors in this area, and some of the mines can still be visited.

Sking: Stevens Pass Ski Area is 23 miles east of Baring, approximately 30 minutes if road and traffic conditions are good. AWD, 4WD or chains are required at times and good traction tires are always recommended. Miller River Road, half-way between Baring & Skykomish, is a good cross country skiing and snowshoeing destination when the snow level is 2,000ft or below. Snowshoes and ski equipment can be rented at the Nordic Center (Thurs-Sun) east of the pass. The closest snowmobile area is Foss River Road east of Skykomish - no rentals available.

Fishing: The fishing season is June 1-Nov. 30 for most game fish; but due to the falls (Sunset, Canyon and Eagle) there is limited fishing until the fish elevator goes into operation, usually late July through October, bringing up steelhead and spawning salmon. Bait and barbs are not allowed, and native steelhead and salmon must be released. The fishing season west of Sunset Falls ends Feb. 28. There is rainbow, cutthroat and bull trout in the river system, and the best fishing is usually mid-July through October after the spring snow melt and the water level is lower. Almost all of the river can be waded except after heavy rain or during snow melt that sometimes lasts into early summer. You can fish west of Sunset Falls (6 miles west) anytime during the season (June 1-Feb 28). Lake fishing opens the last Saturday of April. A WA fishing license is required and there are frequent rule changes. Contact WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife http://wdfw.wa.gov/ for more information. Fishing licenses can be purchased on-line, or in Monroe at Fred Meyer or at Sky Valley Traders 360-794-8818 across Hwy 2 from Fred Meyer. Fly fishing guides can be hired through http://allaboutthefly.com 360-863-1833. See the links for more fishing information.

Biking: There are 2 mountain bikes available to rent at $20/bike/day. Car bike rack provided free. Drop off service is provided free based upon Janet's availability.

Wine Tours: Woodinville 35 miles away (about half way to Seattle) and has two large wineries, Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia, as well as numerous "store fronts" in an industrial area of Woodinville that have very decent wines. Redhood Brewery & Pub is also in the same area as the wineries. St Michelle also has a good summer concert series.

Hot Air Balloon Trips: About 45 minutes away in Snohomish (also a good antiquing town http://www.airialballoon.com/

Relaxing: Even with all these activities to participate in, some say the best thing about the area is the serenity. It's very relaxing to just sit and watch the river flow by and chairs are strategically placed for this purpose. The birdfeeders are kept stocked with quality seed to attract a large variety of birds for your entertainment. There are horseshoe pits/horseshoes at Whispering Waters.

Weather: With an elevation of 775 ft., Baring has limited snowfall; but snow is not unusual, especially in January, which has the lowest temperatures of the season. If the mountain forecast calls for a snow level of 1000 ft or below, it will probably be snowing at the cabins . The average daytime temperature in winter is usually low-30's to mid-40's with the temperature dropping at night to mid-low 30's Snow removal on Hwy 2 is usually excellent. Stevens Pass, 23 miles east of the cabin, is occasionally closed for avalanche control and sometimes chains are required, so please come prepared for winter driving conditions, especially if you're planning to ski or drive to Leavenworth. The pass road report may be obtained by calling 800-695-7623.

Summer weather usually remains mild, especially at night when the temp drops into the 50's. Day temps usually are in the 70's to low 80's, occasionally high 80's-low 90's. Anything over 80 degrees is considered insufferable by the locals, and that's when we grab our chairs and tubes and head for the 50 degree waters of the river to cool off. There is often a burn ban from late July until fall due to dry conditions and high fire danger.

The rains that western Washington is famous for usually continue intermittently through June, with July and August being the driest months of the year. Fall colors begin in late August when the vine maples start turning red at the lower elevations. The best fall colors are usually the entire month of October with a succession of trees turning. The gold leaves are spectacular against the backdrop of the rugged Cascade Mountains. September and October are transitional months, weather wise, ranging from sunny and warm (60- low 70's) to rainy and cool (50's). The heavier rains and snow accumulation on the mountain tops usually resume early November.