A good hike with great views of Mt. Baker and the Chuckanut bay. This hike kept climbing up and down for most part giving a good workout all throughout the hike.
Route: We started the hike toward Hemlock trail, North lost lake trail which met the ridge trail. We went along lower ridge trail, middle ridge trail until the Cyrus Gate overlook/trail head and came back along the same route. There are great views of Mt. Baker along the Lower ridge trail with lots of view points and places to catch a good break/lunch. The views of the bay from the Cyrus Gate overlook were amazing with views of the cascades, San Juan islands and Canada.
Parking: We reached the north chucknut mountain trailhead around 9.30 AM and there was lot of parking available - about half the slots were free, should have been enough for 25 cars or so. When we got back around 3.30 PM the parking had almost the same number of cars, but there were some cars parked on the road as well.
Trail conditions: The trail was in pretty good shape overall, no major obstacles. There are few sections bit overgrown and steep, having poles would help.
Shade: The whole hike has plenty of tree all around, we hiked in the shade for the entire hike.
Elevation gain: The trail starts gaining elevation from the very begining and is very gradual until the junction to the ridge trails. From here the trail start going up and down quite a bit - and some of the stretches are very steep as well.
Trail map: http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/DocumentCenter/View/18258
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