Mt. Baker Area Hiking

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Yellow Aster Butte Trail, Autumn

Parent Category: Hiking
in Mt. Baker Area
Created: 17 November 2015
Location: North Cascades Region, Mt. Baker Area
Roundtrip: 7,2 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Elevation Gain: 2550 feet
Highest Point: 6150 feet
GPS Coordinates: N 48 56.611 W 121 39.751
Visitor’s Information:

Recreation Pass Required at Trailhead

Pictures below will show you the autumn splendor of Yellow Aster Butte. Enjoy the beauty of autumn scenery!

Photo from the Yellow Aster Butte Trail, taken during a beautiful autumn time, Mt. Baker Area, North Cascades
General Information:

The whole beauty and magnificence of autumn may be seen, felt and experienced while hiking the Yellow Aster Butte Trail. Incredible riot of colors and shades make this butte beautiful beyond description. And if you are hiking the Yellow Aster Butte Trail you’ll hardly resist the temptation to taste the ripe huckleberries which are plentiful along the trail. Add to all this unbelievably gorgeous panoramic views of multiple mountain peaks, located around Yellow Aster Butte and you will be able to create a picture in your imagination of what awaits you during this hike.
The only thing which will be hard to find along the Yellow Aster Butte Trail is the solitude, as its advantages made it one of the most popular trails in the region, especially during the Fall. 

 Photo from the Yellow Aster Butte Trail, taken during a beautiful autumn time, Mt. Baker Area, North Cascades

The Yellow Aster Butte Trail #686.1 shares the trailhead and first 1.4 miles with the Tomyhoi Lake Trail # 686. From the trailhead the trail ascends for about half a mile quite a steep brushy slope through numerous switchbacks.

Strolling along the trail, winding up the slopes of Yellow Aster Butte, take your time to soak in the beauty and richness of colors, and pick some berries. After passing some forested area you will already be able to see some views of Goat Mountain and Mount Baker. 

You will find yourself quite soon in the Mount Baker Wilderness area and the grade of ascend is getting much milder. 

At 1.4 miles the trail splits, and here you should take the left turn (just follow the sign) to continue hiking the Yellow Aster Butte Trail. From here the trail passes around the southern side of the Yellow Aster Butte and soon reaches relatively flat basin. Walking around the rocky valley with some streams, you will finally get to a place where your walk will be slowed down, but not because of undermaintenance of the trail, but because of the exquisite views of gorgeous mountains. 

 Photo from the Yellow Aster Butte Trail, taken during a beautiful autumn time, Mt. Baker Area, North Cascades

Numerous vistas of Mount Shuksan, Baker, Goat will leave you breathless. The grandeur of the mountains is just awe inspiring. Spectacular mount peaks, the tops of which are hidden in the clouds, unbelievable beauty of the valley will make you want to come back here again and again.

Photo from the Yellow Aster Butte Trail, taken during a beautiful autumn time, Mt. Baker Area, North Cascades

At about 3.5 miles from the Yellow Aster Butte Trailhead you will find one more trail junction. If you follow the trail which leads to the right, you will get in about 0.5 mile to the summit of Yellow Aster Butte. 

The trail, leading to the left, descends through several switchbacks for about 200 feet and leads the hikers to Yellow Aster Meadow with some admirable small tarts. Here you can spend a night (as camping along the Yellow Aster Butte Trail if forbidden). From this place you can also enjoy the views of American and Canadian Border Peaks, Tomyhoi Peak and some other stunning peaks and striking ridges.

Photo from the Yellow Aster Butte Trail, taken during a beautiful autumn time, Mt. Baker Area, North Cascades

Camping at the Yellow Aster Meadow will give you some additional time to wander around the area, exploring it. You will also open for yourself one more appeal of this area – the night sky which will just complete the unforgettable impression of this fantastic place.

 

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://beautifulwashington.com/north-cascades/hiking/mt-baker-area/458-yellow-aster-butte-trail-autumn.html?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=#sigProId52a4287f96

These pictures were taken in September, 2015

Driving Directions:

If you are traveling from Glacier (Washington State), you should drive approximately 12 miles east along Mount Baker Hwy SR 542. After 12 miles take the left turn to Twin Lakes Road (also known as Forest Service Road 3065) (the turn is just behind the maintenance facility of the Department of Transportation). You will get to the parking area of the Tomyhoi Lake/Yellow Aster Butte Trailhead in approximately 4,5 miles.

GPS Coordinates: N 48 56.611 W 121 39.751

In order to get directions click on the map below:

 

Photo: Roman Khomlyak

Photo Editing: Juliana Voitsikhovska

Information: Svetlana Baranova