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As others state, the road is pretty tough, but manageable. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Even on a cloudy-ish days and Baker being covered views were good, but would recommend going when Baker isn't cloudy if possible! North Bend, WA 98045 Official websites use .gov A .gov ) or https:// means you've safely 2023Outdoor Project. -Miscellaneous: Short and great trail. Frankly, under the conditions that I hiked it over the weekend, it is more advanced than publicized, and not for the faint of heart. Get inspired with adventure films, event replays, series, and more. If you get up there and its already taken there are plenty of spots close by to pitch tents. Map showing recreational areas. Snoqualmie Ranger District Great peaks- glaciated and rocky- rise in all directions and two perfect subalpine lakes are nestled in the meadows of the high pass below. The best views I witnessed up there was right after the first dusting of snow but the fall colors were still bright orange and red.. The road to Yellow Aster Butte was terrible in spots. An official website of the Its 7 miles from the highway to the start of the trail, 4.5 miles are easy for any car, and the last 2.5 miles require a high clearance vehicle, its a bit rough! Beautiful alpine meadows, panoramic mountain vistas, and an overnight stay in a historic fire lookout stationif you're exploring the backcountry in the Pacific Northwest you definitely want to add hiking to Winchester Mountain Lookout to your bucket list! Beautiful alpine meadows, panoramic mountain vistas, and an overnight stay in a historic fire lookout stationif youre exploring the backcountry in the Pacific Northwest you definitely want to add hiking to Winchester Mountain Lookout to your bucket list! It's a one-lane road with a lot of ruts. A Guide to Backpacking to Winchester Fire Lookout Parking at YAB was full by 8:30am. Mt Shuksan and Mount Baker loom up about all other summits. Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest - Winchester Mountain Trail #685 When toilets are not provided please pack it out. Winter visitors will not be able to access the inside of the lookout or use it as a shelter. Hiking Shenandoah: Winchester Mountain Lookout Nice to have some summer days with no smoke! The road to the trailhead is kind of rough. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock We didnt end up camping at the top of this reason as we couldnt find the proper way to get up without climbing piles of snow. The trail is also very difficult to find it seemed almost untouched, and the snow was 4-6 feet deep in places. In good weather, this location would be amazing, but if there is any risk of rain, I'd suggest skipping it. We ended up dancing around the lookout a few times to give him space, though the goat seemed to realllly want to hang out with us. -Trail distance, ascent, footing, obstacles: 3.37 miles with 1286 ascent, sure footing, no obstacles. Once you reach the top, youll be treated to 360 views of the surrounding peaks, including Mt. left: tarns! Taking other people's content (text, photos, etc) without permission is a copyright violation and Fresh Off The Grid is a culinary resource for the outdoor community. The early morning found the mountain surrounded by clouds. Spam? Weekends in the late summer and early fall will find more than 200 cars and pickups parked along the road over the last 3 miles. After its active service as a lookout station, the structure fell into a long period of disuse. The approximate two-mile hike from the trailhead up to Winchester lookout results in a huge reward, sweeping views of countless North Cascades peaks, most notably Mt. The members of the Mount Baker Club remain the stewards of this iconic piece of Pacific Northwest history, which is now included on the National Register of Historic Places, and have graciously kept the lookout open to the general public. Its a narrow, one-lane road with lots of deep ruts that can be unnavigable for low clearance cars. NOTE: Starting November 2017, the lookout will be locked and not open to public use from November through May. Winchester Mountain Lookout sits 6,521 feet above sea level. Unlike some of these other reviews, the road in, is not that bad. 7, 2023 North Cascades Trip Report By Veronica84 75 Type of Hike Day hike Trail Conditions Trail in good condition Road Road recommended for high clearance only Bugs Bugs were an annoyance Snow Intermittent snow - not hard to cross Trails Hiked Winchester Mountain Winchester Mountain by Veronica84 We offer a collection of recipes, how-to guides, and camp cooking gear to help you enjoy great food in the great outdoors! Reading trail guides is a hobby of mine, trying to envision the scenery. Sweeping views of the North Cascades - Great for photography. So bad and steep the last 2.5 miles. We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. All the snow that was at the basin on the parking lot has long melted away. Winchester Mountain Fire Lookout, Whatcom County, Washington - The Outbound The nearest town to the trailhead is Glacier, which is located about 25 miles east of Bellingham on the Mount Baker Highway (State Route 542). Road is the usual! Steep snow slopes in early summer followed by a profusion of berries along the trail make this trail better suited for fall hiking. warner mountain washington burley mountain evergreen mountain heybrook hidden lake lookout mountain park butte quartz mountain three fingers winchester wyoming spruce mountain sheep mountain watchman camp rentals walde lookout cabin, id magalloway mountain cabin, nh tamarack lookout cabin, or clearwater lookout cabin, wa other resources Larrabee, Mt. There were no sections where we bottomed out. It's not a long hike, but the elevation gained in a 2-mile distance to the top is pretty intense. In this case, parking is at the Tomyhoi Lake Trailhead, adding 2 miles to the hike. You can improve or add to this guidebook entry! Winchester Mountain is said to have the greatest reward for least amount of effort in all the North Cascades. The 14x14' L-4 ground house was built in 1935 and staffed until 1966. Why? Wonderful trail conditions! Water is available by melting snow. We went in mid September and the temperatures quickly dropped into the mid twenties at night but we were well prepared with our winter gear. Thanks for the support of Western Washington Honda Dealers and our other corporate sponsors. . 2015-2023 VanDuffie Media LLC | Fresh Off The Grid, A Brief History of the Winchester Mountain Lookout Tower, 52 Incredibly Delicious Camping Food Ideas, Where to Buy Discount Outdoor and Camping Gear, Complete Backpacking Checklist {Printable Packing List & Best Backpacking Gear}, The Best Camping Cookware for Making Delicious Meals in the Outdoors. -Crowds:There were at least 15 tents At trailhead, a few campers at the top, and four hikers on the trail. Mt. One of my favorite hikes when I lived in Bellingham. The lookout will reopen for visitation in June, or when conditions allow. The Best Day Hikes in America: Winchester Mountain Lookout - Backpacker We provide tools and tips to discover If you drive a low clearance vehicle, then, hike the forest road. Access to snow camping - Campsites at lake or on the summit area. Throughout the trail, lots of loose rock. -Trailhead toilets: clean and stocked Whats the catch? All rights reserved. Great views. Our goal is to make it easy for you to enjoy great food in the great outdoors. The lookouts that are left now stand as silent sentinels, a reminder of a time past. Winchester Mountain is said to have the greatest reward for least amount of effort in all the North Cascades. Baker Hiking Club, PO Box 73, Bellingham WA 98227.Winchester Mountain Trail #685. We started Fresh Off The Grid as a place to share our favorite camping and backpacking recipes. Suite 3A This is a great introductory glacial climb in the North Cascades with moderate glacial slopes and 4th class scrambling. The summit has plenty of room. Excellent photos, I love the night shots. Super rocky at points and some dips I wasn't confident doing in my Subaru Forester. Twin Lakes Road is a very rough dirt road, full of potholes and heavily eroded, so I took it slow on the four miles up to reach the Yellow Aster Butte Trailhead, where I parked. Camp was surprisingly quiet despite all the people present. Otherwise park at the Yellow Aster Butte trailhead and hike 2 miles and 1,600ft to Twin Lakes (5,200ft). They have lovely cold glacial water that you can fill up your drink bottles with here. Awesome hike! Had a great time backpacking to the lookout tower, although steep the hike is relatively short and only takes around an hour to complete. Trail is in great condition. Winchester Lookout | Mount Baker Club Region: Mount Baker Wilderness, Washington, USA. Goat Mountain's twin peaks are visible to the south; Mount Shuksan rises behind them. The forest road to the Twin Lakes trailhead is one of the roughest forest roads I've experienced in Washington State. Without one, you can park on the shoulder just past the Yellow Aster Butte trailhead and add 2.5 miles each way of road walking. Family Friendly: In the summer it is an easy place for families to access. 4 stars because most cars can't even make it to the TH so that adds almost 2.5 mi and it's mostly all uphill. Baker Hiking Club and open for overnight use on a first-come, first-serve basis. Opted not to drive my forester wilderness up the road but having hiked up and down the road itself to the YAB trailhead, I probably could have driven up there and saved myself the agony of the horror of bugs. This is a long shot, but our family had finished a day of hiking on Winchester Mountain Trail, and when we were walking down the road a young man generously offered us a ride back to our car (which was parked a mile or so down the road). Road is narrow and it gets busy. Accessible from the west on Highway 58 from Eugene, OR, or from the south via Highway 58. Twin Lakes and the parking area are far below. Help repair this trail at an upcoming work party. However, the road is not paved. Encounter the High Pass Trail #676 junction a half mile from the . Options for backcountry skiing/boarding. Turn right onto Twin Lakes Road and continue for approximately 3.5 miles until you reach the trailhead parking lot. The hike up to the lookout stays in the open almost the entire time, delivering jawdropping view after jawdropping view all the way to the summit, where after seeing grand Mount Larrabee and Mount Shuksan dominate this mountain kingdom you'll need binoculars to search for your lost mandibles. Victor's Residenz-Hotel Saarbrucken: A reasonable hotel with an excellent restaurant and good parking - See 298 traveler reviews, 150 candid photos, and great deals for Victor's Residenz-Hotel Saarbrucken at Tripadvisor. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mbs/recreation/recarea/?recid=17586, New food storage rules for Mt. Winchester Mountain. I am very fit, and had a difficult time carrying a medium pack. Email us. You can even see the US/Canadian border to the north from here! 74920 NE Stevens Pass Hwy Baker, Mt. The road to get there is longer and rockier than you might think. Would love to come back and stay at the lookout on a weekday. Find incredible places and experiences that help you bring home a story through One of the last fire-lookouts in the region stands on the summit. This trail is an easy one in the summer. Winchester Mountain Washington Trails Association Elevation Gain: 1300 ft. Shuksan No. When we were up there all of the shutters on the lookout were closed People had set up camp inside already and the didnt get opened. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. Only issue is the darn road. 1405 Emens Ave. N. Baker Highway (State Route 542), Twin Lakes Road #3065 (N Fork Nooksack area), Trail #685 - Hiker Only. We filtered water at a less accessible area of the second lake with no issue. This is about an injury or accident Online booking options. Poles are definitely a big help. The reward is outstanding views of the Picket Range, Mt Shuksan and the dramatic Nooksack Cirque. ), you can park at the Yellow Aster Butte trailhead and walk the additional 2 miles along the road. Baker. Willamette National Forest - Middle Fork Ranger District (Hwy 58) Id say its on the easier side of moderate. Winchester Mountain Lookout does not offer reservations through Recreation.gov. Outside the National Park: Artist Point. However from late September-early June you have to have crampons, ice axes, and potentially ropes to scale the mountain. Enjoy views of the Northern Picket Range and Canadian Peaks from Winchester Mountain Lookout.It was built in 1935 and is maintained by Mt. Winchester Mountain Lookout (in Whatcom County, WA) - HomeTownLocator Here are some suggestions in Virginia. Dont attempt this one if you arent experienced in snow! Outdoor privy at the lookout is no longer in order. You'll reach the top in no time. -Road to trailhead:Recommend 4x4 or AWD with ground clearance Read more You will need a high clearance AWD vehicle to attempt the last part. (360) 854-2553 Email us. Rated 4.8 /5 based on 6 . Allison Pool Recreation Site Group Campground. Its beautiful all the way up though so no complaining here :) Lots of passing clouds today so we didnt get a view at the lookout but stunning all the way up! Being one of the easiest hikes on Hwy 542, it gains only 1,300ft in 2.5 miles from Twin Lakes. What's the catch? The primary coordinates for Winchester Mountain Lookout places it within the WA 98244 ZIP Code delivery area.. Maps, Driving Directions & Local Area Information People park in the turnouts so the road is mostly one lane in many places. Having lived here in the North Cascades for more than 11 years now Ive had the opportunity to do a lot of hiking. Seattle, WA 98104. Remember to leave no trace and keep this trail on the DL, cheers :). We also brought inflatable SUPs and kayak to go on the lake after we finished. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Download the app. Continue reading Rating Mountain views Dogs allowed on leash Summits Lakes Parking Pass/Entry Fee Northwest Forest Pass Save Hike to My Backpack The trail up to Winchester Mountain is less than two miles long and only 1300 feet of elevation gain, with access to a lookout at 6500 feet with outstanding 360 degree views. (360) 677-2414 A 4WD high clearance vehicle is absolutely necessary if you plan to park at Twin Lakes: the road is very rough and drivers have died tackling this road in recent years. Was able to make it to the trailhead in my Subaru Crosstrek without issues, but had to go slow! This adds 2 miles each way, and an additional 1,850 in elevation gain. The Twin Lakes Road may not be drivable to the Winchester Mountain Trailhead. We felt it was moderately challenging to us but doable with pausing whenever necessary. Even though this climb is easy it can be demanding and requires individuals to be in peak shape. Skykomish, WA 98288 Weekends in the late summer and early fall will find more than 200 cars and pickups parked along the road over the last 3 miles. App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead. Shriner Peak (WA) : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering - SummitPost You can also see the trail moving generally right to left across the treeless southeast slope.From the trailhead between the two lakes, begin climbing up a moderately steep trail lined with blueberries. The 14x14 fire lookout was originally built in 1935 and was used for wildfire spotting until 1966. Immediately beyond the Department of Transportations Shuksan maintenance facility, veer left onto Twin Lakes Road. Winchester Mountain Lookout sits 6,521 feet above sea level. Gain: 1,318 meters (4,324 feet) Highest Point: 1,341 meters (4,400 ft.) . Please explore responsibly! Stay left for Winchester Mountain Lookout. on official, secure websites. It would have been a cold, windy night without it!