Heliotrope Ridge and Lower Coleman Glacier & Seracs

Heliotrope Ridge trail offers easy access to amazing glacier views on Mount Baker. The glaciated area is perfect for practicing glacier travel, crevasse rescue, and ice climbing if you have the gear and expertise.

getting there

From I-5 just north of Bellingham, drive east on SR-542 (Sunset Highway) to 1 mile east of Glacier. Turn right (south) on Forest Road 39 (Glacier Creek Road) and continue 9 miles to head of Mount Baker Trailhead (3,700 ft).

on the trail

Hike up Heliotrope Ridge Trail to the site of the old cabin. It's 5.5 miles round trip with 1,800 feet of elevation gain to a high point of 5,550 ft.

coleman glacier & seracs

From the cabin, follow climbers' trail (covered with snow early in the season) up the steep ridge to the moraine at the edge of the glacier. There are good camp spots on the edge of the moraine  below 6,000 ft.

noteS

  • There are many crevasses on this glacier.
  • Forest Road 39 (Glacier Creek road)  is susceptible to washouts.

Information for LEADERS

INTERNAL CLIMBING LOTTERY

  • This is a very popular climbing area. Please review the relevant Internal Lottery Results document below.
  • The 2024 Mountaineers Internal Lottery results are now final. Please select the Coleman Seracs 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 Coleman Seracs 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

  • Use this route/place for glacier travel, crevasse rescue, and ice climbing field trips on the lower section of the Coleman Glacier.
  • If you are scheduling this as a non-course related activity, please limit your group size to the default party size. The maximum party size is for use by course field trips only, and includes both students and instructors. Group size maximums do not reflect how course field trips are run (in smaller groups of students and instructors), but allow for course leaders to register the course in our system.
  • This route allows multiple bookings. Please check scheduled trips listed below in the "Activities" tab to see if there is another group already booked on the same day. If so, please coordinate with them to ensure you are carpooling and teaching at different areas. Our permit allows for a maximum of two groups per day with up to 12 people each.

  • Suitable Activities: Climbing, Day Hiking
  • Seasons: May, June, July, August
  • Weather: View weather forecast
  • Length: 5.5 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 1,400 ft
Map
  • USGS Mt Baker
  • Green Trails Mount Baker Wilderness Climbing No. 13SX
  • Green Trails Mt Baker No. 13
Activities

Upcoming Activities

Snow II: Glacier Travel - Heliotrope Ridge and Lower Coleman Glacier & Seracs

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

Alpine Ice - Mount Baker Lower Coleman Seracs & Glacier

Climbing Field trip: Basic Climbing Course
Get on some low angle alpine ice and practice.
Fri, Jul 12, 2024
No Prerequisites
8 participants 1 instructor
Bellingham Branch
Tara Salisbury

Alpine Ice - Heliotrope Ridge and Lower Coleman Glacier & Seracs

Climbing Field trip: Basic Climbing Course
Get on some low angle alpine ice and practice.
Sat, Jul 13, 2024
No Prerequisites
0 participants 1 instructor
Bellingham Branch
Minda Paul

Alpine Ice - Heliotrope Ridge and Lower Coleman Glacier & Seracs

Climbing Field trip: Basic Climbing Course
Get on some low angle alpine ice and practice.
Sun, Jul 14, 2024
No Prerequisites
6 participants 1 instructor
Bellingham Branch
Minda Paul

Everett Intermediate Alpine Ice Field Trip - Heliotrope Ridge and Lower Coleman Glacier & Seracs

Climbing Field trip: Intermediate Alpine Ice
Swinging tools up on the Coleman seracs on Mt. Baker
Sat, Aug 3, 2024 - Sun, Aug 4, 2024
Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
11 participants
Registration opens Mar 1
Everett Branch
Khrum Kashan

Intermediate Ice 1 & 2 - Heliotrope Ridge and Lower Coleman Glacier & Seracs

Climbing Field trip: Intermediate Climbing Course
Intermediate Ice 1 & 2 Field Trip
Sat, Aug 10, 2024 - Sun, Aug 11, 2024
Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
11 participants
Bellingham Branch
Krissy Fagan

Alpine Ice Field Trip - Mount Baker Lower Coleman Seracs & Glacier

Climbing Field trip: Alpine Ice & Mixed Climbing
Practice travel techniques, top roping, and mock leading on alpine ice
Sat, Aug 10, 2024 - Sun, Aug 11, 2024
No Prerequisites
6 participants 5 instructors
Registration closes Aug 8
Foothills Branch
Peter Tran

Intermediate Crevasse Rescue - Heliotrope Ridge and Lower Coleman Glacier & Seracs

Climbing Field trip: Intermediate Climbing Course
Intermediate Crevasse Rescue
Sat, Aug 24, 2024 - Sun, Aug 25, 2024
No Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
11 participants
Bellingham Branch
Krissy Fagan

Intermediate Ice Field Trip I - Heliotrope Ridge and Lower Coleman Glacier & Seracs

Climbing Field trip: Intermediate Climbing Course
Introduction to Ice Climbing, Mock leads
Sat, Sep 28, 2024 - Sun, Sep 29, 2024
No Prerequisites
3 participants 1 instructor
Registration closes Sep 25
Olympia Branch
sara ludeman

Intermediate Ice Field Trip II - Heliotrope Ridge and Lower Coleman Glacier & Seracs

Climbing Field trip: Intermediate Climbing Course
Instruction on placing ice protection, anchor building, and mock leads progressing to leading.
Sat, Oct 5, 2024 - Sun, Oct 6, 2024
Prerequisites
3 participants 1 instructor
Registration closes Sep 25
Olympia Branch
sara ludeman
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.

  • Heliotrope Ridge
  • Mount Baker Lower Coleman Seracs & Glacier
Resources

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