Mount Baker

1 Mount Baker in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is a major outdoor recreation area (ski, snowboard, mountaineer, hike, etc.) located east of Bellingham. It is one of the five major stratovolcanoes in the area that have produced over 200 eruptions in the last 12,000 years.

Nearby Mt. Shuksan, Washington during winter.

Understand

History

Mount Baker has worn several appellations in its 400,000 years. Long before white settlers came, Nooksack Indians called it quck-sman-ik, meaning "white mountain." The Lummi Indians near Bellingham Bay called it kulshan, meaning "broken off." Presumably, they were referring to the frequent volcanic activity.

English explorer Captain George Vancouver rededicated the mountain while charting the region in 1792. He named it for Lt. Joseph Baker, a young officer in his command who spotted the peak while their sloop "Discovery" was sailing off the coast of Washington, near Dungeness Bay.

Flora and fauna

The North Cascades is home to many species of wildlife, from the common chipmunk to the grizzly bear.

In the summer, alpine flowers bloom along the high-altitude trails. The late snow melt means that the flowers bloom quite late in the year, usually late July or August. Fireweed and Columbine put on some of the most colorful displays.

Climate

Temperatures in the Mt. Baker area range from 70s (°F) with clear skies in the summer to upper 20s with rain and snow through the winter. Annual rainfall in the lowlands is 30 to 50 inches. At higher elevations, precipitation ranges from 70 to 140 inches.

In 1999, Mt. Baker set the world record for the most snowfall in a single season: 1,140 inches (2,895.6 cm)!

Get in

From Bellingham, take Interstate 5 to exit 255, take Sunset Drive east until it becomes State Route 542, and follow that highway 56 miles to the ski area, about 90 minutes in good weather conditions.

Another popular route, for Canadians, is to take the Sumas border crossing, and continue following the road signs as you drive southeast for 45 minutes.

The road is plowed regularly, so it should be passable to regular cars except during storms. However, that chains may be required on two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles during inclement weather. Vehicles over 10,000 gross vehicle weight rating must carry chains between November 1 and March 31. Check the Washington State Department of Transportation for winter travel information.

Fees and permits

All trailheads along the highway, including Artist Point, are regulated by the U.S. Forest Service. If you plan to hike, you need to display a parking pass on each vehicle:

• United States Interagency Annual Pass ($80 online, valid for unlimited use at all United States National Parks, National Forests, and National Monuments for one year)
• Northwest Forest Pass ($30 online, valid for unlimited use at all United States National Forests in the states of Washington and Oregon for one year)
• National Forest Recreation Day Pass ($5 online and valid on one self-selected day only).

You can pick up a pass at the Glacier Public Service Center.

Get around

The town of 1 Glacier has a few restaurants, lodges, and the last services before the rural highway arrives at the ski resort.

• 1 Glacier Public Service Center, 10091 Mt Baker Hwy. Ranger station with information on outdoor recreation (updated Oct 2024)

From there, every listing is accessed from WA-542, the Mount Baker Highway.

See

• 2 Nooksack Falls (7 miles east of the Glacier Ranger Station). (updated Oct 2024)
• 3 Picture Lake (at milepost 55). Popular photograph stop provides a postcard view of Mt. Shuksan. (updated Oct 2024)

Do

Winter sports

Mt. Baker lift ticket, your ticket to ride.

1 Mount Baker Ski Area, ☏ +1 360-734-6771. Has seven lifts, covering 1500 ft (455 m) elevation gain. The area claims typical snowfall of 647 inches (1,638 cm) per year. (updated May 2023)

Heather Meadows lodge is a good starting point for gear rental and has direct access to the bunny slope.

Hiking

The Mt. Baker area is covered with hiking trails, accessible as soon as the snow melts.

2 Artist Point, at the end of the road, is the trailhead for many popular hikes, including the demanding climb of Table Mountain, the stimulating variety of Chain Lakes Loop and the awe inspiring closeness of the mountain itself at Ptarmigan Ridge. For a shorter walk, the Artist Loop trail provides a great view of the mountain on an accessible paved loop, with the opportunity to continue up the hill just a little way to find small meadows and late summer ponds. The rocky terrain here feels like the backcountry, less than a mile from your car.

Climbing

Mount Baker is a popular glacier climb for those preparing to climb Mount Rainier.

Buy

The only retail is in Glacier and inside the ski resort.

Eat

At the ski resort are two day lodges with parking and full amenities (White Salmon and Heather Meadows), and a third ski-in lodge ("Raven Hot Cafe") with food. Tip: bring US dollars cash; while MasterCard and Visa are accepted for lift tickets and gear rentals, cash gets you a discount, and only cash is accepted at some food counters.

Sleep

• 1 Mt Baker Lodging, 7425 Mt. Baker Hwy, toll-free: +1-800-709-7669, reservations@mtbakerlodging.com. The closest places to the mountain to stay. Most cabins are in and around Glacier (about 30 minutes from the upper parking lot). A variety of different cabins can make for a quiet get away in the woods or a weekend in a cabin for ten with friends. Prices are in the mid to upper range depending on size and amenities. (updated May 2023)

Camping

The US Forest Service maintains three campgrounds along the Nooksack River on WA-542 east of Glacier: For information call +1 360-856-5700 Mt. Baker Ranger District

• 2 Douglas Fir Campground (at milepost 36). Has 30 tent sites. (updated May 2023)
• 3 Excelsior Campground (at milepost 40). A group site with two units that hold 50 people each. (updated May 2023)
• 4 Silver Fir Campground (at milepost 46). Has 20 tent sites. (updated May 2023)

Stay safe

• Use caution on access roads: watch for obstructions such as rocks, sudden bends, parked vehicles and pedestrians.
• Carry the Ten Essentials, stay on trails, wear adequate footwear and use a topographic map and compass. Always tell a friend your travel plans including destination and expected return time.
• After hiking, check yourself for ticks which may carry Lyme disease.
• Do not depend on cell phones as there are many 'dead spots.'

Wildlife

Keep wildlife wild. Animals can be attracted to food and other scents. Human food is both unhealthy for animals and can lead to potentially dangerous encounters with bears. Pack out all food waste, and never feed wildlife. Store food, garbage and toiletry items in bear-resistant canisters or other forms bear-safe storage.

Go next

• North Cascades National Park — all the hiking and climbing immediately east of the mountain

The nearest major cities:

• Seattle
• Vancouver

Explore the other ski resorts in the Washington Cascades:

• Stevens Pass — the biggest terrain within two hours of Seattle. Elevation 3,500–5,089 ft (1,067–1,551 m)
• Mission Ridge — on the eastern slopes, with more sunshine than the other resorts. Elevation 4,570–6,820 ft (1,390–2,080 m)
• Snoqualmie Pass — the closest ski resort to Seattle. Elevation 2,610–5,420 ft (800–1,650 m)
• Crystal Mountain — just east of Mount Rainier, with close-up views of the big mountain. Elevation 4,400–7,012 ft (1,341–2,137 m)
• White Pass — a relaxed atmosphere for all abilities. Elevation 4,500–6,550 ft (1,370–2,000 m)