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Copyright © Craig Romano/The Mountaineers Books Yellow Aster Butte
Find supreme wildflower gardens and a high-country plateau speckled with shimmering tarns-but that's not all. Spectacular alpine vistas abound too-of Baker, Shuksan, and all those rugged and craggy peaks straddling the 49th parallel. Yellow Aster Butte may be a misnomer (those yellow-petaled delights are actually daisies), but you definitely don't want to miss hiking here.
Sharing a start with the Tomyhoi Lake Trail, begin on a steep course alternating between cool old-growth forest and warm brushy avalanche slopes. Views out to Goat Mountain and big ol' Baker aren't bad from the brushy openings. Shortly after entering the Mount Baker Wilderness, the grade thankfully eases up. The tread remains excellent, the result of a lot of volunteer work over the years on this heavily traveled trail. The way soon breaks out into a basin bursting with berry patches. Do this hike in September and you're sure to be caught red handed (and mouthed) partaking in gluttonous behavior. But these antioxidants sure make a better choice than chips! In 1.4 miles come to a junction (elev. 5150 ft) with the Tomyhoi Lake Trail. Head left for Yellow Aster on trail constructed in the 1990s that replaced the deeply eroded (but beloved by many) Keep Kool Trail. Slab around the basin on a fairly level course, flushing rodents, birds, and perhaps a weary hiker or two out of the bountiful berry patches. As you round the basin, Mount Shuksan reveals her beauty. Baker flaunts his as well from across Austin Pass. After moderate climbing across boulder-strewn heather meadows, the trail drops about 100 feet into a snow-harboring basin. Showy penstemon and monkey flowers spruce up the stark gulch with touches of purple and gold. Climb more steeply, now, rounding Yellow Aster's south shoulder. Catch your breath-not from altitude, but from multitude-a beautiful multitude of peaks, ridges, and tarns spread out before you. At 3.5 miles reach a junction on a ledge overlooking the glacier-scoured tarnished plateau below. Head left, dropping about 200 feet to explore this water-pocked pocket; or take the way trail right, steeply climbing 400 feet in 0.25 mile to ascend the butte. From this 6150-foot promontory, look out over an amazing landscape of emerald ridges, verdant valleys, snow-capped spires, and glacier-clad giants. Winchester, Larrabee, American Border, and Canadian Border peaks are particularly striking. So too is Tomyhoi, the big broad behemoth dominating the north viewscape.
Driving Directions:
From Bellingham follow the Mount Baker Highway (State Route 542) east for 34 miles to the Glacier Public Service Center. Continue east another 13 miles, turning left onto Forest Road 3065 (signed "Twin Lakes Road"; the turnoff is just beyond the Department of Transportation's Shuksan garage). Immediately bear left at an unmarked junction and continue on FR 3065 for 4.5 miles to the trailhead located at a sharp switchback with tight parking (elev. 3600 ft). Privy available. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Features:
Fall foliage | Ripe berries
Issues:
Snow on trail
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Knowing that bad weather is right around the corner, we decided to head up to Yellow Aster Butte in ...
Knowing that bad weather is right around the corner, we decided to head up to Yellow Aster Butte in hopes of finding some fall color. Needless to say, we got lucky. It was just one of those rare days when everything goes right. The sun was out, the temps were perfect and the trails were clear and lonely!
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming | Fall foliage | Ripe berries
Issues:
Snow on trail | Bugs
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Always looking for a great view hike and this one has always been highly recommended and looks like ...
Always looking for a great view hike and this one has always been highly recommended and looks like I was going to finally be able to do today!
The 4.5 miles of Forest Service Road, wasn’t the best but certainly not the worst, was somewhat rough in places and narrow, but plenty of pullouts. Arrived at the trailhead about 8:45A with about a dozen cars. We were off about 9:00A with sunshine and shirt sleeve temperatures. The trail was in great condition; however, many small flies, not biting, but very plentiful. As we started approaching the basin and junction to the Tomyhoi Lake Trail, much to my surprise but many, many flowers still in full bloom. The hillside was full of flowers, it was wonderful! At the junction with the Tomyhoi Lake Trail, we headed left to continue to Yellow Aster Butte and started enjoying the views; Baker, Shuksan, Goat, etc. The flies seemed to disappear from here on, suspect the nice breeze kept them at bay. There was a good size snowfield to cross, perhaps 100 yds, but was level, with a clearly defined trail and was fairly soft and easy to cross. We continued to be amazed at all the flowers on the hillsides and the views to the south were just getting better and better. Eventually we came over the south shoulder and it was stunning, the tarns in the basin below were magical. Also found ripe berries, a little sparse, but they were there. And some of the leaves are changing, they were brilliant red; felt like we were experiencing summertime flowers and fall colors all in one hike! We continued up to the butte, was quite windy, but enjoyed the 360 degree views and then decided to descend to find a spot with some shelter for a bite to eat and enjoy more views. On the way down, once in the forest, encountered the pesky flies again. There were quite a few people on the trail, but they were spread out enough, so didn’t seem too much but was surprised at all the cars at the trailhead when we returned at almost 3:00P. The parking area was full with cars parked quite a ways down the side of the road. This is a great hike but right now to catch the flowers and some of the fall colors in one hike, felt we had hit the jackpot! Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Mudholes | Washouts | Water on trail | Snow on trail | Bugs
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Today was a great day. My friend Jim and I from Whidbey Island Hikers Group headed to Yellow Aster B...
Today was a great day. My friend Jim and I from Whidbey Island Hikers Group headed to Yellow Aster Butte Trail off Highway 542 about 45 miles east of Bellingham, Washington. This was part of my hike 36 of 50 planned at age 50 this year. It took about 2 1/2 hours to get to the trail head where there was about a dozen cars areadly at 8:30 am. The first 1/2 mile of the trail is a gradual climb starting off in the sun climbing through some high brush with lots of flowers. You soon find yourself in the trees for the next mile or so. You will cross over several small snow patches and lots of mud and water on the lower half of the trail. You will soon start climbing the steepest section of the trail to the "Y" in the trail which heads either to Tomoyhoi Lake to the right or Yellow Aster Butte to the left. From here you will start seeing great views of Mount Baker and meadows of flowers that you will pass as you traverse across just below the butte and through several large snow fields which aren't any problem but I still recommend you take your treking poles. You will soon find yourself rounding a curve to some of the best views I have seen of Mount Baker and lots of tarns down below. This area is where most over night hikers will camp for the night. Plenty of places to get water. We stopped and had a bite to eat as we soaked up the views. Not too long after that we scrambled up a somewhat steep section to a large butte that is just short of the true Yellow Aster Butte. This is where we stopped to takes pictures and to video tape for my youtube channel. From my video you can see just how spectacular the views are. Ths hike is about 8 miles roundtrip with a gain of about 2500 feet. This trail was not hard to climb as the trail had a gradual climb most of the way until the scramble up the last 1/4 mile. The flies where out in force on the way down. On the way up neither the flies or the mosquitoes were bothersome. Check out the video of this hike and others I have done on my youtube channel at lmm3181 or click on this direct link. It is safe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISNU5nd33Qs
Enjoy your hiking and as always get out and see this beautiful state. You don't need to go anywhere else for a vacation. All the beauty you could ever behold is awaiting you right here in the Cascades. Take Care Mike
Yellow Aster Butte
— Sep 03, 2011
— TreeLady
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Snow on trail
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Drove up in the morning and had a few hours to spare so took the opportunity to hike up from the Mt ...
Drove up in the morning and had a few hours to spare so took the opportunity to hike up from the Mt Baker Highway to Yellow Aster Butte, and it is a winner! Switchbacks pretty steeply up for the first mile and a half, then flattens out a bit as it ascends successive benches, increasingly snow covered. Finally rounded a south facing ridge and headed back north and up up up, crossing gorgeous flower fields to the top of the Butte. We had to turn around about 500' from the top but still had super views of Baker and surrounding peaks and it was definitely worthwhile. About 35% snowcovered on north facing slopes but nothing dangerous (we passed families with kids going across).
Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Snow on trail | Bugs
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Set off around noon; out til 7pm. Quite a few bugs at the start of the trail in the woods but better...
Set off around noon; out til 7pm. Quite a few bugs at the start of the trail in the woods but better further up and none when we came down. From where the trail branches off (1.6mi?) to the top there was ~50% snow, but only a couple of spots that made me nervous (I'm new to snow); experienced hikers without poles seemed to be making good time (unlike me). The final slog up to the peak was completely dry; just as well as I still found the angle challenging coming down.
Because of snow at ~1.4mi where the trail opens out, we weren't sure whether to go on - lots of footprints in several directions - but then we tagged along with hikers who knew where the trail should be (bear right) and picked it up again. Went up to the saddle but couldn't see exactly how to get on the Tommyhoi trail (the start was blocked by a big pile of snow), so went back down to the Yellow Aster Butte trail instead. We wouldn't have had a clue where the trail went, but there were enough boot prints that the higher trail was clear, and it kept connecting with dry trail which was reassuring. Not that many hikers so we shared each resting spot with at most one other party. Fabulous 360 views from the top - absolutely worth it. |
 Fall colors at Yellow Aster Butte are as breath-taking as views of Mount Baker you will find along the sometime steep climb. Photo by Trevor Anderson.
2010, 2011
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