What a gorgeous hike!
I didn’t find the road to the trailhead difficult at all. There were quite a few cars in the lot without high clearance, so it's definitely doable. There are a few potholes on the way up, but if you take it slow, you should be fine.
Most people seemed to be heading up to the lookout, but we started on the Scott Paul Trail going counterclockwise. We weren’t sure if that direction would give us the best views, but it ended up being great—we hardly saw anyone on that stretch. The views were phenomenal: wide-open meadows and endless visibility out into the Cascades.
At the junction, we continued up to Railroad Grade—wow! You really get close to Mount Baker there. The trail along the ridge is narrow with a drop on one side, but most people seemed comfortable with it. The glacial erosion along that section was amazing to see up close.
The fall colors were popping! We encountered the crowds on the way back down. The ladder over the river was solid in the afternoon, but there was another section of river crossing that wasn’t as clearly marked. I made it across without getting my feet wet, but I don’t think I was on the intended route.
I definitely plan to come back!
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