In the Mount Baker area this day hike offers some of the best vistas to be had from high in the North Cascades; add this trek to your agenda. Take SR 542 to 1 mile beyond the town of Glacier; turn right on the Glacier Creek Road, and then about 100 yards beyond turn sharply onto Dead Horse Road (No. 3907); follow the south side of the Nooksack River about 4 miles, where it then begins an abrupt climb; at 7.5 miles there will be a waterfalls; at 12 miles is the parking lot and trailhead. Beginning at the 4000' elevation, the climb will go from moderate to steep, but the rewards will be well worth the effort. After hiking 2 miles through forests of silver firs and subalpine glades, you will come to a great mountain meadow where to the south the vast glaciers of the north wall of Mt. Baker can be seen. Look north over the Nootsack Valley and view Church Mountain and the jagged pinnacles of the Border Peaks. On a clear day the San Juans, the Vancouver Island mountains, and the British Columbia Coast Range can all be seen. Continue along the trail 3/4 of a mile along the ridge and around to the far side of the knoll to the south; walk up to the top of the knoll (elevation 6,215'). Here you can stand knee deep in wildflowers and get an awesome view of the icy Mount Baker. Round trip to the knoll is 6 miles and should take about 4 hours. The best time to make the hike is from August to October. Backpackers can continue on and explore from basecamps in the Smith and Chowder Basins. Enjoy, and remember to pack out every scrap you take in.
