2024 Trail Challenge


Ready...set...HIKE! Starting now through October 1st, complete 8 of the 10 hikes in either one of our trail challenges listed below. Post a picture of each hike on Instagram with the hashtag #BCETrailChallenge to enter our raffle for some sweet prizes once the challenge ends. Our Challenge Hikes (marked in green on the map) are all included in Hiking Mt. Baker and the North Cascades by John D’Onofrio, and our Accessible Hikes (marked in orange) can be found in Accessible Trails in Washington’s Backcountry by The Washington Trails Association.


Happy Hiking!


8/14 Update Regarding the Fire Situation: We still want you to get out there, but with extra safe travels during this time of rapid fire spread. Whether you're hiking your own trails or those that we've included in our challenge, we recommend you stay updated on route statuses and air quality before you go. Below are linked resources for keeping up to date on things affected by ongoing fires. It's also a good idea to check on the condition and mapped area of your specific hike by searching it under "site search" on the WTA website. Stay safe out there folks!

Burn Restrictions

Wildfire Incident Information

Air Quality Information


As some of the trails we've listed below are currently inaccessible, some substitute challenge hikes we're including are...

Ptarmigan Ridge

Lake Ann

Park Butte

Mount Pilchuk

Chanterelle Trail


Challenge Trails

All Challenge Hikes can be found in Hiking Mt. Baker and the North Cascades by John D’Onofrio

Tiffany Mountain (Page 274)

An Early Season Summit with Panoramic Views

Difficulty: 2

Wow Factor: 2.5

Distance: 6 miles round-trip

Elevation Gain: 1685 feet

Pros: Open wildflower slopes with big - but distant - views, a great early season choice

Cons: Trailhead is a long way from anywhere!

Sauk Mountain (Page 260)

A Short and Sweet Early-Season Summit

Difficulty: 2

Wow Factor: 3.5

Distance: 4.2 miles round-trip

Elevation Gain: 1190 feet

Pros: Beautiful views - starting at the trailhead!

Cons: Very popular and crowded on weekends

Hidden Lake Peaks (Page 231)

A Visit to a Lookout Cabin amidst a Sea of Peaks

Difficulty: 3

Wow Factor: 5

Distance: 9 miles round-trip

Elevation Gain: 3300 feet

Pros: One of the most scenically-situated lookout cabins in the North Cascades with beautiful alpine meadows en route

Cons: Rough road and insufficient parking. Last ¼ mile of “trail” is a bit of a scramble

Cascade Pass/Sahale Arm (Page 192)

A Classic Hike to Some of the Best Views in the North Cascades

Difficulty: 2.5 (Cascade Pass), 4.0 (Sahale Arm)

Wow Factor: 3.5 (Cascade Pass), 5.0 (Sahale Arm)

Distance: 7.2 miles round-trip (Cascade Pass), 11.8 miles round-trip (Sahale Arm)

Elevation Gain: 1700 feet (Cascade Pass), 3950 feet (Sahale Arm)

Pros: The Cascade Pass area is justifiably famous as one of the most beautiful places in the North Cascades. Sahale Arm is simply off the charts.

Cons: Crowded (Cascade Pass), Stiff Climb (Sahale Arm)

Blue Lake (Page 181)

Soaring Spires, Golden Larches and Cerulean Water

Difficulty: 1.5

Wow Factor: 3.0

Distance: 4.4 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: 1100 feet

Pros: Easy access to a beautiful, quintessentially-North Cascades lake, larches in autumn

Cons: Crowded, highway noise on the first portion of the trail

Yellow Aster Butte (Page 171)

A Meadow in the Sky with 360-Degree Views

Difficulty: 2.5

Wow Factor: 5

Distance: 7.5 miles round-trip

Elevation Gain: 2100 feet

Pros: Great views of Mt. Baker, Shuksan, and especially the Border Peaks. Beautiful flowers and fall colors

Cons: The Yellow Aster Butte area can be crowded. Campsites at the Tarns are in high demand

Goat Mountain (Page 57)

Epic Views Accessible in Early Summer

Difficulty: 3.5

Wow Factor: 4

Distance: 8 miles round-trip (Promontory), 10 miles round-trip (West Summit, Goat Mountain)

Elevation Gain: 2700 feet (Promontory), 4100 feet (West Summit, Goat Mountain)

Pros: Magnificent early season views

Cons: Steep tree-bound climb to the meadows

Winchester Mountain (Page 164)

A Historic Lookout with Staggering Views

Difficulty: 2

Wow Factor: 5

Distance: 3.5 miles round-trip

Elevation Gain: 1300 feet

Pros: Expansive views of the Border Peaks and Pickets, entire trail above tree line

Cons: Crowded

Tomyhoi Peak (Page 149)

Supreme Views from one of the highest trail-accessible points in the North Cascades

Difficulty: 3.5

Wow Factor: 5

Distance: 13 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: 4100 feet

Pros: Astonishing views of the North Cascades from one of the highest trail-accessible points in the mountains

Cons: A lot of climbing!

High Divide/Excelsior Peak via the Damfino Lakes Trail (Page 76)

A Sublime Ridge Walk with Non-Stop Views

Difficulty: 2.5

Wow Factor: 4

Distance: 6 miles round-trip (Excelsior Peak), 14 miles round-trip (Welcome Pass)

Elevation Gain: 1500 feet (Excelsior Peak), 2500 feet (Welcome Pass)

Pros: A long stretch of highly scenic, fairly easy ridge walking

Cons: Water is scarce in late summer and autumn

Accessible Trails

All Accessible Hikes can be found in Accessible Trails in Washington’s Backcountry by The Washington Trails Association.

Lake Kachess (Page 108)

Accessibility: Moderate

Distance: 0.5 mile loop

Gradient: Generally fat, stretches to 10%

Surface: Dirt and gravel

When to go: April-October

Parking: Usable

Restrooms: Yes

Information: USFS Cle Elum District, (509)674-4411

Coulon Beach (Page 99)

Accessibility: Easy

Distance: 3 miles round-trip

Gradient: From 2% to 6%

Surface: Pavement and boardwalk

When to go: All year

Parking: Designated

Restrooms: Yes

Information: Renton Parks Department, (206)235-2568

Sierra Park for the Blind (Page 83)

Accessibility: Easy

Distance: 0.25 mile loop

Gradient: Generally flat

Surface: Pavement and boardwalk

When to go: All year

Parking: Designated

Restrooms: Yes

Information: Edmonds Parks and Recreation, (206)771-0220

Deception Pass Sand Dune Trail (Page 57)

Accessibility: Easy

Distance: 0.8 mile round-trip

Gradient: Flat

Surface: Pavement

When to go: All year

Parking: Usable

Restrooms: Yes

Information: Washington State Parks and Recreation, (360)902-8563

Gold Creek Pond (Page 107)

Accessibility: Easy

Distance: 1 mile round-trip

Gradient: Generally flat, to 8%

Surface: Pavement

When to go: May-October

Parking: Designated

Restrooms: No

Information: USFS North Bend District, (206) 888-1421

Creekside Loop at Mount Si (Page 104)

Accessibility: Easy

Distance: 500 feet

Gradient: Less than 5%

Surface: Packed gravel

When to go: All year

Parking: Designated

Restrooms: Yes

Information: DNR Enumclaw, (360) 825-1631

Snoqualmie River (Page 103)

Accessibility: Moderate

Distance: Spring Glen Road to Tokul Tunnel, 6 miles round trip; Nick Loutsis Park to missing trestle at Spring Glen Road, 12.8 miles round trip; Nick Loutsis Park to first unimproved trestle before Duvall, 11.4 miles round trip

Gradient: Generally low, with gradual elevation changes

Surface: Gravel

When to go: All year

Parking: Usable

Restrooms: No

Information: King County Parks, (206) 296-4151

Tradition Lakes (Page 101)

Accessibility: Easy (except for steep access)

Distance: 0.6 mile round trip

Gradient: To 6%

Surface: Boardwalk

When to go: All year

Parking: Usable

Restrooms: Yes

Information: DNR Enumclaw, (360) 825-1631

Washington Park Arboretum (Page 97)

Accessibility: Moderate to difficult

Distance: 2 mile network (various access/exit points)

Gradient: Moderate, with hills on some trails from 8% to 25%

Surface: Gravel and dirt

When to go: All year (rain may make areas impassable for wheelchairs)

Parking: Designated

Restrooms: Yes (at Graham Visitor center

Information: University of Washington Arboretum (206) 543-8800

Iron Goat (Page 90)

Accessibility: Moderate

Distance: 2.4 miles round trip

Gradient: To 8%

Surface: Gravel

When to go: March-November

Parking: Designated (deep gravel may require assistance)

Restrooms: Yes

Information: USFS Skykomish Ranger District (360) 677-2414

Here are some useful links that can help you plan your next trip up to the mountains or into the wilderness. Check the upcoming weather forecast, avalanche conditions or what the most recent trail report says. Know before you go!

Mountain Weather (Baker)

NOAA logo

Avalanche Conditions

NWAC logo

Trail Reports

Washington Trails Association logo