Overnight stay at Park Butte Lookout

Concrete, Washington

Description

Breathtaking views of Mt. Baker (Koma Kulshan), the Twin Sisters, and the surrounding North CascadesFunctioning historic fire lookout originally built in 1932 with old field books and journals touching on the history of the lookoutOvernight stays welcome operating year-round on a first-come, first-served basisSeasonal campsites located near the lower meadows in marked areasBeautiful reflections of Mt. Baker on Pocket Lake in the early morning and eveningWater available with proper filtration system

Back in September my husband and I decided to spend the first night of our honeymoon in the Park Butte fire lookout. Knowing the lookout operates on a first-come, first-served basis we set out on the trail around 8am on a Wednesday morning. The trail begins at an elevation of 3250 feet and you'll climb 2200 feet up to your objective at 5450 feet. I was carrying a 40-pound bag for the hike up using trekking poles and it was just fine. Bring a container to collect blueberries on the way up as the meadows will be popping with them in autumn! A great addition to your oatmeal or granola in the morning. Views from the lookout are absolutely stunning in the evening light as the sun begins to set. If you manage to score a clear night you're guaranteed to see the sky light up with shooting stars.

If you're in the mood for a beer on the drive back stop by Birdsview Brewing Company. They have a beautifully maintained outdoor seating area and great beer on tap.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Camping

Photography

Backpacking

Hiking

Dog Friendly

Family Friendly

Lake

Scenic

Waterfall

Wildflowers

Wildlife

Overnight stay at Park Butte Lookout Reviews

Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Backpack the Easton Glacier Railroad Grade

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...

Park Butte Lookout

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...

Climb Mt. Baker via Squak Glacier

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...

Climb Mt. Baker via the Easton Glacier Route

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...

Dock Butte

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 ...

Winter Hike to Rainbow RIdge

Turn left off of the Grandy-Baker Lake Road onto FS RD 1130 just past the Boulder Creek Campground. Stay right at the first fork in the road. At 3.9 miles go right towards Rainbow Falls. The falls are located at a large bend in the road at approximately 4.5 miles. I have never found a good safe way of seeing these falls in their entirety. At 9.5 miles arrive at the trailhead. Please note tha...