Boulder Glacier is located on the southeast slope of Mount Baker, a stratovolcano near the Pacific coast of North America in the Cascade Range of Washington.

[5] William Long of the United States Forest Service observed the glacier beginning to advance due to cooler and wetter weather in 1953.

The trail passes through a climax community of pacific silver fir and related species of disparate ages with many standing snags.

Boulder Ridge consists of scenic heather-covered benches and a number of lateral moraines left by vanished glaciers.

At about 10,000 ft (3,000 m) elevation, the route passes to the southwest of steep rock and ice to reach the summit ridge east of Grant Peak.