Park Butte Trail

Description:

• The Park Butte Trail is a difficult 3.5 mile hike, horseback ride or mountain climbing access route. There are incredible views of majestic Mt. Baker and its glaciers throughout the length of this trail. The trail receives extremely heavy use in the summer and fall. The trail starts in the Mt. Baker National Recreation Area and enters the Mt. Baker Wilderness just prior to its termination at the Park Butte Lookout. Beginning in lush Schriebers Meadow, it wanders through waist high huckleberries, heather and small ponds. The trail then crosses Rocky Creek on a seasonal suspension bridge which is usually in place between July and October. Rocky Creek can sometimes change course during periods of heavy runoff.

  After the first mile, the trail climbs switchbacks through forest and then reaches a junction with Scott Paul Trail #603.1. Stay left at the junction to continue along Park Butte Trail to Morovitz Meadows. The expansive views offered at the open meadows make this a popular rest spot. There are two more trail junctions located in the next section of trail. At the first junction, stay to the left for Park Butte Lookout. The fork to the right leads to the Railroad Grade Trail #603.2 and designated camps for hikers. At the second junction that is encountered, stay left for Park Butte. This second fork leads to Mazama Park and Bell Pass Trail where established campsites are available for stock. The last 0.5 mile of the trail climbs steeply to the lookout and enters Mt. Baker Wilderness. The Twin Sisters range, Glacier Peak and Mt. Ranier are a few of the many grand peaks which fill the horizon from the lookout.