You definitely want a car with 4WD or AWD preferably with a higher clearance for the road as well as solid hiking boots and probably trekking poles for the trail as well as a leash for your four legged companions. We arrived pretty early around 0830 the last quarter mile or so of road was definitely rough which my husband decided was the perfect excuse to try out the 4L setting on the bronco. Trail was pretty solid, there are a lot of “shortcuts” that make the actual trail extra narrow in places. My husband was carrying the baby in a front pack (switched to backpack on the way down) and used trekking poles for the first time ever but was glad he had them pretty early in in the hike. I had our 95lb mountain dog leashed around my waist with the baby essentials in her saddlebags. The trail being extra narrow did cause her to start to slide in one spot. Her hind legs went just over the edge of the trail. Thankfully she just dug in instead of panicking and I was able to grab the handle on her harness and give her a boost. There were a couple unleashed dogs including a dog reactive one that were coming down as we were headed up. That was not a fun experience for us as our dog is very non reactive but it was a narrow trail and having an unleashed dog growling and snarling at you while his owner loses their grip on his harness is a bit anxiety producing. Our dog handled the trail pretty easily but the super rocky part near the top was more of a challenge for her. Trail was otherwise gorgeous and we thoroughly enjoyed being able to look at the cascades as we hiked.

⚠️ SAUK MOUNTAIN — DANGER

This is the most dangerous hiking trail in the PNW.

Three hikers have now died falling from the switchbacks:
• July 11, 2017: 69-year-old woman
• July 18, 2018: 71-year-old woman
• Sept 27, 2025: 63-year-old man

PLEASE BE EXTRA CAREFUL.
• Stay on the built trail. Do NOT cut switchbacks or tolerate anyone else doing so.
• Shortcutting has severely eroded the maintained trail at the top of the shortcuts and can contribute to a fatal fall.
• Keep children close; leash dogs; yield carefully before/after narrow trail sections.

When we arrived at the trailhead, two hikers arriving back reported that they had heard the yelling from a serious accident above them, called 911 and confirmed that 911 was on the phone with the people at the scene, and pointed out to us where we could see the people at the scene on the exposed switchbacks.

We gathered a few things and hiked quickly up to the scene. Bystanders were performing CPR on a 63 year old man who had fallen off one the switchbacks and tumbled hundreds of feet to just above another part of the trail.

After paramedics arrived and attempted resuscitation with their equipment, and after getting the 3 youth in his group headed down to their van with one of the adults from the group, EMS declared it to have been a fatality.

We walked the other adult member of the group, and the bystander who had performed the CPR chest compressions the entire time we were there, back to the trailhead. We then hiked back up to attempt to find the patient’s pack, but did not find one visible from anywhere on the trail above or below the scene.

Was the third car to arrive at the trailhead just before 9am on this lovely September Thursday. Road remains rough, but should be passable for any car with care, my Crosstrek had no issues. The cute A-frame pit toilet has a sign up that it is not being stocked or serviced, even so, it was surprisingly clean. Otherwise, the nearby Rockport State Park has facilities, along with miles of lovely forested trails, and makes a good pre- or post- hike pit stop. Trail is in good condition, the very last of the summer flowers are fading fast and fall colors are coming out along the trail. No marmots today, but did spy a pika (and heard many many more!), saw several hawks circling overhead. The clouds were rolling in and out while I was there, limiting the view at the top, though looked like it cleared up for those starting an hour or so later. Happy Hiking! 

The Sauk Mountain Road is getting worse again. A normal sedan can make it through carefully on the main road but that last naughty bit of about 300 yards to the parking lot would not be recommended unless you have a little higher clearance (my CR-V was fine). Today there was work crew clearing brush from the road side.

I checked the box for wildflowers blooming mostly because I was surprised to see paintbrush and mountain harebell still hanging on and looking fresh this late in September. There is also some color coming on from berry bushes and mountain ash. For me it was a perfect day for hiking with temperatures in the high forties and low fifties with a mix blue sky and clouds. Glacier Peak and most of Mount Shuksan were obscured but the Sauk and Skagit Rivers, Sauk Mountain itself, Bald Mountain, Sauk lake and Mount Baker were very clear. Mount Baker is in its prewinter mode with streaks of brown rock and perfectly formed volcanic cone making it look a little menacing.

The trail is in good condition except for where stupid, disrespectful *#%^!" people have made shortcuts between switchbacks. A few years ago my hiking partner lost their footing on sloped trail on loose gravel and ended on the trail below, scratched up but okay. There are some lingering patches of snow on the hillside going down to the lake. I met about fifteen other hikers on the trail but they were quite spread out and some didn't make to the top.

The old standby alpine style outhouse is still there but not stocked.

It was foggy the entire time I was here. I was hoping the sky would clear but nope, not today. This caused me to focus more on the vegetation and animals that could see. The hillsides are packed solid with plants and flowers that are displaying muted fall colors. If it had been sunny the colors of the plants would have been entirely different. Lots of birds seen mostly foraging seeds. I saw several marmots and pikas. No views at the top nor could I see the lake. I descended toward the lake but I gave up when it became clear that the fog was not going to lift. 

The fog and lack of wind provided a sense of calmness in the air. Very few people on the trail. The erosion on parts of the trail is getting worse and needs trail stabilization soon. 

Despite my disappointment in the lack of views, the trip was still enjoyable as being outside is far more fun. And it was nice to see such lovely fall colors in the plants aligning the trail.