PARK BUTTE
A moderate hike through beautiful landscapes with wonderful views of Mount Baker! The only reason this hike isn’t rated more highly is because it is very popular and can get crowded. Try to go on a weekday or very early on a weekend to avoid too many other people.
Quick Facts:
Distance: 7.5 miles (roundtrip)
Elevation Gain: 2200 feet
Location: Park Butte Trailhead, Mount Baker Wilderness, Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
Season: Summer-Fall
Dogs Allowed: Yes
Parking Pass: Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass
Check the weather: mountain-forecast, weather.gov
Check for recent trip reports: WTA, AllTrails
Notes: This is an extremely popular trail so I really recommend starting very early on doing this hike on a weekday.
Getting there:
Click here for the TH location on Google Maps
The directions linked above are accurate for getting to the trailhead. The last 9 miles are on unpaved forest roads and there are some sizable potholes on the road, although the majority of the road is in good shape. I saw quite a few sedans at the trailhead so I think any car can make it with careful driving. Privy available at the trailhead.
View towards the North Cascades from the approach to Park Butte, September 2020
Looking up at the lookout from the basin below, September 2020
Hike description:
This hike starts off on a flat, mellow trail. You’ll take a left at a signed intersection soon after you leave the trailhead to stay on the trail to Park Butte and hike through some marshy areas and many blueberry bushes before and after crossing Sulphur Creek on a wooden bridge.
At around a mile you’ll reach a boulder field with Rock Creek running through it. Take the metal bridge over the water and make your way through the boulder field, looking for where others have likely forged a flat, easy to walk path. On the other side you’ll enter the woods and hike on a moderate incline as you climb 700 feet in the next mile, with some peekaboo views of the North Cascades and Glacier Peak to your left.
At 2 miles you come to another signed intersection with the Scott Paul trail and will stay left to continue on to Park Butte. Here the views of Baker suddenly open up as you hike through wildflower and blueberry bush meadows. The trail continues to gain a modest amount of elevation over the next 0.4 miles where you’ll reach the intersection with the Railroad Grade trail and will stay to the left.
View along the Railroad Grade trail, September 2020
View of the North Cascades from the Railroad Grade trail, September 2020
Over the next 1.2 miles you’ll gain 800 feet and hike through some absolutely beautiful areas. The views of Baker are incredible from nearly everywhere, and there are wonderful tarns and views out to the North Cascades as well. You’ll pass 2 signed intersections for different trails and stay left at each one. You can also see the lookout itself towering above you as you make your way there. Take your time through this area to take in all of the beautiful surroundings as you ascend to the lookout.
Although it’s undeniable that the views from the lookout are great, I enjoyed the hike up more than the summit itself. The area around the lookout has steep drop offs and space is limited in the lookout itself, so I found it more pleasant to find a spot on the hike up to rest and have a snack. Nonetheless, it’s a fun place to visit!
On your way down, consider taking a left at the intersection with the Railroad Grade trail and hiking up it for about half a mile, until you reach the sharp ridge that overlooks Rocky Creek. This gives such a dramatic view up the moraine to the glaciers on Baker as well as wonderful views of the North Cascades, and the trail itself is fun (if a little nerve racking) since you’re hiking along a somewhat narrow trail with a steep dropoff on one side.. You can keep hiking for as long as you like, up to the base camp used for climbing Baker, but we only hiked a short way on the day we visited because it was quite hot and there’s no shade on this route. Either way you do it, I definitely think it’s worth the detour!