Directions
I-5 to Cook Road (exit 232) east to Highway 20. Turn left (east) and continue 0.3 miles past milepost 82. Turn left onto Baker Lake Road. Drive 12.5 miles then turn left onto Forest Road 12. Continue for three miles before turning on Forest Road 13. Follow to parking lot at road end.
Notes
Baker Lake Basin of Mt. Baker National Recreation Area.
Views of Sherman Peak and Mount Baker. Great hike complete with swaying suspension bridges and creek hopping.
Named after a young ranger who worked on the trail and died in a 1993 trail-construction accident.
This trail, formerly known as the Sulphur Moraine Trail, was rebuilt and extended in the mid-1990s to connect with Park Butte Trail on the east and west ends, forming a delightful 7.5-mile loop. The trail was renamed in memory of Scott Paul, a Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest trails and wilderness coordinator who died in 1993. The Scott Paul trail is within Mt. Baker National Recreation Area.
The Scott Paul Trail is used by climbers attempting to summit Mt. Baker via the Squak Glacier. Climbers are highly encouraged to sign the climbers' register at the Mt Baker Ranger District office in Sedro-Woolley before heading into the backcountry.
Begin at the Park Butte Trailhead 603 and look for the Scott Paul Trail junction about 100 feet down the trail on the right. Start climbing gently through the forest for two miles and reach the highest elevation of 4,700 feet with a rewarding view of Mt. Shuksan and other Cascade peaks. The trail contours around the base of Mt. Baker, winding through rock gardens, meadows and glacial moraines, offering glimpses into the volcano`s historical activity. Continue on to experience magnificent views of Mt. Baker and cross Rocky Creek on a suspension bridge in place between July and October.
In 5.5 miles, the trail intersects the Park Butte Trail. Turn right to Morovitz Meadow and the Railroad Grade Trail and Park Butte Lookout. Choose the left fork on the Park Butte Trail to descend to the trailhead in two miles. About one mile from the trailhead, cross Rocky Creek again. The crossing has no bridge and can be challenging during periods of heavy runoff.