Heliotrope Ridge- Mount Baker Area

Heliotrope Ridge is a great hike in the Mount Baker Area. It is located in Snoqualmie National Forest. This hike is used as a day-hike and a multi-day trip. If you have an adventurous spirit, you can actually do a lot up here! Like ski down a glacier. But there is also a more casual hike too which will bring you to the base of the glacier with a gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains.

If you want to go for a day hike, this hike is 5.5 miles round-trip. I will say this though. There are a lot of water crossings! And there are no bridges. So if you are uncomfortable with river crossings, I am going to say this hike may not be your cup of tea.

All of the river crossings are fairly easy, minus one. This one river crossing was a bit difficult. I searched the area for a good five minutes before finding a spot I was even somewhat comfortable crossing. But I also was a lone in the middle of no where, and no one was up there with me. So if I screwed up, that could have been a very bad situation. So I was trying to be extra careful.

Hiking up to the glacier.

The trail brings you up to the base of a glacier. There’s a big boulder at the top. I hiked to the top of it to get more of a view of the mountains. These mountains reminded me a lot of the Appalachian mountains. For me it felt I was literally at the Appalachian Mountains with a glacier that happened to be near-by lol.

“The Mountains Are Calling And I Must Go,” John Muir.

Directions:

Heliotrope Ridge is just west of North Cascades National Park. If you go to Sedro Valley, which is the biggest town closest to the trail head, you continue North on route 9. Turn right on 542/Mt. Baker Highway. Go passed the town of glacier, very small. Then turn right on glacier creek road/NF-39. This road will bring you to the trail head. If you put in heliotrope ridge in google, it should pop right up if you want back-up. Just plug it in before you run out of service! You may not have it here.

The abundance of rivers on this hike.

Here is a link if you want to get more information from the Washington Trails Association. This website is really helpful!

http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/heliotrope-ridge

The Hiking Trail

If you want to do a multi-day backpacking trip, you can hike to the trail head of the skyline divide trail. Or vise versa. I would get two cars and park one car at each trail head. Both places I day hiked and they are just gorgeous so that would be an epic backpacking trip. If your going backpacking, I would suggest to purchase this trail map.

I also saw people with skis attached to their pack. Must have done some crazy glacier skiing!!!

Here is a video I made of my hiking experience.