Park Butte — Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024

Bottom Line:

Berry season! The hike starts in meadows choked with ripe berries, and hints of fall color. There are views of the mountain the entire way, except for a set of switchbacks between the lower and upper meadows. This is among the best maintained trails in the Mt Baker area. The lookout approach is straightforward although it looks steep from a distance. The south views of Baker are unique, including neighboring Colfax and Shuksan, and there are distant views of countless peaks, from Glacier to Twin Sisters and Three Fingers. The meadows will likely have spectacular fall color in 1 month. Unlike hikes like Ptarmigan Ridge where one largely takes pictures into the sun, this hike has the sun behind you making for easier lighting.

Stats:

• Distance: 9 miles
• Duration: ~4 hours
• Vertical: 2250 ft
• Road/Parking: NF-13 off Baker Lake Rd is in good condition and doable by any car. The only rough road is on the final approach to the trailhead where there are some potholes. The parking lot is medium size, with overflow along the road. There are 1-night camping spots for hikers, toilets and a picnic area along a creek. National Forest Pass required. The lot was mostly full by 9am on this Thursday as lots of folks were backpacking or trying to catch sunrise from the lookout.
• Weather: Sunshine, whisper of wind, and 50s warming to 70s (descent was starting to get hot). It was windy with snow on the mountain in previous days, so in the afternoon that snow started to melt rapidly swelling the creeks into muddy torrents. Hopefully nobody got stuck at a bridgeless crossing later in the afternoon! No bugs. Fresh snow on the high peaks. NOTE: Haze in the valleys and to the south, but the mountain itself was crystal clear.
• Flora/Fauna: Lots of pika out today! Flowers are mostly done, but there are areas of fireweed, the aptly named pearly everlasting, and some monkeyflower and aster near a couple creeks.
• Water: There is filterable water at the trailhead (use picnic area to access the creek). This creek was still running clear in the afternoon. There are numerous glacial creeks after ~2 miles that were running clear in the morning (with some glacial silt that is sure to eventually clog your filter) but became muddy torrents in the afternoon! Once you enter the meadows, there are numerous tarns. Plenty of filter sources available, but I would carry at least some water.
• Trail: The trail is in good condition and is among the best maintained in the Mt Baker area. One starts in a lower meadow, ascends a set of switchbacks (steep at times) to an upper meadow, wraps west around a drainage basin, and then ascends south to the lookout tower. There are rocky sections of the trail near some creeks that are obvious flood zones. Some muddy sections on the switchbacks. The trail is mostly exposed (with excellent views) except the treed switchbacks between the lower and upper meadows. Overall, a moderate trail. CAUTION: There are a handful of rocky creek crossings in a wide flood plain that started with a summer trickle but then transformed into muddy torrents by the afternoon as temperatures rose and new snow started to melt. The main creek has a bridge, but others do not (see video for a before and after). It would be possible to get stuck if they swelled more - I left pretty early in the afternoon. I imagine that Heliotrope Ridge on the west side of Baker may have the same issue right now.
• Takeaway: The Railroad Grade looks like a great way to get closer to the mountain, and eventually ascend, but I did not have time yesterday for a detour. Next time! That said, there are a number if spurs on this trail which added to the total distance (the tarns to the left as you wrap around Park Butte on the backside are worth a look, making sure not to trample the meadows). The fall color in ~1 month is probably going to be pretty great on this trail. Mid-day the light was harsh for photography - I am sure sunset last night was AMAZING, especially with the haze down in the valleys.

I will try to post the video later today.

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