Park Butte Trail

Looking for somewhere to backpack or capture the Milky Way on the west slope of the Cascades? Look no further than Park Butte. It has some of the best views of Mt. Baker's West Slope, on top of having access to the Park Butte fire lookout. This is one of the best locations you can stay overnight - especially if you snag the Lookout for overnight stay. The lookout is available in a first come first serve manner. If you're not at the lookout consider doing the short hike up to it for the sunset, the views are second to none with the light reflecting off the Puget Sound.

From the Park Butte trailhead you'll walk just over 500 feet and come to a junction with the Scott Paul Trail, stay left. About half a mile after this point you'll begin hiking less and less over a trail and more over rocks due to the different routes Rocky Creek has had over time. Once you get past this you'll get to the section of the trail that's mainly switchbacks, the grind of the hike where a good portion of the hikes elevation gain is. While you're hiking the switchbacks you'll come across another junction with the Scott Paul trail, stay left again and use the sign as a half way marker, At this point you'll have hiked 2 miles. After continuing on the trail for an additional half mile you'll get your first good view of Mt. Baker and its meadows. Everything from this point on is a eye opener. You will also come to your last junction, this time with the Railroad Grade trail, stick left again. If you wish to hike this after setting up camp, you wont be disappointed with the close up views of Mt. Baker's glacier you will get.

Continuing on the Park Butte Trail you will soon come up on fields of wildflowers and a large meadow, with your first view of the Park Butte Lookout in the distance. From this point on you'll will see dozens of good places to set up camp. I would recommended finishing off the hike to the lookout to see if its taken.

NOTE: If the lookout is taken, there is camping available on the Railroad Grade and Bell Pass trails, but not at the tarns along Park Butte Trail.

After camp is setup head down to the lakes for a scene that looks like something out of Lord of the Rings, go for a swim and get some photos of a landscape that will make all your friends jaws drop. When dusk hits head back to the lookout for an amazing sunset over the Puget Sound, and for a night full of star gazing. This hike has a lot to offer for only being 7.5 miles round trip. Happy camping!