Mount Baker Recreation Area

A mutli-use area on the south flank of Mount Baker. Much of the Easton Glacier lies within this area, as does the Squak glacier. The open crevasses and seracs are great for glacier travel, crevasse rescue and ice climbing training.

getting there

From I-5 just north of Mount Vernon, go east on SR-20 (North Cascades Highway) and turn left on Baker Lake Road. Continue 12.5 mi to just past the Rocky Creek Bridge, turn left onto Forest Road 12. Go 3.5 mi to Sulfur Creek Road (Forest Road 13). Turn right and follow it 6 mi to its end at the Park Butte Trailhead (3,360 ft).

Approach

Hike the Park Butte Trail 1.9 mi to its intersection with the Scott Paul Trail.  Continue on the Park Butte Trail for 0.4 mi and then head north on the Railroad Grade to the Easton Glacier. Ascend to the open crevasses and seracs of the Easton Glacier. 

notes

  • All of this is within the Mount Baker National Recreation Area.
  • Use this route for crevasse rescue and ice climbing practice. 
  • Camp below the toe of the glacier on or around moraines.

Information for Leaders

Internal Climbing and Scrambling Lottery

  • This is a very popular climbing area, and this route/place is intended for scheduling course field trips and clinics. Please review the relevant Internal Lottery Results document below.
  • The 2024 Mountaineers Internal Lottery results are now final. Please select the Mt Baker Rec Area tab to view the results for this location. If you are scheduling a course trip here for 2024, please check this spreadsheet before listing your trip to be sure your course has priority for the field trip date(s) you are scheduling and that there is no other course that already has priority.
  • The 2023 Mountaineers Internal Lottery results are now final. Please select the Mt Baker Rec Area tab to view the results for this location. If you are scheduling a course trip here for 2023, please check this spreadsheet before listing your trip to be sure your course has priority for the field trip date(s) you are scheduling and that there is no other course that already has priority.

Scheduling & Permits

  • This route/place is intended for scheduling course field trips and clinics. Please schedule any trips (ex: climbs, hikes, etc) on the specific route/place. Contact info@mountaineers.org  with any questions or support finding the correct route/place.
  • Suitable Activities: Climbing
  • Seasons: May, June, July, August, September
  • Weather: View weather forecast
  • Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb
  • Length: 3.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 3,640 ft
  • 7,000 ft
Map
  • USGS Baker Pass
  • USGS Mt Baker
  • Green Trails Mount Baker Wilderness Climbing No. 13SX
Activities

Upcoming Activities

WMCR - Experience Trip 2 - Glacier Travel & Mentorship - Mount Baker Recreation Area

Climbing Field trip: Winter Mountaineering & Advanced Crevasse Rescue (aka Intermediate Glacier Travel) - Mixed Cohort
ET2: In Spring/Summer conditions practice rope lead & rope management, navigate crevasses, and execute the
Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb
Fri, May 10, 2024 - Sun, May 12, 2024
No Prerequisites
2 participants on waitlist 1 instructor
Registration closes May 8
Seattle Branch
KD Dase

WMCR - Experience Trip 2 - Glacier Travel & Mentorship - Mount Baker Recreation Area

Climbing Field trip: Winter Mountaineering & Advanced Crevasse Rescue (aka Intermediate Glacier Travel) - Women's Cohort
ET2: In Spring/Summer conditions practice rope lead & rope management, navigate crevasses, and execute the
Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb
Fri, May 17, 2024 - Sun, May 19, 2024
No Prerequisites
2 participants 0 instructors
Registration closes May 15
Seattle Branch
Melanie Stam

Seattle Basic Alpine SIG Field Trip - Overnight Snow Scrambling - Mount Baker Recreation Area: Squak Glacier

Climbing Field trip: Basic Alpine Climbing Course
Basic SIG Snow Field Trip for AYER SIG- Overnight Snow (Snow Anchors & Belays, Crevasse
Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb
Sat, May 18, 2024 - Sun, May 19, 2024
No Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
1 participant 0 instructors
Registration closes Apr 24
Seattle Branch
Annora Ayer

WMCR - Experience Trip 2 - Glacier Travel & Mentorship - Mount Baker Recreation Area

Climbing Field trip: Winter Mountaineering & Advanced Crevasse Rescue (aka Intermediate Glacier Travel) - Mixed Cohort
ET2: In Spring/Summer conditions practice rope lead & rope management, navigate crevasses, and execute the
Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb
Sat, May 25, 2024 - Mon, May 27, 2024
No Prerequisites
1 participant 2 instructors
Registration closes May 23
Seattle Branch
KD Dase

Snow II: Glacier Travel - Mount Baker Recreation Area

Climbing Field trip: Basic Climbing Course
Travel on a glacier and perform crevasse rescue. Squak Glacier.
Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb
Sat, Jun 1, 2024 - Sun, Jun 2, 2024
No Prerequisites
8 participants 4 instructors
Bellingham Branch

Basic Climbing - Snow 2 Field Trip - Mount Baker Recreation Area

Climbing Field trip: Basic Climbing Course
Basic Climbing Course Snow 2 FT (Easton Glacier)
Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb
Sat, Jun 1, 2024 - Sun, Jun 2, 2024
No Prerequisites
0 participants 0 instructors
Registration closes May 30
Everett Branch
Jill Thornton

WMCR - Experience Trip 2 - Glacier Travel & Mentorship - Mount Baker Recreation Area

Climbing Field trip: Winter Mountaineering & Advanced Crevasse Rescue (aka Intermediate Glacier Travel) - Women's Cohort
ET2: In Spring/Summer conditions practice rope lead & rope management, navigate crevasses, and execute the
Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb
Fri, Jun 7, 2024 - Sun, Jun 9, 2024
No Prerequisites
0 participants 1 instructor
Registration closes Jun 5
Seattle Branch
Sonja Serwold

Field Trip - Snow 2 - Mount Baker Recreation Area

Climbing Field trip: Basic Alpine Climbing Course
Roped Travel and Crevasse Rescue. The destination is subject to change depending on snow conditions.
Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb
Sat, Jun 8, 2024 - Sun, Jun 9, 2024
No Prerequisites
1 participant 0 instructors
Registration closes Jun 6
Foothills Branch
Magda Bojarska

Intermediate Glacier Climbing Field Trip - Mount Baker Recreation Area: Easton Glacier

Climbing Field trip: Intermediate Glacier Climbing
The IGC Skills Field Trip is a component to the Intermediate Glacier Climbing Course.
Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb
Sat, Jun 15, 2024 - Sun, Jun 16, 2024
Prerequisites
2 participants 3 instructors
Registration closes Jun 13
Everett Branch
Laurel Geisbush

WCR - Experience Trip - Mount Baker Recreation Area: Easton Glacier

Climbing Field trip: Winter Mountaineering & Advanced Crevasse Rescue
Experience trip - Student Planned and Lead
Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb
Sat, Jun 15, 2024 - Sun, Jun 16, 2024
No Prerequisites
0 participants 5 instructors
Registration closes Jun 13
Foothills Branch
Peter Tran

Field Trip - Snow 3 - Mount Baker Recreation Area

Climbing Lecture: Basic Alpine Climbing Course
Experience Trip/Climb
Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb
Sat, Jun 22, 2024 - Sun, Jun 23, 2024
No Prerequisites
1 participant 0 instructors
Registration closes Jun 20
Foothills Branch
Magda Bojarska

Intermediate Crevasse Rescue - Mount Baker Recreation Area

Climbing Field trip: Intermediate Climbing Course
Intermediate Crevasse Rescue
Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb
Sat, Aug 24, 2024 - Sun, Aug 25, 2024
No Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
1 participant on waitlist 2 instructors
Registration closed Jan 3
Bellingham Branch
Alex Dobrinen
Trip Reports
Titles

This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips you can take at this route/place. This includes side trips, extensions and peak combinations. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.

  • Mount Baker Recreation Area: Easton Glacier
  • Mount Baker Recreation Area: Squak Glacier
Resources

There are no resources for this route/place. Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.