Mount Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest
Mount Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest
4.5
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A scenic 1,700,000-acre forest reserve that covers the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains from the Canadian border to the northern boundary of Mount Rainier National Park.
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4.5
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ScubaDave16
Highland, IN1,038 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
we took several trails near the Artist point area.
The table mountain trail is rather steep and gravelly. be careful and remember it is harder going back down.
The Bagley lakes trail is relatively easy and has nice views.
The artist point trail is quite easy and has spectacular views of mount Baker and Mount Shuksan.
Parking fills up quickly here especially at Artist point. We arrived at 0930 and the lot was already almost full.
There are restrooms, but they were absolutely awful. you would think with the wind up there they would vent out, but that is not the case.
overall a beautiful area.
The table mountain trail is rather steep and gravelly. be careful and remember it is harder going back down.
The Bagley lakes trail is relatively easy and has nice views.
The artist point trail is quite easy and has spectacular views of mount Baker and Mount Shuksan.
Parking fills up quickly here especially at Artist point. We arrived at 0930 and the lot was already almost full.
There are restrooms, but they were absolutely awful. you would think with the wind up there they would vent out, but that is not the case.
overall a beautiful area.
Written 19 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richie D
Santa Barbara, CA1,284 contributions
Nov 2013 • Couples
If you're looking to escape Seattle for a day excursion, here's your place (although according to the USDA's website, it's the most visited national forest in the country!). It appears to be much less traveled by the city folks and only less than 1.5 hours northeast of Seattle. There are two routes tot he National Forest. The more popular entrance is from Marysville and Granite Falls to Mountain Loop Highway. The loop is closed during the winter. We took the northern (more desolate) entrance: Take 1-5N toward Arlington (exit to WA530) and continue to the small valley miner town of Darrington. The town does not have much to offer except a map of the region at the local grocer and free wi-fi in the library/city hall parking lot to plan out your day before losing cellular signal. Once you leave town, no facilities or other services seem to exist. It's just you and Mother Nature.
When you're all set, continue on WA530 until Mountain Loop Highway/NF-20 spurs off south. Take that route and you'll hit the Mount Baker/Snoqualmie National Park welcome sign after about only a 10 minutes drive. The second trail, and said to be an easier trail is the Souk Trail, a total of 3 miles. Per locals, an easier option would be Coal Creek (or as they pronounce it, Coal Crik) Trail that ends with a waterfall and is found just before Sauk.
We chose Sauk Trail...
The scenery is gorgeous with what seems like natural healing powers. The air is full of Autumn leaves with moss covering every tree and plant in sight. Drops of fresh water drip from the pine trees that tower above. The only sounds heard is dew dribbling, crackling twigs, a bird's call and the Souk River. This river neighbors and crosses with the trail paying multiple visits, perfect to chow down on a protein snack. It is surrounded by snow capped mountains full of trees which disappear then reappear in a ghostly manner as the clouds and fog wrap around them at their leisure. If a moose or bear were sighted playing or hunting in the creek, it wouldn't be much of a surprise.
Continue up the "highway" after getting your hiking boots worn in, you'll find multiple other difficult trails with jaw-dropping views of various snowy peaks like Whitehorse Mountain, White Chuck Mountain, Mount Pugh, Stillaguamish Peak, Glacier Peak.
Mountain Loop Hwy becomes a single lane gravel route before you know it. Continue 3 minutes further to stop at the White Chuck Overlook with information on the logging and mining that once occurred in this part of the park. This is where my partner and I called it quits. There were many other trails we would love to take advantage of in the future, varying in length and leading to hidden lakes such as Peek-a-boo Lake (exit 2081, a 5 mile trail in total), Beaver Lake Trailhead, and Pugh Mountain Trail (exit 2095). Share your experiences here to let me know the adventures beyond the Overlook. Happy Exploring!
When you're all set, continue on WA530 until Mountain Loop Highway/NF-20 spurs off south. Take that route and you'll hit the Mount Baker/Snoqualmie National Park welcome sign after about only a 10 minutes drive. The second trail, and said to be an easier trail is the Souk Trail, a total of 3 miles. Per locals, an easier option would be Coal Creek (or as they pronounce it, Coal Crik) Trail that ends with a waterfall and is found just before Sauk.
We chose Sauk Trail...
The scenery is gorgeous with what seems like natural healing powers. The air is full of Autumn leaves with moss covering every tree and plant in sight. Drops of fresh water drip from the pine trees that tower above. The only sounds heard is dew dribbling, crackling twigs, a bird's call and the Souk River. This river neighbors and crosses with the trail paying multiple visits, perfect to chow down on a protein snack. It is surrounded by snow capped mountains full of trees which disappear then reappear in a ghostly manner as the clouds and fog wrap around them at their leisure. If a moose or bear were sighted playing or hunting in the creek, it wouldn't be much of a surprise.
Continue up the "highway" after getting your hiking boots worn in, you'll find multiple other difficult trails with jaw-dropping views of various snowy peaks like Whitehorse Mountain, White Chuck Mountain, Mount Pugh, Stillaguamish Peak, Glacier Peak.
Mountain Loop Hwy becomes a single lane gravel route before you know it. Continue 3 minutes further to stop at the White Chuck Overlook with information on the logging and mining that once occurred in this part of the park. This is where my partner and I called it quits. There were many other trails we would love to take advantage of in the future, varying in length and leading to hidden lakes such as Peek-a-boo Lake (exit 2081, a 5 mile trail in total), Beaver Lake Trailhead, and Pugh Mountain Trail (exit 2095). Share your experiences here to let me know the adventures beyond the Overlook. Happy Exploring!
Written 7 November 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin M
Fresno, CA132 contributions
Mar 2015 • Solo
One of the gretest day hikes in North America is the Boulder River trail. It's an 8.6 mile out and back hike through old growth rain forest. On one rainy day on this trail I saw at least a dozen separate waterfalls.
Written 14 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pchee72
Fernandina Beach, FL374 contributions
Sept 2014
We took 4 short hikes within the park. 1st Stop was Nooksack Falls. It's not far from parking but not a flat or easy navigation due to tree roots and rocks. Hard to get a good lol since it is fenced off for safety. Still beautiful. The 2nd stop was Heather Meadows Picture Lake and it was beautiful and yes a real "picture postcard" photo op.
3rd stop was Heather Meadows visitor center to Fire and Ice Trail. Beautiful easy walk on the accessible trail to the bottom to several small ponds formed by melting water. Great picnic spot.
The 4th short hike was the Artist Ridge trail the view was dominated by Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan. We had beautiful weather. All of these are easily accessible trails. My Baker is 10,781 feet high. Great places to draw or paint if you are an artist.
3rd stop was Heather Meadows visitor center to Fire and Ice Trail. Beautiful easy walk on the accessible trail to the bottom to several small ponds formed by melting water. Great picnic spot.
The 4th short hike was the Artist Ridge trail the view was dominated by Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan. We had beautiful weather. All of these are easily accessible trails. My Baker is 10,781 feet high. Great places to draw or paint if you are an artist.
Written 6 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BogDogs
Englewood, Florida341 contributions
July 2017 • Couples
We originally intending on hiking Franklin Falls but due to road work and bad signage it was hard to find. We instead stumbled upon an upper waterfall that had no trail access. We found a way to climb down to the beautiful clear waters.
Written 22 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deanne A
Palm Springs, CA5,294 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
This is a lovely area with plenty of camping as well as hiking available along the way. Well signed and marked at each instance. The only thing I felt was missing was easy access to a trail that skirts Lake Baker. Maybe it's there but I just couldn't find it and I tried!! Still thoroughly enjoyable detour to my travels today. Don't miss the Shadow of the Sentinels walk - a gentle walk through 600 year old trees. Terrific views of Mount Baker close to the end of Mount Baker Lake Road.
Written 17 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OHMike64
Oak Harbor, WA269 contributions
July 2017 • Couples
The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest run along the west slope of the Cascades, stretching from south of Tacoma to the Canadian border. This review concerns only the Mt. Baker NRA in the Baker Lake area. The NRA is reached from the North Cascades Highway, 16 miles east of Sedro Woolley(MP 82) via Baker Lake Road. 12 mils up Baker Lake road, just past NF boundary turn left on FR 12(gravel/signed) and follow it 3.5 miles to FR 13(signed Mt. Baker NRA)and follow it 5+ miles to the large parking lot at the end. A federal recreation pass is required for parking. A self service pay station is available if needed. There are campsites and pit toilets available, There is also a parking area for horse trailers, as stock is permitted on some trails.
All trails start from a common trailhead(El. 3300 ft.). Just past the trailhead, the Scott Paul and Park Butte trails separate, but rejoin 2+ miles uphill, providing the opportunity to hike a loop. The Park Butte Trail gradually climbs through Schreiber's Meadow providing occasional views of Mt. Baker. At about 1 mile you come to a creek
crossing, which is provided with a seasonal bridge. This is a good turnaround point for families with small children, as the serious climbing begins after the creek. For the next mile or so, the trail climbs with switchbacks until it rejoins the Scott Paul Trail. At this point, a few hundred yards detour gives great views of Mt. Baker, or an alternate return route. Turn left for another half mile and arrive at Morovitz Meadow(El. about 4600 ft.)and another trail junction. From this point there are views galore and any direction provides great scenery. The Railroad Grade Trail leads to a glacier after a few miles and is also a climbing route for people going to Mt. Baker summit. The Park Butte Trail continues to the summit of Park Butte(El. 5300+) and an old lookout, which is available for camping on a first come, first served basis. There are also other campsites available in the meadow area. Go as far a you want or just stay in the meadow area and you can't go wrong. Be advised that snow remains late in the season at these elevations. There were large snowfields in late July in the areas beyond the Park Butte/Railroad Grade trail junction.
Overall, these trails provide great scenery, but do not expect solitude, as the area is very popular and can be quite busy any time during the summer.
All trails start from a common trailhead(El. 3300 ft.). Just past the trailhead, the Scott Paul and Park Butte trails separate, but rejoin 2+ miles uphill, providing the opportunity to hike a loop. The Park Butte Trail gradually climbs through Schreiber's Meadow providing occasional views of Mt. Baker. At about 1 mile you come to a creek
crossing, which is provided with a seasonal bridge. This is a good turnaround point for families with small children, as the serious climbing begins after the creek. For the next mile or so, the trail climbs with switchbacks until it rejoins the Scott Paul Trail. At this point, a few hundred yards detour gives great views of Mt. Baker, or an alternate return route. Turn left for another half mile and arrive at Morovitz Meadow(El. about 4600 ft.)and another trail junction. From this point there are views galore and any direction provides great scenery. The Railroad Grade Trail leads to a glacier after a few miles and is also a climbing route for people going to Mt. Baker summit. The Park Butte Trail continues to the summit of Park Butte(El. 5300+) and an old lookout, which is available for camping on a first come, first served basis. There are also other campsites available in the meadow area. Go as far a you want or just stay in the meadow area and you can't go wrong. Be advised that snow remains late in the season at these elevations. There were large snowfields in late July in the areas beyond the Park Butte/Railroad Grade trail junction.
Overall, these trails provide great scenery, but do not expect solitude, as the area is very popular and can be quite busy any time during the summer.
Written 30 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KweqSmanit
Seattle, WA5,381 contributions
Sept 2018 • Friends
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is a must see and must hike area comprising many acres of beautiful mountain, hill, forest, valley, and lowland areas which are highly recommended for the natural beauty within the area.
You will see all manner of spruce and fir, cedar, hemlock, etc, and meet other hikers and explorers from throughout the world on the trails of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.Only go on trails and areas that are in your expertise- athletic and experience level for common sense safety reasons.
You may and probably will see all kinds of wildflowers, hawks and eagles, small land mammals such as pikas, deer, and all manner of birds like Stellar Jays, woodpecker, flickers, etc.Remember to be bear aware and not to drink creek water.
Berries may also be available on some trails in certain areas of the forest.
There are fees for some campgrounds and trails and as well you must be aware of the regulations and current rules regarding building fires.
And after you get off the trails go have some cold great tasting beer and pizza at North Fork Brewery on Mt Baker Highway.
Let people know where you are going and what time you expect to be back and your intended route before you go and make sure you have plenty of emergency food and water with you.Check conditions beforehand online for safety reasons-issues.
You will see all manner of spruce and fir, cedar, hemlock, etc, and meet other hikers and explorers from throughout the world on the trails of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.Only go on trails and areas that are in your expertise- athletic and experience level for common sense safety reasons.
You may and probably will see all kinds of wildflowers, hawks and eagles, small land mammals such as pikas, deer, and all manner of birds like Stellar Jays, woodpecker, flickers, etc.Remember to be bear aware and not to drink creek water.
Berries may also be available on some trails in certain areas of the forest.
There are fees for some campgrounds and trails and as well you must be aware of the regulations and current rules regarding building fires.
And after you get off the trails go have some cold great tasting beer and pizza at North Fork Brewery on Mt Baker Highway.
Let people know where you are going and what time you expect to be back and your intended route before you go and make sure you have plenty of emergency food and water with you.Check conditions beforehand online for safety reasons-issues.
Written 29 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mini
Fremont, CA212,218 contributions
Sept 2015 • Couples
We have driven through various areas of the Mount Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest. Its very pretty, with forested lands, water ways, and of course Mount Baker. This time we drove through a section of the forest on our way to Leavenworth.
Written 26 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PeterOdgaard
Aarhus, Denmark690 contributions
July 2015 • Couples
We drove through this national forest on our way from Mt Rainier to Seattle. We had a nice drive with splendid views.
Written 18 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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