Coleman Glacier Climbing Route

The Coleman route is the most popular route on Mt. Baker. Begin three miles along the Heliotrope Ridge Trail, in old growth forest and climb through flower-filled avalanche chutes and over rocky moraines near the edge of the Coleman Glacier. As the trail gains elevation the dense forest thins just before the trees peter out you arrive at the former site of Kulshan Cabin. Approximately 2.25 miles from the trailhead the path forks. The right fork leads to the Coleman Glacier climbing route. From this point climb steeply along a moraine crest known as the Hogsback, leading to the toe of the Coleman Glacier. The climbing route traverses the Coleman Glacier to the summit at Grant's Peak. The best conditions are from late May to August. As the season progresses the route becomes increasingly more technical as open crevasses make route finding difficult. This route, including the access along the Heliotrope Ridge Trail #677 and Coleman Glacier, is in the Mt. Baker Wilderness. See also: Mt. Baker climbing information.