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