Sherman Crater Fumaroles
Sherman Crater Fumaroles register 266 degrees Fahrenheit at 9,463 feet elevation within the active volcanic crater atop Mount Baker in Whatcom County. These extreme thermal features sit 6,935 meters from Middle Fork Nooksack Road in Mount Baker National Forest, requiring serious mountaineering skills for the alpine climb through terrain receiving 447.1 inches of annual snowfall where average temperatures measure 19.5 degrees.
The fumaroles occupy Sherman Crater near Mount Baker's 10,781-foot summit in the North Cascades, where volcanic heat creates steam vents and sulfur deposits in the glaciated alpine environment. At 9,463 feet, average annual temperatures of just 19.5 degrees and 447 inches of snow create one of the harshest environments in the continental United States, with persistent snow and ice coverage broken only by thermal activity. The crater sits surrounded by glaciers including the Coleman, Roosevelt, and Easton glaciers, with volcanic rock and ice creating a stark high-alpine landscape. The 114.9 inches of precipitation falls almost entirely as snow, building snowpack measuring in tens of feet.
Sherman Crater takes its name from William Tecumseh Sherman, though the naming history remains unclear in available sources. The fumaroles represent ongoing volcanic activity at Mount Baker, an active stratovolcano in the Cascade volcanic arc. Increased thermal activity in 1975 prompted concerns about potential eruption, though the mountain has not erupted since the mid-1800s. The fumaroles continue emitting volcanic gases, creating the 246.5-degree temperature difference above ambient air.
Attempting to reach Sherman Crater requires technical mountaineering skills, glacier travel equipment, rope teams, and crevasse rescue capability. The 6,935-meter approach from Middle Fork Nooksack Road typically takes two days, with climbers camping at higher elevations before summiting. Obtain climbing permits and file trip plans with the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The extreme altitude, weather, glaciers, and volcanic hazards make this one of Washington's most challenging thermal features. Summer months July through September offer the only practical climbing window.
Is Sherman Crater Fumaroles worth visiting?
Best for
- Viewing dramatic geothermal features
- Overnight camping trips
- Winter soaking with dramatic temperature contrast
Not ideal for
- Swimming or soaking
Overview Boulder Creek Campground sits along the banks of Boulder Creek in the stunning Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The unique setting offers many recreational activities and scenic views. Baker Lake is close by, and several hiking trails and climbing routes are within a short driving distance.Recreation The surrounding area is a prime location for hiking, climbing, boating, fishing, picnicking and horseback riding in summer and early fall, and snowmobiling in the winter months....