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 through Schreiber's meadow. Share the trail with parties lugging much heavier packs than yours, as this is also the starting point for climbers trying to reach the summit of Baker via the standard Easton Glacier route.

After about a mile, the trails starts gaining elevation, but after only a short while grinding up switchbacks in the trees, the trail spits you out into a "Woooo"-inducing alpine meadow. Look for the trail split to Park Butte, as the main trail continues up to the climbers' camp.

With about a mile to go, the trail leaves the gentle meadows and starts up a rocky ridge - but don't worry, you'll take a break very soon once you come across a cluster of tiny tarns overlooking Baker. Be sure to minimize damage to this fragile alpine environment and stick to existing trails!

After putting your camera away, you're almost there! Only another fifteen minutes or so and you'll arrive at the historic fire lookout. Feel free to go in - it's open to the public - just be sure to leave this gem better than you found it.

What's more, you can fall asleep and wake up to this view - as the fire lookout is free and open on a first-come, first-served basis.

NOTE: If the lookout is taken, there is camping available on the Railroad Grade and Bell Pass trails, but not at the tarns along Park Butte Trail.