Man-made Baker Lake, with its stump flats, isn't anything spectacular. But that's not the real draw of this trail. The free-flowing Baker River, cascading tributaries, groves of old-growth giants, views of Mounts Baker and Shuksan, and a cool little suspension bridge-those are what will bring you here. And one more thing: this trail can be hiked in any season by just about anyone.

Judging from the size of the parking lot, your hunch that this trail is a popular one is correct. Try it on a rainy weekday or during the winter months for more peaceful plodding. Sharing its start with the Baker River Trail No. 606, the way heads up a wide and smooth path, brushing alongside the Baker River for an easy 0.5 mile. Here, the two trails diverge. The Baker River Trail continues straight ahead. Your hike hangs a right, crossing the pristine waterway on a neat suspension bridge built in the late 1990s.

No doubt children will want to linger here, crossing and recrossing the suspended span several times. Once the novelty wears off, continue down the trail. Immediately cross another bridge, this one stationary, over Blum Creek's rocky bed. Shortly after crossing the river, traverse a huge washout, another reminder of the incredible carnage that was inflicted on our trails in the November 2006 deluge.

In another 0.5 mile the trail comes right up to the river. In the floods of 2006 the river took away with it 1000 feet of perfectly good tread. At about 1.25 miles come to a ledge overlooking the sweeping gravel banks of the river Baker. Peaking in the distance, the mountain Baker can finally be seen. But still no Baker the lake. The trail now turns away from the watercourse, making a short and steep climb of about 200 feet to a high bridge crossing Hidden Creek. Pause to admire the fully revealed creek careening down a rocky cleft.

With slight ups and downs, the trail continues. Passing through old burns (set by a volcanic eruption in the 1840s) and impressive old growth and crossing several creeks, the way finally comes within sight of Baker Lake. But the lake is mostly obscured by thick timber. That's okay-the forest is much prettier. Created in 1959 by the Upper Baker River Dam, the lake is the byproduct of flood control and flicking on the lights. It provides recreation for boaters and paddlers too, but its cost was great for salmon, riparian forest, and the greater North Cascades ecosystem.

At 4.5 miles come to a junction. The spur right leads a short way to Noisy Creek Campground on a small peninsula on the lake. This is a good spot for turning around, but not before first enjoying lunch, a snooze, views of Mount Baker, and perhaps a little shoreline exploration.