I arrived at the trailhead at about 8:45a and there were still several spots in the parking lot. Previous reports mentioned pot holes on the road, but they are mostly in the last 2-3 miles before you arrive at the trailhead, with the road before that being pretty good.

There was no TP in the toilets at the trailhead when I arrived, so consider packing extra if you'll want to use it at these facilities.

The trail was in good condition. There are no snow fields to cross, and only some water/muddy sections to get around (or just walk through). The creek crossings were also manageable.

The bridge helped with crossing the most vigorous creek, with all the other water crossings posing no problems. There is some trail finding necessary to get across these boulder fields around the creeks, but you can spot the trail at the other end and follow footsteps in the mud/sand to get you there.

Once you do get to the fork with the Railroad Grade trail, there is not much cover from the sun, so you will be exposed to that for the rest of the trail up to the lookout.

There's not much else to report for the rest of the trail. It's a fairly moderate climb, which I expect most folks could manage given enough time.

Took out a group of high school students on a two night trip to Mazama Camp on the other side of the pass from Park Butte. The hike up includes a short river crossing, which was higher on the way back after some heat and rain, but still easily forded without getting feet wet. The switchback section up is manageable and then the clearing into the meadow is stunning with beautiful wildflowers and amazing views of Mt. Baker. It was much more crowded on the weekend with groups climbing up Mt. Baker. The huckleberries were ripe in early August and flowers blooming. The hike down to Mazama Camp is rocky but quick (look out for marmot and pika!). 

Mazama Camp is a nice site with plenty of tent pads to accommodate our group and other 12 person youth group comfortably. It was buggy at night, but very well worth it for the sunsets. The views of the mountains and Baker at sunset were second to none.

We day hiked part way up the Railroad Grade trail. The knife edge ridge is amazing to see and it gives you a great view of the glacial valley.

The hike up to the Park Butte lookout is straightforward and good. We reached the lookout at sunrise, but it was raining. The views are still stunning. The hike down was quick and straightforward. 

Hike from TH to Mazama Camp: 3.5 miles, 5 hours with inexperienced hikers and gear

Hike from Mazama Camp to Park Butte: 1.5 miles - 1.5 hours

Hike from Park Butte to TH: 4 miles, 3.5 hours

Amazing run up to the Park Butte Lookout and then added on with the Scott Paul loop (clockwise). Wildflowers are popping right now and it is pretty spectacular to run right beneath all those glaciers. 

Mostly writing this trip report to say that the suspension bridge on Scott Paul loop is up! My feet stayed dry for all 11.5 miles! Just 1 or 2 tiny patches of snow left.

This hike just keeps giving. There is no bad view. As you climb the switchbacks there are wildflowers, little lakes, hills and valleys, meadows, and at the pinnacle, a firewatch tower with a 360* view. 

The road to the trailhead is long and full of potholes but definitely doable if you drive carefully. We got there around 8:30 a.m. and there were still parking spots in the lot. We saw a lot more people on the way down than on the way up, thanks to a relatively early start.

Took a weekend to explore the southern Mt. Baker area. Absolutely gorgeous with flowers blooming and quickly melting snow. The road to the trailhead does contain sizable potholes, so be cautious if your vehicle does not have high clearance. It is still manageable, as I saw multiple sedans and minivans make it, just take care and navigate over or around large potholes. 

Park Butte: I started the day on this trail. The bridge is up and the trail is easy to follow. Almost no snow except near the top end of the trail. It was cloudy when I started but in the afternoon it cleared up and it became magical as the golden glow of the sun hit the peaks. A classic hike that is currently well taken care of. Take not that the lookout will be closed for repair from 8/16 to 8/17. If rainy they will reschedule to 9/6 and 9/7. So plan your trip around those times.

Railroad Grade: I started on this trail the next morning after camping overnight in the Mazama Park area, which was thick with mosquitos. The stone stairs near to beginning are not in the best shape but it still is an easy climb to the ridge. Once on the ridge, the trail became sketchy in parts as it is pressed up against the ridge cliff for the entire way. The fall is long and deadly so be sure footed when making your way up. The trail was very clear and easy to follow until I made it to Easton Glacier at the top. I saw many people camping up by the glacier and I decided to climb over the snow to an overlook for breakfast. Wonderful views. Spectacular ice. On the way down I encounter a family of marmots. Absolutely wonderful furry creatures. Keep an eye out for them if you hike this trail. 

Scott Paul: Once I made it down from Railroad Grade, I started back to the trailhead via the Scott Paul Trail. At first the going was easy, but the creek running next to Railroad Grade is very full. The trail goes right over the creek and the bridge was not up yet, which made for a difficult creek crossing. Hopefully they install the bridge soon. The other creeks were a piece of cake to traverse. There are many wildflowers on this trail and intermittent snow crossing that are not difficult and soon disappearing. I did pass a couple fallen trees, but the trail was mostly clear. A beautiful alpine trail, just be careful of the creek crossing and some fallen trees.

These three trails are some of the finest in Washington. If camping, watch out for mosquitoes at low elevations and pack out any waste with the blue bags at the trailhead. For hikers on the Scott Paul, be careful crossing the creek and check to see if they installed the bridge. The snow on all the trails was infrequent and easy to cross. Definitely try these hikes if you have not, they are absolutely legendary.