Concrete

Access the hike from a 26.5-mile drive down Baker Lake Rd to the Baker Lake Trailhead. Note that the last 6 miles are unpaved and rather rough. The trail starts at low elevation so there's rarely snow or condition concerns, even in early spring.The trail runs alongside and then crosses the Baker River on a large suspension bridge very early on - there's beautiful views up and down the river, fr...

Dock Butte is an easy hike offering truly spectacular 360 degree views of the Mt. Baker region. In summer this summit can be done as an easy walk up. It is especially good during the late summer for hikers and introducing someone into hiking. From the parking lot the trail goes through forest with an option to go left down to Blue Lake. Stay right as you gain elevation in open alpine for 3.7 ...

The drive up was easy, but at the end it gets a little tricky - the service road is sharp gravel and runs for about 10 miles to the trailhead. Some spots are steep and there are large potholes, but slow and steady wins the race. There's a lot of viewpoints on the way up as well, so make sure to stop and stare! The beginning is a cake walk, and all second-growth hemlock. There are a lot of nice...

Looking for somewhere to backpack or capture the Milky Way on the west slope of the Cascades? Look no further than Park Butte. It has some of the best views of Mt. Baker's West Slope, on top of having access to the Park Butte fire lookout. This is one of the best locations you can stay overnight - especially if you snag the Lookout for overnight stay. The lookout is available in a first come fi...

This place is really the stuff of fairy tales. Where else can you find a tiny cabin with 360-degree views of stunning mountain scenery? To the west, you can see all the way to Bellingham and the Puget Sound. To the south and east lie the jagged North Cascades. And the entire northern horizon is dominated by Koma Kulshan, or Mount Baker to us non-natives. To get here, start with an easy hike t...

Begin at the Park Butte trailhead, trail 603. Hike past the first Scott Paul trail sign a few hundred feet from the trailhead. Continue on and cross appropriately name Rocky Creek heading up on the Park Butte Trail. Continue up the Park Butte trail passing the Scott Paul trail again at about 4,500'. At about 4,700 feet the trail forks, take a right which goes up to the Railroad Grade itself. T...

The Easton Glacier route is one of the mountain’s most popular and likewise, most crowded. Check out Mt. Baker’s Squak Glacier route or Coleman Deming Glacier route for an alternative climb with similar difficulty.You’ll start out at Schreibers Meadow Trailhead (3,200 ft.). To get there, exit off of I-5 north of Mount Vernon, head east on Highway 20, and turn left on Baker Lake Road. Follow thi...

NOTE: THIS ROUTE REQUIRES GLACIER TRAVEL SKILLSMt Baker, or Kulshan, is a remarkable mountain in northwest Washington. Whether you're in Anacortes, Bellingham, Vancouver or on the San Juan Islands you can see Mt Baker standing as a citadel over the Northwest. Unlike the more popular routes like the Coleman Deming and Easton, the Squak sees fewer people and provides the opportunity for a great s...

Just over 2 hours northeast of Seattle, Baker Lake is an often overlooked gem of the North Cascades. With 8+ miles of turquoise green water to explore, Baker Lake makes for a great day trip or overnight trip, with plenty of backcountry boat-in campsites and sandy beaches along the shore. You can launch your boat from one of a few car campgrounds on the western shore: Kulshan, Horseshoe Cove, Pa...