Spur Trail: Shannon Ridge Trail (Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, WA)

Spur Trail?

Every once in a while, I'll review a Spur Trail: a trip that can provide for an interesting couple of hours but not the grandeur of a national park or enough for a full day's visit.  Basically, if you are in the area, stop by, but I wouldn't necessarily tell someone to go out of their way to see it.

Shannon Ridge Trail (6 miles out-and-back) rises 2200' from Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest to the boundary with North Cascades National Park in Washington state.  We hiked it in late June as part of a multi-day mountaineering trip in the national park.  My review of the trail will not be very precise, given that we hit solid snow 1 mile in and it never stopped.  So our route barely, if at all, matched the ground trail.  

The trail is mainly used to reach a climbing route within the national park that leads to Mt. Shuksan.  Nevertheless, if you are in the area and want a hike to some sweet views on a clear day, this is worth considering.  You may not see that much on the way up, but from the ridge Mt. Baker and beyond awaits.

Shannon Ridge Trail starts at the end of Forest Road 1152014, where the road dead ends at a parking lot.  The trailhead is very well marked with an information sign.  The first mile of the trail is broad and flat, as it is an old logging road.  If it has rained recently, or the snow is still melting up high, expect it to be muddy and for the stream crossings to be a little dicey (at least, if you've got a heavy pack on for a six-day trip). 

After the first mile, the trail narrows but continues heading straight north.  Between 1 and 1.5 miles in, it gets noticeably.  There are openings in the forest to the right (east) on occasion that should enable you to see the opposite side of the valley and some waterfalls. Through the rain and/or snow, we only heard them.

Our trusted guide, warning us of the sinkholes in the snow.  Alaska and I found a few of those... 

I deftly avoided this one.

After 1.5 miles in, the gradient increases dramatically.  Trail descriptions I read indicated that the hike begins to switchback.  By this point, we were hiking on continuous snow cover so we went, more or less, straight up the slope.  If you encounter similar conditions, be on the lookout for air pockets in the snow that might open up if you step on them. 

The switchbacks or climb lead you through an old clear-cut in the forest that is slowly regrowing.  Eery moss was hanging off several trees.  After 2 miles total, the trail breaks out of the woods and one can (I am told) enjoy quit the view from near 4600 feet.   It was snowing and/or raining on the way up and the way down so I can't confirm.  The last half mile follows Shannon Ridge to the park boundary.

Fortunately for us, the sun finally came out while we were camped just over the boundary line for a few days.  This was QUITE the sight to wake up to.   That is Mt. Baker behind our tents.  

 

Good morning!

To get a full sense of the panaroma, check out (a Stumbles first!) the video below.  In the interest of full disclosure, I am in the national park at this point, but you get the idea.

In Short:

• 3 miles one-way, 6 miles total
• First mile is super flat and broad, in dense forest
• From mile 1 to mile 2, the trail narrows and gets increasingly steeper.
• Mile 2.5 to 3 is along the ridge, culminating in excellent views of Mt. Baker and the surrounding ranges.

Logistics:  The closest major town is Sedro-Woolley, WA.  You'll need a parking pass, which you can purchase from the Park and Forest Information Center in Sedro-Woolley.  From there, take State Route 20 East to milepost 82 (17 miles).  Turn left onto Forest Road 11 / Baker Lake Highway.  After passing Baker Lake (lovely) and several camping spots, turn left on Road 1152.  Follow it for 4.5 miles (it becomes Road 1152014 after three miles) to the end.  In the parking lot, there is a very nice "restroom" (porta-john) and informational sign.  It is best to stock up on supplies in Sedro-Woolley.