Park Butte Lookout

Dogs Leashed

Features Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · Historical Significance · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

Park Butte is a great intermediate step for runners wanting to gain a little distance without too much strain in steep elevations. This run is in the heart of the Mount Baker Wilderness, and offers a range of scenery. It begins in meadows, then moves through a creek bed, up to the forest, back to meadows and a final push up a rocky butte to a mountain lookout.

A Northwest Forest Pass is required for parking. Restrooms available at trailhead.

Park Butte is consistently ranked as one of the best day hikes in the North Cascades. This well-maintained trail meanders through wildflower fields, crosses raging streams, passes tarns and a pretty lake, and finally climbs to a historic 1930s fire lookout with 360-degree views of the Mount Baker Wilderness. You'll also find trailhead and backcountry campsites, and you'll have the option of sleeping in the lookout on a first-come, first-served basis. This is a very busy hiking and climbing trail, especially on summer weekends.

Begin along a dirt path before crossing over Sulphur Creek into Schreibers Meadow. Lined with heather in the summer and mushrooms and mountain berry bushes in the fall, the trail becomes a boardwalk before returning to dirt. This first mile is easy, and it passes in and out of the forest, offering occasional glimpses of Mount Baker to the north. Cross a seasonal bridge over glacial Rocky Creek, then climb up a series of switchbacks.

After 2.4 miles you'll reach a junction with Railroad Grade Trail. This mile-long path leads to Mount Baker's Easton Glacier, a popular climbing route. Instead of turning here, continue along the Park Butte Trail to the large, open Upper Morovitz Meadow. Streams trickle throughout, and snowfields often linger during summer. Trekking poles are a good idea.

Backpackers should check out Cathedral Camp, an established backcountry camping area just off of the main trail. The final mile from here is the most challenging and rewarding yet. Pass picturesque Pocket Lake, then spot Park Butte Lookout on its high perch and gain it. From the lookout, Mount Baker and the Black Buttes dominate the northern skyline. To the west, peer down on the Nooksack Valley and across to the Twin Sisters Range. Glacier Peak, and sometimes Mount Rainier, can be spotted to the south, while Baker Lake lies to the east. Head inside the lookout for a room with a view. - Description by Brandon Fralic, Outdoor Project