Trails for everyone, forever

Home Go Hiking Trip Reports Dock Butte, Blue Lake

Trip Report

Dock Butte, Blue Lake — Thursday, Jul. 27, 2017

North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
Dock Butte's Summit

I've included 5min of video highlights below..

ROAD: frequent potholes and washboards

TRAIL: a large blowdown on the Dock Butte switchbacks, before the snowfields.  I used microspikes when the snowfields got steep.  I also took the easy Class 2 boot path straight up the ridge instead of the summit block switchbacks that would've needed an ice axe probably.

WILDFLOWERS: On Dock Butte I saw cinquefoil, partridge foot, sitka valerian and on the Blue Lake side trail I saw lupine, marsh marigold, arnica and sitka valerian

I thoroughly enjoyed this one!  Saw no one else until I'd almost gotten back.  The snowfields did require some route finding.  The views from the top were fantastic - especially down to the baker Lake Valley.  Similar great panoramas of Mount Baker & Twin Sisters as from Park Butte 2 days earlier, but I could see Shuksan better from here.  Blue Lake was bigger and prettier than expected.  There's a neat waterfall emptying off the cliffs into it.  There is an isthmus giving the best full view - just keep following the little trails to the left after reaching the lake and you will see it.

Looking towards Mount Baker from Dock Butte
Looking South from Dock Butte
Blue Lake
Did you find this trip report helpful?

Comments