| About Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest |
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| Heliotrope Ridge Trail |
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Difficulty:
More Difficult
Elevation:
3,700 Feet
Elevation Gain:
1,400 Feet
Length:
3.5 Miles
Trail Number:
677
Usage:
Extremely Heavy
USGS Maps:
Mt. Baker & Groat Mountain.
Reservation:
No
Season:
Early Summer - Late Fall
From Glacier, Travel east on Mt. Baker Hwy. 542 for approximately 1 mile to Glacier Creek Road #39. Turn right on Forest Road #39. Follow this road for 8 miles. The parking area and trailhead are located on the left side of the road. A toilet is provided at the trailhead.
Location Information
The Heliotrope Ridge Trail is a strenuous 2.5 mile hike or mountain climbing access route. This extraordinarily busy trail leads hikers from dense old growth forest to flower filled avalanche chutes, over rocky moraines, to the snowy alpine zone. The trail starts by crossing Grouse Creek on a stout bridge and then plunges into deep forest, climbing steadily. The dense forest begins to thin as hikers climb higher, and huckleberries are abundant along the trail. About 2 miles from the trailhead, there is a junction in the trail. This is the end of the maintained trail. The right fork leads to the Coleman Glacier climber's route to Mt. Baker's 10, 781 foot summit. Taking the left fork, hikers can continue east and scramble to a lateral moraine deposited by receding glaciers. From this overlook, the Coleman Glacier is an awesome sight, spilling down Mt. Baker's flanks into a jumble of ice. Late snow can be a potential hazard to trail users in early to mid summer. Glacial crevasses are also hazardous. Hikers will encounter several stream crossings along the trail. These crossings are potentially hazardous.
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