Cougar Loop

Cougar Loop is a cross-country ski route in the Mt. Baker Ranger District of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail's out-and-back shape and elevation make it a challenge for skiers, with a total round-trip gain of about 586 feet over roughly 1.5 miles. The climb starts at about 2,417 feet and reaches a high point of 2,441 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 0.46 miles, with a 17% grade, and the route is rated hard. Winter is the natural season for skiing here, and the nearby Ross Dam weather station records typical averages of highs near 38°F and lows near 30°F in January and February, with fewer wet days in July and August. That station sits about 1,200 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the loop run cooler. Several other destinations sit close by. The North Fork Nooksack River, a paddling route, is just 0.2 miles away. The Nooksack Cirque Trail and Goat Mountain Trail are both within about a mile, and Baker Crags, a climbing area, is about 1.7 miles off.