Cow Heaven

You won’t find any actual cows on this steep and rewarding hike, but you will be able to feast your eyes on snowy North Cascades peaks, alpine meadows, thick forest, and awesome waterfalls.

 The trail (number 763) starts low in a valley bottom and gains 4000 feel in approximately five miles, but don’t let that scare you away from this lovely hike. There is plenty to see whether you hike partway or continue all the way to the Helen Buttes. Also, the trail is relatively smooth and easy to follow.

The trailhead is less than half a mile from the North Cascades National Park Wilderness Information Center  in Marblemount so stop by with questions but note that it closes for the winter.

The first part of the trail is buried in cedar forest and is routed around private land. You will cross a creek and soon begin the tight switchbacks. If you go soon, you may even be able to catch the striking fall colors of a smattering of vine maples in all their autumn glory.

You will re-cross the same creek after about a mile, and again after a bit of a climb. The forest begins to thin and you will catch some views of the peaks across the Skagit Valley.

After two miles the trails relents for a while in its climb and allows hikers to take in the splendor of a few massive cedars before entering a beautiful grove of old growth.

The forest thins and eventually you will break through the canopy (about 4000 feet and 4 miles) and get some more glimpses of peak views. There is a small path leading off the trail that leads to more views – from there you may feast your eyes on Teebone Ridge and Colonial Peak or turn south and take in The Cascade River valley, Snowking Mountian, Whitehorse, and the Illabot Peaks. 

If you dig even more views and your orientation skills are top-notch, you may want to head toward the Helen Buttes a bit further before turning around. Be safe, pack your 10 essentials, and be sure to check weather conditions before you go! Have fun!