Excelsior Group Camp

About Excelsior Group Camp

Overview Located near the rushing Nooksack River in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Excelsior Group Camp offers access to numerous recreational activities popular in the north Cascades Mountains in Washington state.Recreation The area surrounding the campground is prime location for hiking, fishing and picnicking in summer and early fall. Hikers and backpackers are especially fortunate to have access to a variety of trails near the campground and in the surrounding areas. Horseshoe Bend Trail is an easy forest hike along the Mt. Baker Scenic Byway, highlighting old-growth forests, gushing whitewater rapids and forest wildflowers. The trail follows the North Fork of the Nooksack River upstream to a stunning view of East Church Mountain. The trailhead can be accessed from the nearby Douglas Fir campground. Another popular hike in the Mt. Baker Ranger District is the Skyline Divide Trail. This trail climbs steadily for two miles through forest into lush, open, flower-filled meadows with stellar views of glacier-draped Mt. Baker. The trail then wanders along Skyline Divide for another 1.5 miles, offering views of rivers, forests and countless peaks.Facilities There are two large group sites in the campground. Site A will sleep 50 people and has a group fire ring along with picnic tables ant fire pits at the tent sites. Site B accommodates 50 people and has picnic tables and fire pits. Vault toilets are also provided. Natural Features The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest showcases rugged peaks, sparkling alpine lakes and old-growth forests. Mt. Baker, the most prominent feature of the nearby Mt. Baker Wilderness, rises to an elevation of 10,781 feet. This active volcano is perpetually snow-capped and mantled with an extensive network of creeping glaciers. Mt. Baker's summit, Grant Peak, is actually a 1,300-foot-deep mound of ice, which hides a massive volcanic crater. Fed by the high snowfields and glaciers of Mt. Baker, Mt.Shuksan and the Twin Sisters range, t

How to Get There

From Seattle, Washington, go north on I-5 to Bellingham. Take exit 255 onto Sunset Drive/Mt. Baker Highway SR 542. Turn right (east) on SR 542 and continue past the town of Glacier near mile 33. Continue past Glacier approximately 7 miles to the campground. The sign for the campground is located on the left (north) side of the highway. The campground access road is on the right (south) side of the highway, just before mile post 40. Turn right on the access road and then take the first right through the gated entrance of the campground. Site B is the first site on the left. Site A is the loop at the end of the driveway.

What to Pack for Your Stay

Tuned to the live forecast for this park.

Plan Your Visit to Excelsior Group Camp

Heading to Excelsior Group Camp? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)