John Guilford's Hikes

Date: 2026-08-04

Location: Park Butte

People: (including myself): Happy Hikers

			  	Alt.	Miles
Trailhead:		9:15	3350	0
Scott Paul Trail:	10:30	4450	2.4 (1.8)
Railroad Grade Trail:	10:40	4650	2.8 (2.1)
Manzama Park Trail:	11:00	4725	3.1 (2.6)
Lookout:		11:45	5463	4.3 (3.5)
Leave:			12:30
Railroad Grade Trail:	1:45	4650	6.5
Traihead:		3:00	4853	9.2 (7)

The road up to the trailhead was pretty pot holed and somewhat rough on the 8-1/2 mile dirt section.  That made for some slow travel.  We arrived early enough to not have trouble finding parking. 

The day was warm and smokey from wild fires.  The smoke wasn't that noticable but did make the peaks rather hazy and less distinct. 

At the beginning, and again a couple miles up the trail, the Scott Paul trail (a loop) branches off.  On this initial part of the trail, you get a good view of Survey Point straight ahead, a sharp point above a steep rock face. 

Beyond the Scott Paul trail, things evens out a bit.  You cross Rocky Creek, which in the morning was just a bed of dry rocks to cross.  Later, on our way back down, there was more water flowing with a limited amount of rock hopping needed.  In past hikes, there was more water here that needed to be crossed. 

You then pass the trail for Railroad Grade, a popular route for climbing Mt. Baker. 

After passing the trail for Manzama Park, you get to a relatively flat area that has several small tarns (ponds) scattered about. 

As you approach the lookout, the trail forks with the right fork being shorter and steeper while the left fork is a bit longer but not as steep. 

We went up the right fork, but came back down the left fork. 

At the lookout, we were surprised to find some folks sleeping inside the lookout.  I heard they came up in the middle of the night and then camped out.  That left the outside catwalk for the rest of us. 

We had lunch there, enjoying the view of Mt. Baker and seeing some climbers descending the Easton glacier as well as other hikers on Railroad Grade. 

Our party had split into 3 on the way up, with one group going up Railroad Grade, and two going to the lookout.  I was in the faster group to the lookout.  The second group arrived about the time we were finishing lunch, and we left to make more room at the lookout. 

On our way down we detoured from the main trail to visit one of the tarns east of the main trail.  There were a fair number of smaller foot trails through that area.  We passed the tarn and headed north trying to meet up with the main trail, but we found ourselves at the top of a steep slope.  We turned west and found a trail that lead back towards the main trail. 

In a feat of great coincidence, just as we got back to the main trail, we met our second group descending from the lookout.  Lower down at the Railroad Grade trail, we met up with our group who had done that option, so we were all together again for the remainder of the hike out. 

Mt. Baker from trail below lookout

Park Butte lookout

Mt. Baker reflected from tarn south of main trail

Crossing Rocky Creek in the afternoon