Honestly both routes are great. If you go south through Packer’s Pass you’ll have a slightly easier time scrambling up the chimney and the scree slope between the two lakes. As well, you’ll have great views of Baker Lake and Redoubt Mountain on the descent. But you’ll have to keep turning around as you climb to get views of Zigadenus and Myosotis Lake. If you go north through Packer’s Pass, you’ll get great views of Zigadenus and Myosotis, but you’ll have to turn around for views of Baker Lake and Redoubt.

I haven’t been up or down Deception Pass (I opted to go around Fossil Mountain through Cotton Grass Pass, which I do recommend). But from what I’ve seen of the pass from the top of Packer’s Peak, there are likely no great views going north, but going south you’d get good views of Baker Lake and Redoubt. It’s a horse trail, so it should be easy walking in both directions.

If you have night three at Baker Lake, I would go north up Packer’s Pass on day 1 and south via Deception Pass. But a better option is to go through Jones and Cotton Grass Passes between Skoki and Fossil mountains – that way you aren’t going out of your way to get to Baker Lake the way you would from Packers or Deception Passes.

My question is on route selection. I know I want to hike both packers pass and deception pass. This is my “loop”, instead of the more classic route counter clockwise around baker lake, then fossil mountain, then lodge/merlin meadows.

Which (packers or deception) do you suggest heading in north, and leaving out south?

I plan to include the Merlin Lake loop in this trip.

Two different routes I am contemplating:

1. [clockwise loop] night 1 at hidden lake camp, north via Packers pass passing Skoki lakes on the left, Merlin lake loop to Merlin meadows (night 2), south via deception pass, then night 3 at baker lake.

2. [figure 8] Night 1 at hidden lake camp, North via deception pass, Merlin lake loop to Merlin meadows (night 2), south via packers pass, then night 3 at baker lake.

Thank you for your time and help! 🙂