Dock Butte

The mountains of the North Cascades are not easy but Dock Butte has a road high on its shoulder allowing hikers to get close to the summit. Any high view in the North Cascades is going to be incredible because of all the rugged peaks around. Dock Butte offers a 360 degree vantage point of a good number of the big ones like Baker, Shuksan, The Twin Sisters, Blum and Bacon. Far below is Baker Lake but Mt. Baker itself is the star of the show with the immense Easton Glacier in your face. If all this is not enough, a short side trail goes to Blue Lake, a small scenic lake in a cirque.
Home

WillhiteWeb.com

Access:
Follow Highway 20 east from Burlington/Sedro Woolley to Hamilton. A few miles past Hamilton is a sign for Baker Lake. Turn left and follow the Baker Lake Road/Grandy Lake Road for 12 miles. Turn left on F.S. Road 12 where a sign has multiple trails on it. From there follow signs for Blue Lake Trailhead, as well as follow the map below as there are many roads including new ones.
Route:
After 1/4 mile, the left fork leads a half mile to Blue lake. Take the right fork to Dock Butte. The trail steadily climbs with occasional switchbacks. Soon the trail starts offering views to distant mountains. Near the top, a few shortcut paths shoot off toward the summit. Going too early in the season will have snow patches. This trail is popular with beginners.
North Cascades Hikes
Distance: 2 miles one-way
Elevation Gain: 1,400 feet
Summit Elevation: 5,239 feet
Access: Good Gravel
County: Skaget
Prominence: #101 at 2,309 feet
Blue Lake Trailhead mount baker dock butte trail mount baker Dock Butte Trail Dock Butte Trail mount baker Dock Butte Trail mount baker dock butte lookout Twin Sisters Mountain Mount Shuksan Baker Lake Mount Blum Bacon Peak view from dock butte Dock Butte Reference Mark dock butte trail map dock butte Picket Range mount baker
Bacon Peak
Mount Shuksan and Baker Lake
Twin Sisters Mountain
On the trail with the final summit in view
Blue Lake Trailhead
Snowball fight
On the trail looking north
Mount Blum
From the summit looking north to Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan
Looking Southeast
A Dock Butte Reference Mark #2
Slight detour on the way down
Mount Shuksan
Zoom up the Baker River into the Picket Range
Mount Baker
Lookout History:
Around 1935, an L-4 cab was built. Panoramic images were taken this year.
In 1939, the USGS placed some benchmarks, making mention of the lookout.
In 1964, the building was destroyed.
Former Lookouts
recreation map dock butte dock butte dock butte
1935 Recreation Map
Southeast 9-18-1935
North 9-18-1935
Southwest 9-18-1935
dock butte lookout dock butte lookout dock butte lookout
Dock Butte in 1937, photo by Bill Rivord
Photo by Bill Rivord. Left to right in picture: Albert Fladebo, Roy Benham Norman Fladebo