Washington · Cross-country skiing

River Trail

0.8 mi
round trip
150 ft
climb
2,033 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is River Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It doesn't name River Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

River Trail is a short, low-elevation cross-country ski route in the Mt. Baker Ranger District of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is an out-and-back of about 1.5 miles, with a high point of 2,033 feet and a low of 2,001 feet, so the climb is minimal at just 22 feet of elevation gain. The steepest stretch comes early on, at about 0.2 miles in, with a grade of 6 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Upper Baker Dam show July and August highs around 74 to 75°F with only seven or eight wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the upper 30s and frequent snow days from December through February. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Several other destinations sit within a short distance. Mom's, a cross-country ski area, and Silver Fir Campground are each about 0.4 miles away, and Baker Crags, a climbing area, is about half a mile off. The North Fork Nooksack River, a paddling route, is roughly 1.4 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit River Trail

    Best months: July–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      38° / 29°

      21 wet · 4 snow

    2. Feb

      42° / 29°

      18 wet · 3 snow

    3. Mar

      48° / 32°

      20 wet · 2 snow

    4. Apr

      56° / 36°

      17 wet

    5. May

      64° / 42°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      67° / 47°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 51°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      75° / 51°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      69° / 47°

      11 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 41°

      17 wet

    11. Nov

      44° / 34°

      21 wet · 1 snow

    12. Dec

      37° / 30°

      21 wet · 5 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Upper Baker Dam, WA, 17.2 mi away at 690 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Campfire Ban in Effect Forest-wide

      Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest · Order dated July 21, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Sep 15, 2026 · Forest Service

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