Park Butte Fire Lookout is a popular trail in the Mount Baker Wilderness in Washington State. This trail is accessible May-October, although some people hike it in the snowy months. I hiked Park Butte Lookout in July of 2022 and encountered more snow than usual for the area. On this blog post you will get a sense of what my experience was like, where Park Butte Fire Lookout is located, and how to plan.
Photographs of me are in collaboration with Melissa Miller of @missrover. Follow her adventures and blog at missrover.com
Where Is Park Butte Lookout Located?
On the southern side of Mount Baker, Park Butte Lookout is perched high on a cliff at 5,450 feet of elevation. Located in the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, this trail is also a popular route for climbers summiting Mount Baker. The lookout was built in 1932 and was traditionally used for fire research and research. Now Park Butte Lookout is maintained by the Skagit Alpine Club.
From Seattle:3 hours
From Portland: 5 hours and 30 minutes
What Is The Hike Like?
In late July typically the snow at Park Butte Lookout would be mostly melted out in the area around the lookout, however for us half of the trail still had feet of snow, which made for a slushy slog to the top. The trail starts out walking through a beautiful meadow called Schriebers Meadow, then through a river crossing onto the switchbacks in the woods. Fortunately there is a bridge that is helpful on the river crossing, making it easy to safely get across this section.
Follow the sign for Scott Paul Trail at the junction and start climbing up the switchbacks. The views along the trail the entire hike are completely stunning. We hiked up in a cloud and had no idea until the clouds lifted that night. You will then reach the Railroad Grade Trail, which many mountaineers take for the summit. This is also a designated area for backpackers to pitch tents if the snow is melted enough. Bells Pass Trail is also another option for pitching a tent. Camping is not allowed at the tarns at Park Butte Lookout.
Continue uphill and you will see views of Park Butte Lookout perched high on the ridge. Expansive views of Mount Baker Wilderness will keep your spirits high as you continue uphill to Park Butte Lookout.
We couldn’t see a single thing on our hike up and we spent most of the day inside a cloud. Around 6:30PM the clouds started to part and 360 views of every single mountain came into our view. A cloud inversion also was formed in the process! Quite magical.
Lookout Tower Etiquette
If you’re lucky enough to snag the lookout, it is first come first serve. However, you cannot claim the lookout as yours for the night and other hikers may want to bunk with you. Keep in mind day hikers will be coming in and out, so do not expect complete solitude. We hiked with tents just in case, but arrived by 2PM to have the lookout to ourselves. A group of brothers arrived an hour after us and did not ask to bunk with us, but we did enjoy sunset together on the deck of the lookout-360 views all around!
Distance: 7.2 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,020 feet
Pass: Northwest Forest Pass
How Do I Prepare To Hike Park Butte Lookout?
Depending on the time of year, Park Butte Lookout can have varying weather conditions. Typically in the summertime the hike is easiest to access after the snowmelts. People will snowshoe this trail and backcountry ski, so be prepared for changing conditions with proper gear and skill level.
Hiking Park Butte Lookout in July with snow was doable without traction devices, but we found trekking poles to be beneficial so we wouldn’t slip and fall. To get updated trail reports call the Mount Baker Ranger District Sedro Woolley Office at 360-856-5700, extension 515.
Depending on your comfort level for hiking in snow, this may alter when you want to complete the hike. Once the snow is melted there is no technical hiking involved on this trail.
New to backpacking? I suggest trying this hike with a friend! This is a great introduction to backpacking when the snow is melted.
Looking for a cute place to stay and shower after your trip and additional hikes? Check out my blog on visiting the Birdhouse Treehouse in Concrete and driving further into North Cascades National Park.
Film Photos
This year I got into film photography and this was my first backpacking trip with it, which was extremely exciting. These are some of my favorite 35mm photos I have taken this year, so I thought I would share them below. I used an Ektar100 on this set.
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