Mount Baker from North, South and West

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Mount Baker in the North Cascades is quite a magnificent mountain. Standing guard over north Puget Sound like a white sentinel the mountain dominates the horizon. Each season her countenance changes. Here are three very different images of her personality.


Mount Baker, Western Flank, from Baker Lake Road


Mount Baker in the Morning Light, taken from the South on the Park Butte Trail


Mt Baker and Coleman Glacier, taken from Heliotrope Ridge on the North Slope

Double Rainbow at Rock Pass, Pasayten Wilderness, Washington

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Rock Pass is about 20 miles north of Slate Peak (where you park the car!) and almost the same distance south of the border with Canada. The Pacific Crest Trail (Mexico to Canada) and the Pacific Northwest Trail (Glacier National Park, Montana to Olympic National Park, Washington) both traverse this section of trail.

The Majestic North Cascades

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East of Puget Sound in Washington State the jagged, glacier-clad North Cascades rise skyward.

North Cascades National Park

Sahale Glacier Camp

Due to its abundant rainfall the range boasts some of the deepest snow accumulations in the world, more than 95 feet in one winter. Three quarters of all glaciers in the lower 48 states are here.

Mount Challenger Glacier

Streams and rivers coursing over this terrain give raise to a huge number of waterfalls.

Mount Logan and Waterfall

On the Thunder Creek Trail

Forests of spruce and cedar, hemlock and fir carpet the terrain.

Boundary Trail, Pasayten Wilderness

Horseshoe Basin, North Cascades

When the winter snow melts the meadows are afire with myriad wildflowers.

Wildflowers on Lakeview Ridge

Lupine on Sahale Arm

Wildlife abounds, black bears, bald eagles, deer and marmots, to name but a few, grace the land. Grizzlies, wolverines and wolves are reported with increasing frequency.

Black Bear

Deer at Cascade Pass

Autumn creates a riot of colors. Larches turn bright orange, vine maples explode in reds and yellows.

Cathedral Peak

Amphitheater Mountain

Maple Pass
The best months to visit are July to September.

See you on the trail!


Arriving at Copper Ridge, North Cascades National Park

Along the Baker River

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From my home its a short drive up the North Cascades Highway to the Baker Lake Road. The first 20 miles is paved and follows along side Grandy Lake and then Baker Lake.

Intermittent views of Mount Baker appear.


Mount Baker from Baker Lake Road

The last 5 miles skirt the northwestern shore of Baker Lake, the road is gravel here and ends at a parking area.

From here a trail heads north along the Baker River. Views of the glacier-clad North Cascades appear and the river is spanned by a suspension bridge.

Baker River Bridge

Along the way there are several spots where you can scramble down to the gravel bars near the water.


Baker River

At this time of year the water level is so low that its easy hiking among the snags and channels.

Maples and spruce, old growth and new, the trees are full of color.

The bright green of the river is remarkable and the reflections of the fall colors.

Baker River

The way back home I keep stopping, here another fantastic sight of color and light…

North End of Baker Lake


Baker Lake

Fall in northwestern Washington is glorious!