Dock Butte

Concrete, Washington

4.5/5

based on 2 reviews

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Details

Distance

3.92 miles

Elevation Gain

1388 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Beau Ramsey

Dock Butte is a fairly easy out-and-back trail with great 360 degree views of Mt. Baker area and Easton Glacier. Blue Lake can also be visited along the short hike.

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 miles roundtrip and 1,400' of elevation gain to the summit. Dock Butte used to have a Fire Lookout years ago and the flat summit now has space for 1 or 2 tents. This would be 1st come, 1st serve on a summit bivy space.

Permit

A Northwest Forest Pass is required

Getting To The Blue Lake Trailhead

Take exit 230 off I-5 head East the you'll have to turn left and then right again (well marked) to stay on Hwy 20
Follow State Route 20 EAST to milepost 82
Turn LEFT (north) on Baker Lake Highway (Forest Service Road #11)
Continue on the Baker Lake Hwy for 12 miles
Turn LEFT on F.S. Road #12 stay left at forks
After 7 miles turn LEFT on Road #1230
After 4 miles the trailhead and parking area are located in at the end of the road

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Forest

Lake

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Dock Butte Reviews

Steve Smith

Dock Butte

09/19/16

This is one of my favorite hikes. The drive to the trailhead is breathtaking and only gets better as you start the hike. You will spend about 10 miles on a decent gravel road so I don't recommend riding in a car. Once you get to the trailhead there is plenty of parking and a clearly defined trail all the way to the top of the butte. Along the hike you will get magnificent views of Mt Baker, blue lake and even Mt Rainier. Highly recommend this gorgeous hike

5.0

Explorer

Sarah Giek

Explorer

Dock Butte

08/12/16

Although this is a short hike, the 1400 feet of elevation gain will require some effort; especially on the rocky, narrow, and root-covered trail. That being said, it is worth the effort! The views of Mt. Baker and the surrounding mountains are breathtaking!

4.0

Leave No Trace

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

Nearby

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...

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...

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...

Hike the East Bank of Baker Lake

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Kayak Baker Lake

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, P...

Dock Butte

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Dock Butte Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Park Butte Lookout

Backpack the Easton Glacier Railroad Grade

Climb Mt. Baker via Squak Glacier

Climb Mt. Baker via the Easton Glacier Route

Hike the East Bank of Baker Lake

Kayak Baker Lake

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