Join us for a guided day hike with Shifting Gears as we explore the diverse trails of the North Cascades. On Saturday, August 29th, we will be exploring the Park Butte Lookout Trail, which is a moderately steep route with stunning mountain views that ends at a historic fire lookout built in 1932.
Name: Park Butte Lookout Trail
Length: 7.5 miles round-trip
Elevation Gain: 2,200 ft
Trail Difficulty: Moderate/Hard
Registration:
Shifting Gears provides a tiered registration system to ensure accessibility for everyone, regardless of financial status. We encourage you to choose the registration tier that best fits your budget. Your fees help cover essential logistics, experienced trip leaders, permit fees, and transportation costs.
What to Expect:
Our hikes are designed to be supportive, inclusive, and adaptable, with experienced leaders helping the group move at a comfortable, enjoyable pace. Shifting Gears day hikes are barrier-free, community-focused experiences that include transportation and encourage connection, confidence, and fun outdoors. Come ready to embrace changing terrain, build skills, and enjoy a full day immersed in nature with a welcoming group.
On Park Butte Trail, hike to a historic fire lookout and come face-to-face with Koma Kulshan. Along with unobstructed panoramic views of Mount Baker, the Twin Sisters, and the rest of the North Cascades, the route to Park Butte offers wildflower-filled alpine meadows and a stunning variety of mushroom species.
Logistics:
Meeting Time: 7 am in downtown Bellingham (carpooling to trailhead)
Meeting Location: The Portal Container Village Parking (free day-long parking in downtown Bellingham)
Drive Time: 1.5 hr drive to trailhead
Return Time: Approximately 5:30/6:00 pm
Learn more on our Day Hike website page.