Rainbow Ridge Hike
Rainbow Ridge Hike

Rainbow Ridge Hike

Mount Baker
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Rainbow Ridge Hike

Rainbow Ridge Hike

Distance: 5.0mi
Elevation: 1,581ft
Time: 2.5-4h

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The Rainbow Ridge hike is a gorgeous 5.0mi adventure in the North Cascades that takes you along a ridge with great views of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, Canada, and beyond. In terms of difficulty, this hike sits on the harder end of moderate, making it an ideal trip for strong beginners and intermediate hikers. You’ll need a fairly capable vehicle to get to the trailhead.

Rainbow Ridge Hike Map

Getting there

The trailhead for the Rainbow Ridge hike is at the end of National Forest Development Road 1130.

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About

Backcountry Campground

No

When to do

July-October

Pets allowed

Yes - On Leash

Family friendly

No

Route Signage

Poor

Crowd Levels

Low

Route Type

Out and back


Rainbow Ridge Hike
Elevation Graph


Rainbow Ridge Hike Description

The Rainbow Ridge hike is an impressive adventure with standout views of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, the Canadian border, and lots more. It’s a beautiful hike that sits right in between moderate and hard on our difficulty scale, so it’s a good challenge for beginners or a comfortable venture for intermediates and better.

You’ll want a capable vehicle to make it to this trailhead since the road isn’t in very good condition. We recommend downloading the GPS track for this hike since the trail can become hard to follow if there’s snow or washed out areas.

From the trailhead, you’ll immediately jump into a consistent climb up to the ridgeline. This section is where the majority of the elevation gain in the entire trail occurs, so it’s an easier trip once you’ve crested the ridge. You’ll traverse west, taking in the views and enjoying an easier route. The trail terminates where the south side of the ridge flattens out. From this point, turn around and retrace your steps.

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