Sumas Mountain is a
mountain
A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually higher t ...
located in
Whatcom County
Whatcom County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Washington, bordered by the Canadian Lower Mainland (the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley Regional Districts of British Columbia) to the north, Okanogan ...
,
Washington, 15 miles northeast of
Bellingham and southwest of
Vedder Mountain. Located in the
Skagit Range, the mountain is notable for its high
biodiversity
Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic ('' genetic variability''), species ('' species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') ...
and year-round
hiking trail
A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. ...
s. It is sometimes referred to as American Sumas to distinguish it from an
identically named mountain across the
Canada–United States border
The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world. The terrestrial boundary (including boundaries in the Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts) is long. The land border has two sections: Can ...
in
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, for ...
just to the north, both of which are drained by
tributary
A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drai ...
creeks of the
Sumas River.
The mountain is largely owned by the
Washington Department of Natural Resources, but some parcels are privately held. While the public land is open for recreation, it is managed primarily for timber harvest.
Clearcuts are present on many slopes and most all the remaining forest is in varying stages of recovery and regrowth.
Washington State Route 547, which traverses a low pass on the mountain's northern flank, runs northwest from the
Mount Baker Highway, (SR 542) in
Kendall to
SR 9 in
Sumas, which is located on the Canada–United States border and south of
Abbotsford,
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, for ...
. The
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad once traversed the same pass.
The controversial
Swift Creek Landslide is located on the mountain's western slope.
See also
*
Sumas Mountain (British Columbia)
*
Sumas Peak
*
Sumas (disambiguation)
References
External links
*
*
*
Mountains of Whatcom County, Washington
Mountains of Washington (state)
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