Sauk is readily visible from many vantages, one of my favorites being the last stretch of Hwy 530, just before you reach Rockport and Hwy 20. It is comparable to Mt Stickney, Mt Si and other peaks that define the end of foothills and the beginning of mountains. The approach road will take you to within 1000’ of the summit. Heading W on Hwy 20 from Rockport or E on Hwy 20 from Concrete, keep an eye out for the signed “Sauk Mtn Road”, which leaves on the N side of the freeway. Follow the well graded, obvious main road up-up-up. Several pitches are pretty steep and your vehicle will let you know as it struggles to gain 4000’ and the parking area. Now parked at 4500’, Sauk is directly in front and above you. Views down into the Skagit River Valley are already good. Notice the defined switchbacks cut into the hillside. From the top of the switchbacks, you’ll follow the trail around to the E side of the S ridge. For me, from here out was mostly snow covered with a well defined boot track stomped in. I hurriedly scrambled up the first high point (class 2) I saw, as the map alluded to a simple summit formation. Once on top, I knew it was not the right one. Back down onto the snow, I saw the summit rocks were actually a group of about 7 different high points. I aimed for the most “rubbly” looking one in the middle, this being the old fire lookout location. Only a few shards of glass and a couple wooden posts remain. But, birds-eye view down to the parking lot, back to Sauk Lake and down to the Skagit River and all it’s tributaries. Although I did reach the old lookout site, I did not reach the true summit. The 6th or 7th high point is about 10’ higher, but I had left my ice ax at the TH, and getting to 6 or 7 would require a short but steep traverse. The old lookout site would have to do.

Great short hike with incredible view. The road was slick, muddy, narrow, wash-boarded and a little scary in places. But the carrola was up to it. Great flower show and almost as many butterflies. Trail had many switchback (24 exactly, that is what I get for hiking with an accountant). Suggestions to hike early are well founded. By afternoon there was only one shady spot on the way down. And it had warmed up enough to wake the black flies. We'll be back.

It is amazing what 95 degree weather will do to the number of people on a trail. In this case the entire trail is on an open hillside and even on a Saturday we saw only 4 other people. We hike up the trail at a good clip. It was nice not to be packed in congo-line style like usual. We climbed to the old lookout site and then over two peaks to the summit. From here we could see the smoke from two forest fires. I understand why they put a lookout here. We headed down in early evening to camp at the lake. The lake trail is in good shape and obviously gets use than the main trail. We picked up loads of garbage from the campsites near the lake. Including a 12ft by 12ft tarp. Then we walked around, and partly across, the lake picking up more garbage and dismantling some fire rings. The night was warm and the bats were out all over the lake. The next morning we headed to the summit and reached the lookout by 7:20am. We were surprised to see other folks making there way up from the parking lot. We enjoyed our oatmeal at the summit and headed down. The flowers are in full bloom and so are the bugs. The mosquitos were especially pesky near the top.

Road to TH without snow. Two snow patches still cover trail near top. We crossed easily but the snow was quite soft. Wildflowers covered about 5-10% of meadows. Few bugs at the top. An easy hike with nice panoramic views on top.

Sauk Mt. #613 - Road to TH is blocked with snow about 1/4 mile from parking area. No big deal, should be passable in another week. Trail is free of snow to ridge except for 2 very small patches that are easily crossed without ice axes. More snow on east side of summit ridge but summit rocks are bare. Lake mostly covered with ice/snow. I cannot believe the wonderful views for such a short hike. The flower show should be great in another one to three weeks.