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 Reporter |
Summary: The road to the trailhead is a bit scary but the trail is well worth the effort. Not many take this route which parallels the more popular Skyline Divide Trail to the west. When we took this hike in August, the trail led us through wildflowers taller then our knees. There were interesting volcanic rock formations and lots of snow-melt ponds. Also do not forget to bring the bug spray as we were plagued by hordes of misquitos. Trailhead: From Bellingham go east on the Mt. Baker Hwy (Hwy 542) to just past milepost 40. Turn right on Wells Creek Rd (#33). Continue past Nooksack Falls to a junction in the road. Make a hard right and follow this for 6 miles to a bridge. The road is poorly maintained past this point. Go 6 more miles to another junction and stay left. You will come to a fork in the road right after this, take the right fork to the trailhead on the left. The trailhead is not marked but easy to find. NOTE: This road is closed between November 1st and July 7th to protect wildlife. (Lat:48.86784 Lon:-121.80608) Trail Guides for Cougar Divide: Hiking Whatcom County by Ken Wilcox (NW Wild Books) Best Seasons: Fall, Summer, User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Ranger Contact: Glacier Public Service Center (360) 599-2714 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Robbie Hochreiter, who has posted 24 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Submit your own review 
Reviewed by JRH on 7/18/2007 Snow melt ponds in depressions along the ridge make this the most mosquito infested trail I have ever hiked. So buggy that even with repellant you are almost driven mad and will probably end up swallowing a few. However, the meadows where Cougar Divide meets Chowder Ridge are beautiful to behold, with a view of the very top of Mt. Baker above Chowder Ridge to the south. The hike up the north side of Chowder Ridge is a grunt. Inexperienced hikers have lost their way as the Cougar Divide trail can be ill defined in places. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Washington Hiking, Washington Trails, Washington Hikes, Whatcom County Hiking, Whatcom County Trails, Whatcom County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||