Shannon Ridge — Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024

This is a hidden gem in the Baker area. On a beautiful day there were only three hiker groups and two backpacker/climber groups to be seen. Haze from the fires was noticeable to the east/southeast but Baker and Shuksan sat under blue skies.

The road has some potholes and grooves but should be doable for sedans. There was even a roadster at the trailhead. After a warm-up on the old logging road, the switchbacks through the forest are very manageable, despite some overgrown spots and rooty areas. You reach your reward soon enough, with berries along the way.

I went beyond the NPS boundary, following the very obvious trail up to the trees and next ridge. The trail is rocky and requires a few handholds, plus poles would help, but it’s very doable for non scramblers. At the top you get nice views down into the other side of the ridge and further into the North Cascades, but just a heads up that Shuksan becomes entirely blocked. You can keep going through a boulder field with some exposure and a much more faint trail. I tackled some of it, going around the bend hoping to see Sulphite Glacier but nope, that would require more effort and trail finding than I was willing to put in.

In any case, it’s great up there, but also plenty beautiful if you decide to stay at the NPS sign clearing. Hopefully the photos will help you decide.