Hikes in Mount Baker

Chain Lakes Loop is a classic and beautiful summertime hike near Mount Baker. This alpine circuit offers massive mountain and lake views, summer wildflowers, and blueberries to boot.

Skyline Divide is a rolling ridgeline hike that offers breathtaking panoramic views from Shuksan to Baker. Listen out for the whistling marmots, and be prepared for one of the best seasonal wildflower shows around. This is such a great way to spend a sunny summer day with friends. Read the full guide to Skyline Divide.

The wildest trail accessible from Artist Point, Ptarmigan Ridge is a hike for solitude-seekers. In addition to wildflowers, berries, and wildlife-spotting potential, this climbing route offers fantastic close-up views of Mount Baker.

The Yellow Aster Butte trail has summer wildflowers, fall colors, twinkling tarns and 360-degree mountain views. All that adds up to Yellow Aster Butte being an undeniably spectacular trail in the Mount Baker wilderness in the North Cascades region of Washington.

This popular hike up Heliotrope Ridge crosses several creeks before reaching a spectacular overlook of Coleman Glacier. Along the way, hikers share the path with mountaineers attempting to summit Mount Baker.

The hike to Lake Ann takes you through wildflower meadows and talus slopes to Lake Ann for close-up views of Mount Shuksan’s thunderous glaciers. This is a longer hike that always leaves us tired, but also relaxed. Thankfully, the elevation isn’t too brutal.

Prepare for panoramic views aplenty when you hike up Hannegan Pass and Hannegan Peak. This 2,078 m, North Cascades vantage point showing off mounts Ruth, Shuksan, Baker, and many more. This is a tough hike, but it’s well worth it.

The Artist Ridge hike boasts a huge payout for relatively little effort. This 1.9 km lollipop hike is an extremely popular summer photo destination. Everyone loves the views of Mount Shuksan, Mount Baker, and beyond.

The short, steep hike to Table Mountain’s summit rewards trekkers with 360-degree mountain views, from the towering Mount Shuksan to the glacier-clad Mount Baker. This trail is a bit exposed at times, so not good for those with a fear of heights.

The 0.8 km paved Picture Lake loop hike is exactly that: a picture-perfect trail for strollers and wheelchairs. Aptly-named Picture Lake, this trail is popular for photo-ops due to its easy access and incredible views of Mount Shuksan reflected back into the crystal clear waters.

Hiking Heather Meadows and Artist Point makes for a lovely quick trip in the Mount Baker Wilderness. This hike is 4.7 km long and rated as easy, making it a good pick for beginner hikers, families, or those seeking a more laid-back experience. You’ll earn great views of Mount Herman, Mazama Dome, Table Mountain, and the numerous lakes that dot the area. Since this hike starts and ends near the Austin Pass Picnic Area in Heather Meadows, you can extend your adventure to include some picnicking and relaxing.

This trail isn’t very well marked. We recommend downloading the GPS track, but even then, you’ll potentially need to exercise some routefinding abilities depending on when you visit, if there’s snow, and how busy it is. Try to look for a trail, even if it’s faint, to minimize damage to the surrounding foliage. Expect a few short steep sections.

Baker Lake Trail is a 22.5 km point-to-point hike that can be used for day trips or multi-day adventures. This trail is dotted with campsites as it stretches along the southern shore of Baker Lake, but despite the number of adventurers it attracts, it still feels very peaceful and quiet.

This trail has two access points, one at the southern end of the lake and one at the northern end of the lake. You can hike as far as you like on this route before turning back if you intend to use it for day trips, and the lack of junctions and straightforward nature of the trail make navigation a breeze. The trail also enjoys a relatively low elevation, making it hikeable when other routes are covered in snow.

Sauk Mountain is a 6.1 km out and back hike that features impressive views over Mount Baker National Forest. From the top of the 1,633 m mountain, you can look out over the Sauk and Skagit river valleys, the Cascades, the Olympics, and as far as the San Juan Islands on clear days. This route is also known for its wildflowers in the spring, which are plentiful. The southern exposure on this trail means it’s usually less snowy than others in the area during shoulder season, making it a good spring or fall pick.

The route is moderate with lots to look at as you go. Expect some steep switchbacks and areas affected by erosion. The road to the trailhead also has its challenges, and some vehicles may not be able to make it all the way there. Most users report having to stop about a third of a mile from the trailhead, so you may need to park along the side of the road and walk if you have a lower clearance vehicle.

The Big Four Ice Caves are a popular spot, and the hike to get there is quite easy. The caves in the receding snow are formed by water and melt, causing tunnels under the snow to appear. The caves are very cool to explore, but we must stress the importance of not going inside of them and not climbing on top of them. Multiple people, including children, have been killed at this site. The snow is unstable and can collapse on top of you or underneath you. It’s incredibly important that children and adults alike enjoy the caves from outside and off the snow.

The route to reach the caves is fairly easy, with only moderate elevation gain required. En route to the caves, you’ll be treated to views of mountains and waterfalls. Wildflowers grow alongside the trails in the spring. It’s quite a charming area and this hike is definitely worth adding to your list.

The Baker Hot Springs is an awesome spring tucked into the trees in Mount Baker National Forest. As far as natural hot springs go, this one is quite nice, and the water sits at a pleasant temperature. The hot springs don’t get very busy, especially if you go in the evening or during the week.

The trail to the springs is very short and quite easy. At only 1.0 km long, it’s a trip that can be done in just a few minutes, making access to the springs a breeze. There aren’t any big views on the trail, but you’ll get to enjoy the forest as you go.

These hot springs are uncontrolled and unrestricted. Some bathers choose to go nude. While this isn’t exceptionally common, keep it in mind if you plan to bring the whole family.

The Park Butte Lookout Trail is a beautiful trail that leads to a historic fire lookout. You’ll have unobstructed views of Mount Baker and the Twin Sisters from this perch. Not only that, but the route there is flanked by waterfalls and wildflower meadows. It’s a hike that captures the beauty of Washington State and the Cascades.

This route is moderately difficult. The distance and elevation gain are both manageable for most stronger beginners. Younger children may struggle a bit, but active families should be able to make it to the top. Lots of campers come to Park Butte to stay the night. While you can camp in the lookout, it’s first come, first served.

The Monte Cristo Trail is an easy 13.7 km out and back hike that takes you to a spooky ghost town left from the mining boom days of Washington. This hike is mostly flat, quite scenic, and fun for kids with its relics from the past. A hundred years ago, this area was bustling and full of work. Now, it’s slowly being reclaimed by nature.

The hike itself is suitable for all skill levels. While it’s a bit longer, the relative flatness of the trail makes it an easy trip. It’s passable through most of the year before the snow starts to take over.

Note that the road to this trailhead is subject to seasonal closure. Check the conditions and the status of the road if you plan to visit in the wintertime. Additionally, bring enough water for the trail. Refilling isn’t recommended in the water sources here due to the risk of leftover materials from the mine. If you must drink the water here, make sure you filter it first.

Nooksack Falls is a twin waterfall just of Forest Road 33 in the Mount Baker Wilderness. The hike to the waterfall viewpoint is hardly a hike at 0.2 km long and with 0 m of elevation gain. Essentially anybody can enjoy the view here. While it might not be worth planning a whole trip around, Nooksack Falls makes for a nice leg stretcher as you drive. Expect heavy traffic on this route.

Racehorse Trail is a quick hike to a pretty waterfall that cascades over several tiers. The hike to the waterfall is extremely quick and easy, so hikers of all ages and skill levels can enjoy this trail. It’s fun to add onto other adventures in the area or use to stretch your legs when driving. Expect light traffic on this route.

Elbow Lake Trail is a remote route that takes you to a small elbow-shaped lake (hence the name) in the Mount Baker Wilderness. This hike is 9.7 km long with some challenging elevation gain, but most intermediate and better hikers should be able to enjoy it. This route does get a bit overgrown, and you’ll need to be prepared for an unaided creek crossing. Bring wading shoes!