Super scary rockfall on Sauk Mountain today. We were about 2/3 up when we heard people near the top yelling “ROCK!!” We were on the north end of the switchback and we could see all of those on the south end of each switchback were in a dangerous path of a bigger-than-bowling-ball jagged rock flying down the mountain. It picked up momentum as everyone was now yelling “ROCK” and went over the heads of some hikers who didn’t seem to notice it. It could have been a killer. I presume it got knocked loose when someone stepped aside to let others pass and hate to think it was thrown on purpose or knocked down by someone cutting a switchback. It was shocking to see it bounce and fly through the air. So grateful no one was hurt.
This trail is one of my favorites. I really hope it will get some attention to block the shortcuts and shore up the erosion.
The road has potholes, rocks and ruts. It also has long smooth stretches. Drive with care and park at the last hairpin turn if you’re worried about clearance. The outhouse is BAD. I recommend avoiding it if you can.
Started out cloudy and cool which was nice for the up hill hike. Fortunately on the way down the sun came out and along with that, the butterflies. A little snow that felt solid in the center and plenty of mosquitoes on top. I put on some bug spray and only got a few bites. Quite a few marmots today. We heard grouse but didn’t see them.

This trail has been on my radar for 25 years but never got around to it because it's a long drive for a short hike.  We made it worth our while by adding a few other sites to complete the day.

The dirt road is about 8 miles long and some sections have potholes that you have to slow down for. Overall I thought it wasn't too bad but wouldn't suggest trying it with a low clearance sedan.

There are nice views right from the small parking lot. There were about 15 cars when we arrived at 10 am. 

There's an amazing variety of wildflowers along the entire trail. Everything seems to be in full bloom now. Views of the N Cascade peaks are outstanding in all directions 

Flies and mosquitoes will find you if you stop moving for more than 20 seconds. Deet was effective. 

We did a second short hike at Rockport SP to enjoy the beautiful old growth forest preserved here. 

Topped off the day with nice burger at the Rockport Bar and Grill. The next door campground has excellent access to swimming in the Skagit river. Much appreciated by Sky on this warm day.

On the drive home, we stopped at the Oso landslide memorial. This was completed relatively recently. It is a beautiful tribute to the lives that were lost. It also offer some interesting interpretive information about landslides etc. It is really well done.

4mi rt, 1200 ft. In spite of the short journey it's very beautiful and satisfying. Big reward for low effort.

Bear sighting! On my way back down the forest road a large black bear loped across the road about 50ft in front of me. So be aware there are bears in the immediate area. Don't leave any food in your cars. He was chill just minding his own business, but just so people are aware.

Road

The road was a lot better than I thought after reading reports. It's bumpy and long and very doable for anyone until the final half mile to the trailhead. That is the point you see why people say you need high clearance. There are deep ruts, big rocks, and unavoidable dips. I would not take any sedan on this road the chances of rock damage or bottoming out are very high. That being said, if you have clearance it's no big deal. The real issue is that last bit is also narrow with more spaced apart pull outs so you have to hope no one else is coming the opposite direction.

Trailhead

I arrived at the trailhead at 5:45am. There was one other vehicle in the lot. I never saw who was there so I don't know where they went, but it wasn't on the Sauk mtn trail. The lot is small and was filling up when I left around 9:30. There is a bathroom and it's open, pretty smelly though(but no prohibitively so) it's just 50 feet past the trailhead on trail you can't miss it.

Trail

This is a delightfully easy trail. Nicely graded dirt swtich backs all the way up the mountain. The wildflowers are in full bloom too. Once I gained the ridge at the top I started seeing so many marmots.

Dog owners please be sure to leash, there are baby marmots and ptarmigan that I spotted. Make sure they are not harassed by dogs and do not get separated from their mothers (I encountered a very fussy mother ptarmigan) I only saw one dog on trail and they were leashed(thank you lovely owner) so just be sure, keep the wildlife on this trail safe!

The final bit to the ridge is gorgeous, the views open up into the north cascades. Stunning.

Scramble to true summit

Now, many are not aware that the viewpoint this trail takes you to is not the proper summit of Sauk mountain. To reach the summit you have to follow the ridge about 0.1 of a mile further. This does involve some light scrambling on an exposed ridge, so I would not recommend to most. It's the second hump (you will know because of the benchmark)

The scrambling was all easy, just some loose dirt and rocks, and the exposure on either side got a little spicy. Over all simple and straightforward, glad I got to play on some rocks.

Return

On the hike back down I passed 7 other hiking parties. Most arrived between 7 – 8:30am(you can see the lot from most of this trail so it was easy to see when it filled up) so plan accordingly. Everyone was very friendly and out enjoying the views!

The lot was almost full when I got back, as I said there is not a ton of parking and there are only a few really good spots, after that it's much rougher terrain for your car.

Bug report

The mosquitoes are out in full force. They are pretty much at their peak. I had some break from them when the wind picked up but they were pretty constant. Especially near the summit ridge. I kept myself covered and still got bites. It's just that time of year. Bring a head-net and your choice of bug protection.

Overall stunning hike, amazing views, fun scramble. Totally worth getting a few mosquito bites

My cousin and I pivoted here for a birthday hike after reading trip reports about Boulder Lake. What a fantastic alternate!

The wildflowers are blooming, views are incredible from the jump, and the trail is nicely graded (If a little washed out and eroded in a couple places).

The road on the other hand, is gnarly. Big potholes, washboarded, and long. Def requires a high clearance vehicle.

There is no bathroom available at the TH, the old bathroom is closed, with a sign on the door saying its no longer serviced - best to not use it, even in a pinch.

Last note, we were surprised at the number of people we saw. The trailhead was full at 10 40 when we got there, and stayed full all day.

Photo 1 - views start from the TH
Photo 2 - Sauk Lake from an overlook
Photo 3 - More views from near the top
Photo 4 - still views!

Definitely remember to bring and wear sunscreen. Most of the trail is exposed with the occasional dip into the trees for shade. The erosion on the switchbacks is only getting worse throughout the years. They eat into the actual trail in spots, creating trip and fall hazards for those not paying attention to their footing.
The bugs have no respect for personal space, however, they are merely an annoyance rather than a barrier.