Washington Cascades - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 311

Just north of Concrete are two reservoirs formed by a pair of dams on the Baker River.
Washington's largest colony of nesting osprey is found at Lake Shannon. Baker Lake is a
popular place to launch a boat and go fishing for kokanee salmon or rainbow trout. There
are also several hiking trails.
Baker Lake Rd runs along the western side of the lake, passing several campgrounds
and the Shadow of the Sentinels , a wheelchair-accessible trail through old-growth
Douglas firs. Beyond the end of the road, the relatively flat Baker River Trail makes a
good family hike, running 2.6 miles up the jade river past huge old cedars and beaver
ponds.
To reach the lakes, turn north off Hwy 20 onto Baker Lake Rd, which is 6 miles west
of Concrete.
Upper Skagit Bald Eagle Area WILDLIFE CENTER
The Bald Eagle area is essentially the 10-mile stretch of the Skagit River between Rock-
port and Marblemount. After salmon spawn, their spent carcasses become meals for the
more than 600 eagles that winter here. January is the best time to view the eagles, which
are present from November through early March.
Those who want to learn more about these illustrious raptors should visit the Skagit
River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center ( www.skagiteagle.org ; 52809 Rockport Park Rd, Rock-
port; 10am-4pm Sat, Sun & holidays mid-Dec-mid-Feb) . Guided walks around the eagle
sanctuary leave from here, one block south of Hwy 20, at 1:30pm weekends and holi-
days.
Activities
Climbing
Since the washing out of the White Chuck River trail in 2003, Glacier Peak , Washing-
ton's oft-forgotten wilderness volcano, is usually tackled from the North Fork Sauk
River Trail , which begins at a trailhead off the Mountain Loop Hwy. The push to the top
takes you across the Sitkum Glacier, a relatively nontechnical but steep route to the
10,541ft summit. The 2003 storm also damaged this route. Check ahead. Seattle-based
Mountain Madness ( www.mountainmadness.com ) offers guided trips and six-day ice-
climbing courses in the area from $900 and $1395, respectively.
Rafting