Mount Raymond is the second highest of a long line of peaks that punctuate the ridge separating Mill Creek Canyon from Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is often climbed in conjunction with its sister peak, Gobblers Knob, that is just 5 feet higher and lies just 1.3 miles away on the opposite side of Baker Pass. The Forest Service maintains four good trails to Baker Pass, and from Baker Pass there are two shorter spur trails that ascend to the summits of Mount Raymond and Gobblers Knob. All four of the trails are very scenic, but the trail I will describe here is the shortest. This trail is also entirely within the confines of the Mount Olympus Wilderness Area, and it will give you the opportunity to view Big Cottonwood Canyon form the summit of Circle-All Peak. You can read about the other three trails to Baker Pass on pages 42, 49, and 68.
      The Mount Raymond hike begins by following the Butler Fork streambed through a forest of aspen and Douglas fir for about 0.5 mile. Then it turns left onto another trail that climbs out of the canyon to the top of the ridge separating Butler Fork from Mill A Basin. A Forest Service sign clearly marks the trail junction where you must bear left. From the canyon floor the trail climbs steadily to the west, beginning a series of switchbacks just before it reaches the crest of the ridge.
      When you reach level ground at the top of the ridge you should stop for a moment and look both ways. The main trail turns north to begin a long traverse around Mill A Basin, but another fainter trail turns south. This is the trail to Circle-All Peak. Circle-All Peak is just 0.2 mile away with an elevation gain of only 150 feet, so it would be a shame to miss it. The five-minute walk south along the ridge to Circle-All Peak will reward you with nice views of Big Cottonwood Canyon.
      Continuing north on the main Mount Raymond trail for 0.3 mile will bring you to another trail junction. If you turn right here you will end up at Dog Lake, but to get to Baker Pass and Mount Raymond you must turn left. Again, the junction is clearly marked with a Forest Service sign.
      The next 1.2 miles across Mill A Basin to the top of Baker Pass is one of the most pleasant parts of this hike. The forest is generally more open here with only an occasional grove of quaking aspen blocking the view. Baker Pass can be clearly seen from the basin, with Mount Raymond rising above the left side of the pass.
      Five minutes before reaching the pass you will come to an unmarked junction where a less-used trail departs on the left. This trail to Mill B North Fork described on page 68. The main trail continues upward, reaching the top of the pass after another 0.2 mile.
      When you reach the pass you will see two other more primitive trails going up each side of the ridge toward Gobblers Knob on the right and Mount Raymond on the left. The Mount Raymond Trail climbs steadily up the grassy slope for 0.5 mile, but then comes to an obstacle that may give pause to some inexperienced hikers. The route is blocked by a seemingly impassable knife-edge outcropping of limestone. (See photograph on page 45.) Although you will need both hands, the climb along the 30-foot-long knife-edge is not nearly as bad as it looks. The exposure is minimal and, furthermore, this is the worst part of the climb. Beyond the knife-edge outcropping there is more minor scrambling, with bits and pieces of the trail visible. Just continue along the crest of the ridge, and within another five or ten minutes you should be on the summit.

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