Skyline Divide

Location: North Cascades – Mt. Baker HWY SR 542
Length: 9 miles roundtrip
Elevation: Gain/2500 ft. Highest/6563 ft.
Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Time: 3 hours

I know. We did this in 3 hours and it didn’t make sense, either. Maybe there’s a time portal in the forest. Or maybe it isn’t 9 miles. Either way, this hike is quite wonderful. I took a chance on a partly cloudy day and the summit was completely in the clouds, so I learned that the elevation is high enough to demand a sunny day. Two weeks later, I did the hike again and got the views I was looking for. The first thing that comes to mind is what an amazing backpacking hike this would be; it’s easy enough, it isn’t crowded, and there’s a ton of room to spread out or pick your perfect view. The only thing to keep in mind is that there’s no water source. But, oh the views! The trail is largely in the forest and you know you’re getting close when it opens up. The top gives you the option of heading right, up to the top of a knoll that’ll give your booty a workout as well as test your balance. The left, however, meanders to a few alternate viewpoints that quite honestly offer the same payoff with much less work. Shuksan and Baker, especially, are in your face—a similar view I liken to being at the top of Excelsior.

Shuksan

That’s it. Honestly this is an all-around fantastic, no nonsense trail. I will warn you that the 12 mile stretch of logging road up to the trailhead might murder your car. The potholes are prevalent and deep.

Directions: Head up HWY 542 and about a mile past Glacier, take a right onto Glacier Creek Road. A sign immediately points to the left for Skyline Divide. There are awesome camp spots on the North Fork Nooksack River. If you are dying of hunger on the way home, I highly recommend North Fork Brewery in Deming because their pizza is amazing.