Horseshoe Bend, North Fork Nooksack River

The North Fork of the Nooksack River, or Horseshoe Bend, is accessible year-round along the Mount Baker Highway, via an easy 2.4-mile roundtrip hike with a 220-foot elevation gain, making it suitable for the whole family. The trail reaches a highest point of 1,200 feet and provides a dramatic display of the North Fork of the Nooksack River. Originating from Mount Shuksan's glaciers, the river carved its path through house-sized boulders and snags, creating a narrow, tumultuous gorge. From the parking lot, descend wooden steps to the trail, which follows the river’s edge. The path provides stunning views of the river squeezing through the gorge and meanders through a moss-covered forest of firs, hemlocks, and cedars, before eventually petering out.