North & South Lookout Mountain

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This particular Lookout Mountain is located just West of Mount Baker, not to be confused with the Lookout Mountain near Bellingham, or the one near Marblemount. The south summit would make a good ski destination while the forested north summit is more of a peakbaggers destination. Views along the road much of the way provide good motivation for continuing higher and higher. For snowshoers, this would be a long trek without the assistance of a snow grooming machine and snowmobile tracks. The snowmobile tracks are a near guarantee in this road accesses the slopes of Grouse Ridge, a popular destination.

Take the Mount Baker Highway just past the town of Glacier. Turn right on the signed Glacier Creek Road #39. Depending on the snowline, there are different parking locations. In winter, it may be as high as 3,500 feet at the Road 36 junction. The next lower winter trailhead is at the quarry site at 3,080 feet. (This trip report and map start from this location.) In a heavy snow year, I would guess the road starts out toward the highway. I believe in summer, you can drive roads nearly to the summit of Lookout Mountain.

Access

Elevation: North: 5,080+ feet, South: 5,076 feet
Distance: 10 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet, +500 for North Summit
Road Access: Mostly paved with good gravel near end

Lookouts

From the quarry parking, walk up the road under a mile to the Road 36 turn. Follow Road 36 up to the base of the south summit, following the roads shown on the map. Generally, all uphills and the junctions. The road will end on a shoulder of the summit, just west of the highpoint. From there, just follow the ridge back to the highest point. Views

South Summit Route

Mt. Baker Highway

Just drop down the north ridge of the South summit, veering to the east a bit to avoid very steep slopes. The more east-southeast you go the easier the terrain. Intersect a wide road and follow to the saddle between the two summits. Continue on the road as it slowly ascents the side of the north peak. Pick a location to leave the road and climb through young trees or follow the road to its end, ascend a minor gully, and then traverse into the old-growth for the remainder of the climb. No views at summit.

North Summit

The south summit was said to have a 1930's lookout camp where a telephone was nailed to a tree. Reportedly abandoned in the 1940's.

A Lookout

Starting up the road

First views of Baker from the junction with FR 36

Heading up there where the sun is shining and melting the snow from the trees

Some clouds came up the valley, then quickly disappeared

Nearing the summit of South Lookout Mountain

Baker from around 4,800 feet

Looking NW from the summit

North Lookout Mountain from South Lookout Mountain

Doing the Penguin shuffle - snowshoeing without poles

Walking down the road

Looking north from near summit of South Lookout Mountain

Walking out in the moonlight