Mount Baker Summer Guided Day Hike – North Cascades, WA

Jen hopped on the Amtrak Cascades from Seattle to spend the weekend in Anacortes.  “I want to hike in the North Cascades” she said, so Saturday we ventured on our Mount Baker Summer Guided Day Hike to the Park Butte trail.  Weather: sunny with a bit of clouds, a slight breeze and low 70s.  At trailhead: 9:30am.  Starting elevation: 3300 ft.  Destination: fire lookout at 5450 ft.  Hike: 8 mi round trip.

From the beginning of our Mount Baker Summer Guided Day Hike on the Park Butte trail, we were welcomed by lush vegetation.  Entire meadows were full of blueberries, as summer is in full force!  We agreed to pick some upon our return.  

This trail traverses a variety of terrains: expansive sub-alpine meadows, a rocky creek bed (or two), a cool forest (literally and figuratively), more expansive sub-alpine meadows, and a ridge to a restored fire lookout.

We actually took a little detour to the “edge”, the edge of the moraine that is,  This moraine was created by Mount Baker’s Easton glacier as it’s receded and left behind an impressive indentation on the volcano’s southern flank.  It is the most amazing close up view of Mount Baker, until you realize you are actually standing ON Mount Baker itself!  It’s an amazing feeling!

Anytime we stopped to look around, we got an endless view of the North Cascades skyline.

As we made our way across another meadow, we were constantly serenaded by the whistles of a hoary marmot.  We located it standing guard on its lookout rock!  We could also hear pikas, but didn’t see them.

What we could see was the fire lookout way across the meadow.
So up and up we went, about another hour, until we reached it. How rewarding it was! We had an awesome 360 view of the mountains, the Nooksack Valley guarded by the Twin Sister Range, and the regal Mount Baker. In other words, some of the most spectacular scenery in NW Washington! Along the way, we were greeted by a beautiful quiet little lake (tarn) below us.

Our hike back down the trail was very enjoyable and soon we found ourselves picking blueberries.  Our treat persisted as blueberry “mother-load” patches (as Jen would refer to them) kept appearing every couple of footsteps.  They are the most delicious blueberries you can imagine!

For more details and availability, visit Day Hiking in the North Cascades Adventure!

Skagit Guided Adventures offers small group Nature, Hiking & Farm Tours around Anacortes, Skagit Valley, Mount Baker, the North Cascades & San Juan Islands.  Join one of these fun Adventures for a day. Or stay longer for a multi-day Adventure to “Re-Wild” Your Spirit! in NW Washington. Check out all Guided Adventures.