Something to note...It says this road is steep, but most all cars can do it. I would agree until you get about 0.2 miles from the trail head parking lot. I refused to try to go further in my mini cooper because at this last corner, there's a huge rutty area and it was too risky to try. 

This hike was beautiful! So many flowers and the view just wouldn't quit. We saw marmots, bumble bees, and a couple of weird mountain chickens. 

When we got back closer to the parking lot, a buzzing insect started terrorizing us. We got back in the car and it perched on the outside mirror. It was quite hideous! Not a bug expert, but I'm guessing it was a horse fly?

Sauk mountain continues to be one of the prettiest hikes that is for everyone.  It is shorter than most. The drive is slow, and does take a bit to get up to the trailhead itself.  The last portion has exposed rocks in the road and must be driven up slowly. The hike itself begins with numerous switchbacks providing you with beautiful views of the Skagit and Sauk along the way as you ascend.  Upon reaching the top of the switchbacks the trail turns left. You're immediately blown away by the vastness of the Cascade Mountain range. You are rewarded with a 360-degree view of Baker, Shuksan, Glacier and Whitehouse plus numerous others.  As you continue along the trail you get a beautiful view of Sauk Lake below.  The last part of the hike has you scrambling up a steeper, rocky path to the top. Take your time as there is loose gravel and can be slippery. Overall, the hike up and back is approximately 4-3/4 miles and takes 2 hours. The views at the top are breathtaking.  You will want to stay and have a snack and soak it all in, but don't leave your food out as the chipmunks will try to run away with it.   Enjoy.   

Everyone knows the trail is steep, narrow and eroded due to clueless hikers cutting switchbacks (don't be that hiker). Everyone knows about the views. So here is the road and flower report. First, the road, the usual potholey forest road. It doesn't get bad until w/in the last mile to the TH. There you will be glad you splurged on those all-terrain tires as you ascend steeply thru the gnarly water ruts and section of sharp rocks. But, at the TH was the proverbial Prius, a low-slung sedan and a Honda CRV along with the usual Subaru suspects. Flowers: pretty much past their prime on the south facing slope going up the switchbacks. As you gain elevation they get better, lots of bluebells (campanula), paintbrush starting to go to seed but still nice, pearly everlasting, goldenrod in full bloom and some electric purple penstemon. As you come around the corner to the north side, the flower show is as pretty as I've seen on this section of the trail! Meadows of yellow arnica, white valerian, lavender asters with a few orange tiger lilies and red columbine here and there for more color. Truly a Monet painting moment. Lots of small treasures too, phlox, partridge foot and others line the trail. Bugs weren't bad until the top, we hauled out our bug nets so we could eat our lunch in peace. Outhouse hasn't been maintained since covid, use the restrooms at Rockport State Park or the Steelhead Park in Rockport. They have a coded entry panel but it's not functioning, you don't need a code. Also, check out Stilly Coffee located inside the Arlington Pharmacy, great iced mocha and way cheaper than Starbucks. Not open on Sunday tho. Hikeathoning for WTA: give.wta.org/muledeer2025 or go to donate and scroll for me Linda Roe if you are so inclined 

Now is a great time to do this hike! The wildflowers are gorgeous :) We started just after 8am and enjoyed shade from the mountain while ascending the slope. There is very little shade during the afternoon, so sunscreen thoroughly and bring ample water.

The gravel road up is rough in spots, 4WD recommended.

A wonderful hike. You are surrounded by mountains, so the views are gorgeous. Many varieties of wildflowers covered the mountain sides. There were still a few small areas of snow, but it was easy to maneuver around. Much of the hike is on narrow trails, often close to the edge with steep drop-offs so it was difficult to walk and view the scenery. I needed to stop periodically to soak in the beauty of the hike. Bugs were’t too bad . . . until you stopped walking, then they were swarming around you. Toilet at trailhead.