The 7 Best Mt. Baker Hikes In Washington State

One of the most underrated places in Washington State is the Mount Baker Area, located near the Canadian border. I had never heard of Mount Baker before I moved to Washington State. Of course, I had heard of Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park. But when someone mentioned Mount Baker, I was like, “What Mountain?”. I finally figured out where it was located and shrugged it off. “I’ll explore it next year,” I said. I explored the beautiful Olympics and Mount Rainier and finally made my way to the Mount Baker WA Area after living in Seattle for a year. Holy cow, was I blown away. In my opinion, this area is ten times prettier than any other area in Washington. I am in love with all Mt. Baker hikes. I am so disappointed in myself for not exploring it sooner. So here I am writing my favorite Mt. Baker hikes. These views are the best of the best in the state, and I promise you, you will not be disappointed.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you.

Mt Baker Map On How To Get There

The easiest way to get to the Mount Baker area is to fly into the Seattle Tacoma Airport and drive north for 147 miles. It is around a 3-hour drive. I know it seems far, but trust me, it is worth it! I make the 3-hour drive on the weekends, and I have never regretted it.

Please note that one of the hikes listed, called Park Butte, is located on the southern side of Mount Baker, so it is a different route to get to that trailhead. I show the trailhead locations below.

But if you want to do a good amount of hikes in a day, the Mount Baker Ski Area is a great place to start.

Mt Baker Trail Map

Best Time To Go For Some Mount Baker Hiking

When it comes to hiking, the best time to experience Mount Baker is the month of August. The snow has melted, and the weather is fantastic.

But some people still hike in the winter months. A very popular winter hike which I talk about below is the Artist Point hike. I will warn you that Baker has the unofficially highest average annual snowfall of any resort in the world, so you definitely need snowshoes if you are going to explore this area in the winter.

About Baker National Forest

The area I talk about is located in the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. The Mt Baker Forest is one of the most visited forests in the country and is located on the west side of the Cascades between the Canadian border and Mt. Rainier National Park; if you want a forest map, click here.

What To Pack For Hikes Mt Baker

1. Sunscreen: Super important and it is part of the ten essentials!  >Buy Sunscreen
2. Chapstick: This one has SPF so your lips won’t get burned! >Check Out This Chapstick
3. Hiking Boots/Shoes: If you use tennis shoes, you can easily hurt your toes hitting a rock by accident (Trust me, I have done it so many times before). >Check Out My Hiking Shoes
4. Hiking socks: Having the correct socks helps prevent getting blisters. Smart Wool is probably my favorite brand out there. >Buy Hiking Socks
5. Water Reservoir: Water reservoirs help prevent dehydration while hiking. The great thing about this reservoir is that it doesn’t have a plastic taste. >Here Is My Water Reservoir
6. Water: Stay nice and hydrated.
7. Sunglasses: It can get sunny in the summer, so make sure to pack some sunglasses. >Check Out These Sunglasses
8. Snacks: The best snacks are jerky, nuts, and energy bars. >>>Check Out These Snacks
9. Camera: The Sony A6000 was one of the first cameras I started traveling with. The Sony A6000 is an excellent camera for people that want to start improving at travel photography.  >Buy Sony Camera Here
10. First Aid Kit: This is one of the first things I bought when I first started going on adventures. It is super portable. >Buy This Awesome First Aid Kit Here
11. Day Pack to carry all your things: To carry all your gear, water, and food, you need a good backpack. Osprey is known to have some of the best backpacks in the market. >Buy This Great Quality Backpack
12. Headlamp: A headlamp is an absolute must in case you get stranded in the dark! It is a lot more portable and easier to use than a flashlight. >Buy A Headlamp Now
13. Leggings or Hiking Pants: I always wear leggings while hiking because it is what I feel most comfortable with! >Click For My Favorite Hiking Leggings
14. Breathable sweat-wicking shirts: Cotton shirts soak up your sweat when hiking, so make sure to wear something breathable. >Check out this awesome breathable shirt here.
15. Mid Base Layer: If you are hiking in the winter, this might be a great idea. I usually still bring them in the summer because I do a lot of sunset hikes, and it is chilly at night. >Check Out My Sweater Here
16. Sports Bra: For women. >Check This One Here
17. Jacket: I always have a jacket in my backpack, even if it is hot. I do it just in case of an emergency.  >Buy My Favorite Jacket
18. Rain Jacket: The worst feeling in the world is being wet and cold while hiking. You can get hypothermia, so always carry a poncho or a rain jacket when you hike Washington. >Check Out My Rain Jacket Here
19. Tripod: This is an optional item, but it is excellent for getting the ideal sunset pictures. >Check out this tripod
20. Knife: I always carry a knife in my backpack just in case. >Check Out My Knife Here

Where To Stay Near Mt Baker Hiking Trails

There are not many places to stay near Mt. Baker, but fortunately, I have stayed at a few cabins near the area. You can also stay in Bellingham, a larger city located west of Mt. Baker.

Airbnbs

• Hideout-Mt Baker Cabin: I stayed at this cabin, and I loved it! It was very spacious and comfortable, and it comes with a sauna and hot tub. >Book Here
• Hygge Hus: Another cute cabin located nearby that features a hot tub. This is such a Pacific Northwest Vibe Cabin. >Book Here
• Holiday Inn Express Bellingham: One of the nearest hotels located to Mt. Baker. This hotel is located in Bellingham. >Book Here

Read More: 27 Cozy Cabins In Washington State

Campsites Near Mount Baker Trails

The closest campsite is the Silver Fir Campground which you can make reservations here.

Backpacking Mt Baker Trails

I love backpacking in the Mount Baker Area. It is breathtaking and so dreamy! It is also pretty easy as you don’t need a permit in most places. Make sure you research the trail you want to backpack beforehand for any rules and regulations, and as always, pack out EVERYTHING you pack in. Dogs are allowed on most of the trails in this area, but please double-check before heading out. The rules might change before I update this post.

Best Mt Baker Hikes

Artist Point

• Distance (Summer, Winter): 1.5 miles, 4.0 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain (Summer, Winter): 265 ft., 1000 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty (Summer, Winter): Easy, Moderate
• Trail Guide (Summer, Winter): Link, Link

Artist Point is a fantastic easy hike in the summer. It looks even more epic in the winter, in my opinion. This trail is one of the most popular trails in the winter but make sure you only attempt this trail when the avalanche danger is low.

In the summer, the snowmelt makes this trail an easy short hike. Winter can be more difficult, and you also need snowshoes to get to artist’s point. Remember Mount Baker is one of the snowiest areas in the USA.

Many people love to backpack here, especially in the winter. The short trek makes this an easy beginner winter backpacking trip.

In the summer, many people elope here because the trail is so quick and easy, and the views are absolutely incredible. If you are looking for an easy spot to take stunning but momentous photos, this is the spot!

Skyline Divide Trail

• Distance: 9 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 2500 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Link

Skyline Divide is a stunning trail filled with wildflowers and mountain views. It is located on the north side of Mount Baker, and it is a well-known fantastic spot for backpacking. The surrounding views include Yellow Aster Butte, Mount Shuksan, Mount Baker, and Twin Sisters Mountain. What is awesome about this trail is that you can get close up views of Mount Baker.

Make sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen. There is no water source once you get above the tree-line, and the sun can be pretty powerful.

Lake Ann

• Distance: 8.2 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 2150 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link

If you are in love with the views that Mt. Shuksan offers then, you will love this hike! Lake Ann is located right in front of Lake Shuksan. We backpacked this trail on a very moody labor day weekend, and we could not see Mt. Baker. I was not worried because Mt. Shuksan looked so glorious and steals the show on this hike!

I will warn you that the trail goes up and down a lot. The beginning of the trail goes downhill, then the middle of the trail, it is pretty flat, then when you are closer to the lake, it goes uphill. I am not a fan when trails do this, but it is a good workout. It is just something to keep in mind when you are headed back to the car.

Parking can be limited, so get there early. Also, when you are at the lake, make sure you explore around. There are trails that we found that had better views of Mt. Shuksan and the large glacier. It was absolutely breathtaking!

Chain Lakes Loop Trail

• Distance: 7.1 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 1,886 ft.
• Route Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link

Chain Lakes Loop is my favorite hike in the Mount Baker area. Every step I took was met with a fantastic view. It was non stop beauty. Compared to many of the trails in Washington, this hike was pretty easy. A moderate to easy hike with some of the best views in this state, is a recipe for one of the best hikes.

Read More: Hiking the Chain Lakes Loop Trail | What You Need to Know About This Amazing Hike

We hiked this trail for sunset, but I wish we would have just backpacked it. Many people camp with their babies on this trail because it is a relatively easy/short backpacking trail.

Yellow Aster Butte Trail

• Distance: 7.5 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 2550 ft.
• Route Type: Out And Back
• Difficulty: Hard
• Trail Guide: Link

A popular hike in the Summer and Fall is Yellow Aster Butte. You really cannot go wrong with this trail. Summer brings in spectacular wildflowers, while Fall brings in hills painted in vivid orange, reds, and yellows. It is a very popular trail so if you are backpacking, get there early to get a camp spot!

All campers must be at or beyond the tarns located 4 miles from the trailhead. When you get to the Yellow Aster Butte Peak, you will enjoy views of Baker, Shuksan, Tomyhoi, and many other jagged, peaks including some in Canada. I will warn you that the last mile is steep! I was struggling at the end of the trail. These pictures were taken in the middle of September.

Park Butte Trail

• Distance: 7.2 miles, roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 2,020 ft.
• Route Type: Out and Back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trail Guide: Link

Park Butte is one of those trails where you need an endless amount of time to enjoy. It is absolutely breathtaking once you got over the tree line. The main star of the show is, of course, Mount Baker. She really is a beauty, and this hike definitely highlights it.

There is a fire lookout at the end of the trail, and we were rushing to get to it before the sun went down. That is why I said you need an endless amount of time here to take in the beauty. Since we rushed to the fire lookout, I felt like we could not enjoy it as much as I would have liked.

So if you are hiking this for sunset, get there extra early! You will want to stop every few minutes to take in the glory.

There were many backpackers throughout the trail. There is plenty of room on the trail to camp on many locations, but of course, the fire lookout is what many people want to sleep in, so get there early if that is a priority to you. It is first-come, first-serve.

Read More: The 12 Best Washington Fire Lookouts

Picture Lake

Distance: 0.4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 6 ft.
Route Type: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Guide: Link

Picture Lake is technically not a hike but I still wanted to mention this spot because it is amazing for sunset. Just park and walk on over to this outstanding viewpoint of Mt. Shuksan. Hopefully, you have a great reflection on the lake.

Final Thoughts On Hikes Near Mt Baker

Thanks for reading all about the Best Mount Baker Hikes. Be sure to check out some of my other Pacific Northwest Trails below:

• Best Hikes In North Cascades National Park
• Best Hikes In Washington State
• Best Hikes In Mount Rainier National Park
• Best Hikes In Olympic National Park
• Best Waterfalls At The Columbia River Gorge
• Best Waterfalls In Washington State

Pin For Later: Hikes Around Mt Baker