This is a good winter hike with views of Baker, the North Sound, and Lake Whatcom. You can get there from Alger Road on the South or Nulle Road on the north. I prefer Nulle Road because you hike past lovely Squire Lake, through the forest, and along the edge of the South Ridge trail before reaching the abandoned logging roads that lead to the summit. It is only 1.8 miles further on I-5 from the Alger exit to the Nulle Road exit. If you take the loop trail around the end of the lake on your return trip, you will enjoy the scenery and have a hike of about 5.5 miles with 1,350 feet of elevation gain. The trails are in great condition with no blowdowns.

Enjoyed a beautiful January hike. It has been raining off and on for the last two weeks and there was even a light rain falling during our hike, but because this route follows an old logging road, this may have been the only trail in Skagit County that was free from mud. Road 1000 is clearly marked for the entire distance of the hike making it easy to stay on course. Once on top, even on an overcast day, the view was magnificant. I had read about warnings about those rocks being slippery, and, and, sure enough, they are slippery. Definitely use cautioun when stepping up on the rock! It's a bit frightening to think how easy it would be to fall from there!

It is an amazing view looking out over Interstate 5, and surprising how the sound of the traffic below is so easily heard up on top. Even though it was overcast with light rain, I was impressed that I could see the refinery in Anacortes.

All in all, a very nice hike for a January!

Ran up from the north end in the afternoon in beautiful sunny weather. Didn't see a soul until I got back down by the lake. No good views of Baker (or much else) but a clear sky above me made it a pleasant jog, and the first blossoms are peeking out from the brush. No snow at the top, just a nice dry rock bench for daydreaming. Trail was pleasantly void of trash, which seems to be an issue around Alger. Realization that danger is ever constant came when I was attacked by a snarling, sub-five pound weiner dog puppy. Can never let your guard down in the wilderness :P

It was time to work off some Christmas calories so off through Alger to the TH (1 mi off I5). Snow and some hoard frost on trail. Weather was beautiful and crystal clear.