Yellow Aster Butte, WA

Yellow Aster Butte, WA

Awesome hike, indeed - stunning fall colors are prime at Yellow Aster Butte right now. It was 72 degrees at 2500 feet....warm like summer. This hike is really worth for driving 2.5hrs from Seattle….grand vistas of spectacular alpine peaks(Mt. Baker, Mt. Shuksan, Goat Mountain, Tomyhoi Peak, Winchester and Canadian border peaks), wildflower meadows, and lakes/tarns. Inter-connected trails also offer a variety of adventure to explore.  A little glacier(snow) walk is an exciting addition to this hike. Yellow Aster trail is similar to Artist Point/Heather Meadow/Chain Lakes loop trails in many ways, or even better, I might say.  I couldn’t go without stopping and pausing(awestruck!) frequently for jaw-dropping views displayed before me. 7.5 mile RT and 2500 feet elevation gain may sound easy, but not really. Switchbacks are rather steep, and final ascent to the summit is a real thigh burner….it’s an equivalent of West Tiger’s Cable Line(if you know what it is). Suck in lots of air and ascend for the reward at the top! Trekking poles get handy for descending the steep stretch.   Wild heather’s fall colors spread like a red carpet along the trail.  I saw quite a few overnight hikers on the trail, which made a good sense to me after all…imagine seeing all the spectaculars at sunset and sunrise with nature’s magical ingredients? Yellow Aster Butte will not only impress you with gorgeous fall colors, but also feed your soul with N. Cascades alpine plateau and grand vistas.

Roundtrip	7.5 miles
Elevation Gain	2550 ft
Highest Point	6150 ft

How to get there:

From Bellingham take the Mount Baker Highway (State Route 542) and drive east for 34 miles to the Glacier Public Service Center. Continue east another 13 miles, turning left onto Forest Road 3065, signed "Twin Lakes Road"(the turnoff is right at the Department of Transportation's Shuksan garage). Continue on FR 3065 for 4.5 miles to the trailhead (elev. 3600 ft). 

 *Click to view large

 

Mt. Dickerman, WA

Mt. Dickerman, WA

I am convinced now that Mt. Dickerman is one of the most popular hikes in the vicinity of Seattle.  Jaw-dropping vistas at the summit, wildflower meadows, fall colors and elevation gain 3,875 ft to reach the peak of 5,723 ft demand seemingly endless switchbacks and steep grade near the summit....it's a real butt kicker.  All in all, Mt. Dickerman is no doubt one of the best among local hikes.  Followed by last week's Bandera Mountain, my friend and I aimed at Mt. Dickerman this time. The weather was more than perfect....beautiful sunny day with a crystal clear blue sky. Feel awestruck in the spectacular 360 views of the N. Cascade mountain range - Glacier Peak, Sloan Peak, Vesper Peak, Mt Baker, Mt Shuksan, Three Fingers, Mt Pugh, Whitehorse, Big Four, and Del Campo Peak....it is a real reward after gaining 3,875 ft in 4.3 miles. Mt. Rainier is also visible when the sky is clear.  Wildflower meadows are just beginning to display fall colors now. The fall is a time for reflection. Mt. Dickerman will not disappoint you. ENJOY!

Driving Directions: From Granite Falls follow the Mountain Loop Highway east for 27 miles to the trailhead, 1.8 miles beyond (east of) the Big Four Picnic Area (elev. 1850 ft). 

Roundtrip	8.6 miles
Elevation Gain	3875 ft
Highest Point	5723 ft

                                                         *Click to view large