Started the trail with some fog so could not see any views! Beautiful wildflowers on the trail!
Once we finished all the switchbacks is when the clouds started to clear a bit and we got a great view of the lake!

Perfect time to go now, wildflowers are insane!

We hiked the Sauk Mountain trail on a sunny Tuesday.  The road in has potholes, but nothing that can’t be handled by a regular car with careful driving.   The final, steep climb up to the parking lot is by far the worst.  This short stretch, only a couple of hundred yards at most, is very rough, with rocks, troughs and loose dirt.  Several people had opted to park along the road below this stretch.  However, in addition to Subarus, other SUVs and trucks, there were a few regular sedans in the lot, including a Tesla, so apparently the last stretch can be done without 4WD or high clearance.

We arrived at the trailhead at around 11:30 and snagged the last spot in the lot.  Several people arrived after us and had to park lower down.  The lot cleared out during the day, and by 3:00, only 6 cars were left.  

Predictably, we met a lot of people hiking out as we climbed the switchbacks, but we had the trail mostly to ourselves by the time we topped the ridge.  Opting for an afternoon hike was a good plan for avoiding the crowds at the top. 

The climb up the avalanche chute is very exposed, with only a couple of places to stop in the shade, and there is no water on the trail for dogs.  Fortunately, a light breeze kept the temperature comfortable for us and our dog wore her sun shirt to keep her cooler.  The switchbacks (all 22 of them) are generally in good shape, although there are a few loose, slippery places.  We saw one woman coming down one of these on her bottom to avoid slipping.  Good hiking shoes and poles are definitely helpful, especially on the descent. 

The summer wildflower bloom is in full swing along this section of the trail and it was a joy to stroll through the diversity of greenery and blooms, including valerian, cow parsnip, phlox, lupines, penstemons, tiger lilies and columbines. 

Over the ridge, a few snow patches are still melting out and the trail crosses several of these (see photo).  The path over the snow is clear and the snow was solid enough to walk on.  The final climb to the top is clear of snow, as is the top.

We were lucky to have a clear, 360-degree view from the top.  This was our fourth climb up this trail, but the first in which the view has not been obscured by clouds.  

We found a somewhat secluded spot for our late lunch and lingered for over an hour enjoying the view and identifying all the familiar peaks to the north, east, south and west.  We could even see the top of Mount Rainier far to the south.  A curious chipmunk and a pika scurried around while we watched.  Only a few other groups joined us and by the time we left, only one other hiker was left.  Just down from the peak, a big marmot watched us and whistled.  We met only two groups hiking in as we hiked out.

All in all, I would rank Sauk Mountain as one of the top hikes in the Bellingham area.  It is relatively short, delivers outstanding views right from the trailhead and offers a gently graded path up to the alpine.  The views from the top can’t be beat.  The only downsides are the crowds (this is a very popular trail all summer and fall) and the hot, southern exposure up the avalanche chute. 

The road to the trailhead has several sections with potholes and rough rocks. We got there around 11:30 am and found one of the last parking spots, I’m sure from someone who had already hiked and left.

The trail is in great shape. The wildflowers still abundant but past their peak. Views were spectacular as usual- what is great about this hike is that there are views the whole way.

We stopped at a new ice cream shop in Sedro-Woolley right on Rte 20 next to the hospital on our way home. Recommend giving it a try- Smugglers Sisters.

First time up and it won't be my last.  Sure the road is a bit rough.  Just slow down, it's fine.  Beats starting at river level!  Hit the trail at 8:30. Just a few cars in the lot.  Early was great because the main climb was all in the shadow of the Mountain.  Making it cooler and just a few bugs offering to carry bits of me up the hill.  The flowers are great, even a few late season avalanche lilies on the back side.  A little bit of snow before the final accent.  Parking lot was full when I came back down at noon

This nice short hike gives you the option of reaching the summit for views of the surrounding mountain ranges, going down to Sauk Lake or finding a comfortable resting place between the two or nearby. Switchbacks are your means of transportation to get you where you want to go. 

If you take the Sauk Mountain road to get to the trailhead, the road isn't bad. There are sections of deep potholes mostly in the beginning of the road. The finale curve to the trailhead that many people worry about is quite doable if driving a high clearance vehicle. I find the bigger obstacle past this curve is not finding a place to park. The parking lot isn't very big. 

I like hiking this trail in the early morning as the daylight is softer and not as harsh as the afternoon sun. Whatever time you go the views and flowers are very pretty this time of year. The marmot population seems larger to me since the last time I was here. Chances of seeing one is high and they are quite vocal, albeit a little bit shy. 

This trail reliably offers "eye candy" to those who want a short hike (4+ miles depending on your destination) that includes a good level of physical activity. The only thing I found missing today were more butterflies. Birds were sparse too. But what I saw and enjoyed was all I needed today.