Bacon & Canadian Bacon Peaks

getting there

From SR-20, turn north onto Baker Lake Road (Forest Road 11). Just past the junction with Forest Road 12, turn right onto Forest Road 1106 and follow it around the south end of Baker Lake. Then follow Forest Road 1107 to its end and the Anderson & Watson Lakes Trailhead (4,360 ft).

Approach

Hike the Watson Lakes Trail (No. 61) and at a saddle in ~1.4 miles, ascend south on a hiker's path following a ridge high above Lower Anderson Lake. The path opens up into meadows leading to Upper Anderson Lake with Lower Watson Lake below to the northeast. Leave Upper Anderson Lake heading in a northeast direction and ascending a short wooded gully. Continue this direction to open moraine and heather slopes to ~5,300 ft.

Traverse under the Watson peaks and descend to 5,000 ft to get around a buttress to the east of Watson Peaks.  Ascend to a saddle (5,360 ft) and cross to the south side of the ridge.  Continue east dropping elevation slightly while heading for the the next low point in the ridge (a saddle at 4,900 ft), crossing a short buttress (easy ledges) en route.  Once though the saddle, traverse again to the north side of the ridge crest.  Descend straight down to to the bottom of the basin at 4,000 ft and then ascend the open meadow and rock marked hillside.  A good camp is at 5,900 ft, 0.5 miles to the northeast of Bacon Peak.  

ascent route

From camp ascend southeast to the summit of Bacon Peak (7,061 ft).  Note that it is possible to travel to the summit without crossing glaciers. From Bacon Peak rope up and traverse in a northeast and then southeast arc, losing as little elevation as possible, to the summit of Canadian Bacon Peak (6,600 ft).

descent route

Descend the climbing and approach routes to the Watson Lake Trail and return to the trailhead.

equipment

Standard glacier gear.

Notes

• Because of the open terrain and relatively easy trail for most of the approach, this can probably be done as a long one-day climb by a fast group.  

information for leaders

Courses, paid clinics, staff-led programs, and course field trips require a Commercial Use Authorization. The Park typically accepts applications for 2-year CUAs  through mid-March each year, and CUA's are activity-specific. Please contact info@mountaineers.org if you would like to apply for a CUA for a field trip or paid clinic for an activity we do not already have a CUA for. Please follow all Mountaineers group guidelines when leading trips or courses in North Cascades National Park. 

Notes:

• Leaders are responsible for securing backcountry permits or other required permits even if  we have a CUA.
• Leaders must have all relevant CUAs with them in paper or electronic copy to show Parks Staff as requested. 
• All Hiking course field trips or paid clinics must have a First aid and CPR certified leader. Current (non-expired) certificates must be uploaded to the park web portal by Mountaineers staff prior to the trip
• All mountaineering field trips or paid clinics must have a WFR-certified leader and a leader with documented climbing certifications (an AMGA certification OR Mountaineers climb leader with a recent resume of training and experience). Both qualifications must be uploaded to the park web portal by Mountaineers staff prior to the trip

View list of current North Cascades CUAs

photo by Rob Busack

• Suitable Activities: Climbing
• Climbing Category: Basic Alpine
• Seasons: June, July, August, September, October
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Basic Alpine Climb
• Length: 15.0 mi
• Elevation Gain: 4,400 ft
• High Point: 7,061 ft

• Land Manager: North Cascades National Park
  Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness, Mount Baker Ranger District (MBSNF)
• Parking Permit Required: Northwest Forest Pass
• Recommended Party Size: 6
• Maximum Party Size: 6
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 6