Hyak, Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hyak, Washington
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Iron Horse Trailstop in Hyak, WA
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 Hyak, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Hyak, Washington
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Kittitas |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
98068
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| Area code(s) | 509 |
Hyak is a small community located on Snoqualmie Pass in Kittitas County, Washington. It's not a city, but an "unincorporated community," meaning it doesn't have its own local government.
Hyak started around 1915 as a train station for the Milwaukee Road Railroad. It was right at the eastern entrance of the Snoqualmie Tunnel. The community began to grow in the 1930s when the railroad built a fantastic ski area there. Today, about 200 families live in Hyak all year round, and another 100 families live there part-time.
The name "Hyak" comes from Chinook Jargon, which was a trade language used by Native Americans and early settlers. In Chinook Jargon, "Hyak" means "hurry," "fast," or "swift."
Where is Hyak?
Hyak is located about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of the very top of Snoqualmie Pass. It sits at an elevation of about 2,600 feet (792 meters) above sea level. The community is also about 16 miles (26 km) northwest of a town called Easton. Students from Hyak attend schools in the Easton school district.
Hyak's Past: Trains and Skiing
In 1915, Hyak became the main train station on Snoqualmie Pass, taking over from a place called Laconia. Hyak had its own small school and a post office.
The Milwaukee Road railroad built a ski area in Hyak that was open from 1937 to 1950. It was first called The Snoqualmie Ski Bowl. After World War II, it reopened as the Milwaukee Ski Bowl. This was to make sure people didn't confuse it with The Snoqualmie Summit ski area, which was just two miles north.
A very large ski jump, called a Class-A ski jump, was built in 1941. Some people said it was the biggest ski jump in North America at the time! National championship ski jumping events were held in Hyak from 1941 until 1949. Sadly, the main lodge at the ski area was destroyed by a fire that year.
The train station in Hyak saw its last train in 1981. The Milwaukee Road Railroad sold off the train line, and it was no longer used for trains. Today, the old train line is part of a park system called the Iron Horse State Park.
What People Do in Hyak
Many people who live in Hyak work in bigger cities like Seattle or Bellevue. They often drive about 25 to 50 miles (40-80 km) to get to their jobs.
Hyak is also home to the Summit East Ski Area. This is a big part of The Summit at Snoqualmie ski area, which is a popular place for skiing and snowboarding in Washington state. Summit East makes up about 25% of the entire Summit at Snoqualmie ski area.
Places to Visit
- Keechelus Lake: A beautiful lake nearby, great for outdoor activities.
- Iron Horse State Park: This park follows the path of the old railroad line, perfect for hiking and biking.
