Baker River, fall

The Baker River flows south into the Skagit draining the western slopes of the North Cascades. There are two dams along the river, the largest of which forms Baker Lake.
Baker Lake

On the North Cascades Highway (Hwy 20) drive about 15 miles east of Sedro-Woolley to the Baker Lake Road. The road heads north-east following along side of tiny Grandy Lake, then passing Lake Shannon and then skirting the west side of Baker Lake. There are numerous campsites along the way and many logging roads branching off. There is a large concrete bridge crossing  Park Creek providing great views of Mount Baker.
Mt Baker from the Baker Lake Road

After 20 miles of good paved road you’ll pass Shannon Creek Campground. From here on the road is gravel as it winds the last 5 miles along side the upper reaches of Baker Lake. Depending on the season of your visit and the water level in the lake one can see numerous stumps along the edge of this man-made lake. In the fall when the water level is low there are beautiful marshes along the lakes northern end.
North end of Baker Lake

The road ends at a large parking area where there are bathrooms and to the right a trail head. You can scramble down to the gravel bar and have a look at the river here.

It is required to have a Northwest Forest pass to park, these can be obtained at the Baker Lake Grocery store, back on Highway 20 or in Sedro-Woolley at the Forest Service national park Headquarters.

The trail is in both the North Cascades National Park and the Mount Baker National Forest. Here is a link to a web site describing the trail.

At the edge of the parking area there a big wooden reader board and from there the wide trail passes a few campsites and between two big boulders.
The trail starts here…

Passing through the forest there are more camps and an old horse corral between the trail and the river and soon the trail arcs east and views of the river and mountains appear.
Baker River Trees

Now the pathway re-enters the canopy.
Green Moss and Blue skies

And passes a sign in box for the hike.
Sign-in box

Skirting along side the river you pass several mammoth old-growth trees.
Old Growth

The greens are rich and bright.
Mount Baker Forest

About half a mile from the parking area a suspension bridge appears on the right, spanning the river.
Baker River Bridge

The Baker River Trail continues along the west side of the river while the east bank trail crosses the bridge heading back south along the river and along the shore of Baker Lake.
Trail junction

Blum Creek

Free of dams and roads the river regains its wild countenance. There are gravel bars and huge snags of trees along the shore.
Baker River

The trail is accessible year round. Fall and spring are great times for a visit. And the trail is perfect for young children.
Bridge Running

Fall colors are my favorite
Fall River

Staying on the main trail, you soon pass several huge jumbles of boulders on the left, forming all sorts of caves and cool places to explore. My favorite place along the trail soon appears on the right, a short scramble down to the river bed and bushwack through brush out onto the gravel bar. The river makes a long sweeping curve.
Baker River and Hagan Mountain

Across the river rises the jagged summit of Hagan Mountain. Looking upstream is Jagged Ridge extending from the summit of Mount Shuksan.
Jagged Ridge

This is a perfect place to play. the gravel bar is wide and a great place to camp. There are fire rings and many huge logs and debris for building forts and side channels for swimming.
Autumn Fun along Baker River

This stretch of the river is in the National Forest and no permit is needed for camping.
Camped along the river

Tent and Stars, Baker River

The suspension bridge is a wonderful photographic subject!

Baker River Bridge

Looking up Blum Creek

Sunset along the northern end of Baker Lake

On the trail, headed home