High Divide
High Divide Trail is a 13-mile trail in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to hiking and horse and pack stock. It enters Mount Baker Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 48.9098° N, 121.8018° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 48.9136° N, 121.7006° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start.
The trail
| Length | 13 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 12-20 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| Trail numbers | 630 |
| Forest | Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (unit 0605) |
| States | Washington |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed year-round |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 08/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Wilderness
- Mount Baker WildernessFS · about 84% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
Trailheads
Excelsior Pass Trailhead No season published Wilderness regulations apply | under 0.1 mi |
Welcome Pass Trailhead No season published High Divide Trail is open to hikers and llamas year round and open to stock July 1-Oct. 31. No campfires along trail. Wilderness regulations apply, including a maximum party size of 12. | under 0.1 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Explore
Historic places nearby
Guidebooks for Washington
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the High Divide Trail?
The Forest Service records 13 miles under this name in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, the sum of 1 segment.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the High Divide Trail?
Hiking and horse and pack stock are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the High Divide Trail start?
The line begins at 48.9098° N, 121.8018° W and ends at 48.9136° N, 121.7006° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Excelsior Pass Trailhead, under 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the High Divide Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Mount Baker Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Mount Baker Wilderness
Where can I camp near the High Divide Trail?
Silver Fir Campground (0.7 mi), Excelsior Group Camp (0.8 mi) and Douglas Fir Campground (4.8 mi) are within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists all 3 with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the High Divide Trail?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the High Divide Trail?
The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the High Divide Trail?
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Forest Service unit 0605. The trail is in Washington.
Source
This page is built from 1 segment named High Divide in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0605. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.