Category Archives: Mt. Baker

Table Mountain

September 28, 2017Mt. Baker, Non-Buntzen Lake Hikes, Washingtonadmin

Table Mountain, in the Mt. Baker area, must be one of the easier hikes here, but the payoff is simply spectacular. The trail starts at Artist Point, 12 km northeast of the Mount Baker summit. Artist Point is the starting point for a number of great hikes, such as Ptarmigan Ridge and Chain Lakes. And a bonus — the road to Artist Point is paved the entire way!

The Trail

The trail starts from the west side of the parking lot at Artist Point. Watch for the sign for Table Mountain. Soon, you will start heading up via switchbacks carved into the side of the mountain. The views here are amazing and never stop! There is quite a drop-off from the trail, but I found it pretty safe. I would be wary of bringing small children. Dogs are not allowed on this trail. Once at the top, the trail meanders through scree and vegetated areas, finally terminating at a couple of small tarns (very small). There is a lesser-used trail that continues here and joins up with the Chain Lakes trail, but it is pretty rough and would require some scrambling (which is always more difficult going down). From this point, most people just turn around and go back.

Permits & Border Crossing

Remember: you will need a Northwest Forest Pass, which can be purchased in person at the Glacier Public Service Center at 10091 Mt. Baker Highway, Glacier, WA (link to map).

Or you can buy an ePass in advance online at the Discover Your Northwest website.

Border crossing tips: bring your passport, Nexus, or enhanced ID. No fruit, no vegetables, no meat (this isn’t a complete list). Trail mix is okay.

A great resource for current conditions for this hike is the WTA website. Check it out!

The location of Artist Point is here.

Trail Stats

Distance: 4 km (linear return)
Time: 3 hours
Low point: 1,545 m
High point: 1,741 m
Elevation gain: 196 m
Trailhead: 48° 50′ 47.6″ N, 121° 41′ 36.6″ W (Google Map)

The Route

The actual GPS track from this hike, drawn on the map below. Green marks the start/end point.

Photos

A photo I took on the drive up:

Here is a long video with stills and video:

Conditions on this trail can change over time — trailheads move, access rules shift, and businesses close. This post reflects what I found when I did the hike.

Before You Hike

Before heading out on your hike, make sure you are well prepared. This means having the TEN ESSENTIALS. It is also important to leave a trip plan (route details and estimated return time) with someone you trust.

Bring your smartphone, fully charged, and put it in airplane mode while hiking. I always bring backup battery packs for extra peace of mind. It is highly recommended that you bring a GPS device. I use my smartphone with a GPS app (Backcountry Navigator). The GPS will work in airplane mode. Learn how to use it before your hike.

For anyone new to hiking, there is a rule that hikers follow called “Leave No Trace” or LNT. The concept is generally to pack out what you pack in and respect nature, so all future visitors can enjoy what you have enjoyed. To learn more about LNT, please check out this blog by a certified LNT Trainer.

Lake Ann and Lower Curtis Glacier

September 22, 2016Mt. Baker, Non-Buntzen Lake Hikesadmin

I love the Mt. Baker area, and today I ventured onto the Lake Ann trail, which heads close to Mt. Shuksan. Along the way, you pass forests, alpine meadows, streams, and views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan. We even saw pikas and marmots today. The trail to Lake Ann is well established and easy to follow. The lake is beautiful, and so are the views of Baker and Shuksan. I recommend, after reaching the lake, taking the trail that leads to the Lower Curtis Glacier. For the most part the trail is in good shape — there are some scrambling sections. There came a point at which I stopped, but two others in my group scrambled down to the glacier and actually touched it! I was enjoying the scenery and chasing a marmot (not really). The trail that leads to the glacier crosses into North Cascades National Park.

Interesting Facts

Mt. Shuksan, visible for much of this hike, is often called the most photographed mountain in Washington, thanks to its classic reflection shot from nearby Picture Lake at the end of the Mt. Baker Highway
The Lower Curtis Glacier, the one visible from the end of this trail, has been monitored by glaciologists for decades. It advanced between 1950 and 1986, but has been retreating since, having pulled back about 184 m from its 1986 position and roughly 600 m from where it sat in 1908
Lake Ann sits at the base of Mt. Shuksan’s Fisher Chimneys route, a popular climbing approach, which is why you’ll often see mountaineers with full glacier gear passing through on their way to the summit

Permits & Border Crossing

NOTE: You will need a Northwest Forest Pass (one per car), which can be purchased in person at the Glacier Public Service Center at 10091 Mt. Baker Highway, Glacier, WA (link to map).

Or you can buy an ePass in advance online at the Discover Your Northwest website.

Border crossing tips: bring your passport, Nexus, or enhanced ID. No fruit, no vegetables, no meat (this isn’t a complete list). Trail mix is okay.

A great resource for current conditions for this hike is the WTA website. Check it out!

The parking lot/trailhead are just 1.5 km (1 mile) before Artist Point (link below).

Trail Stats

The stats below are to the end of the trail at Curtis Glacier.

Distance: 18 km (linear return)
Time: 7 hours
Low point: 1,196 m
High point: 1,620 m
Elevation gain: 424 m
Cumulative elevation gain: 1,060 m
Trailhead: 48° 50′ 59.5″ N, 121° 41′ 11″ W (Google Map)

The Route

The actual GPS track from this hike, drawn on the map below. Green marks the start/end point.

Photos

Lower Curtis Glacier, photo by Laura Forbes — Lower Curtis Glacier — photo by Laura Forbes

Link to all Lake Ann / Curtis Glacier photos on Flickr

Conditions on this trail can change over time — trailheads move, access rules shift, and businesses close. This post reflects what I found when I did the hike.

Before You Hike

Chain Lakes Loop

August 13, 2016Mt. Baker, Non-Buntzen Lake Hikesadmin

Ok, I really can’t get enough of the Mt. Baker area. Second time back in a couple of weeks. It was another sunny day today.

There are a few variations of this hike. We started at Artist Point, descended to Heather Meadows via the Wild Goose Trail and looped around Northern Bagley Lake, before starting our ascent up through Herman Saddle. 95% of the hike was bug-free (only some around Chain Lakes). Only very minor snow (almost not even worth mentioning). This hike is amazing, as are most Mt. Baker area hikes — the views are non-stop! This was a sunny Saturday, and there were many people on the trail, but not so much that it deterred from our enjoyment. There was only some snow on the shore of Iceberg Lake — some of which apparently recently broke off and made icebergs (info from a camper at the lake). I definitely recommend this hike, and I will go back for sure!

Getting There

So, for this hike, you drive to Artist Point, which is paved the entire way. Yeah! No potholed forestry road! The location of Artist Point is here.

The trailhead for the Wild Goose Trail is just behind the washrooms.

Permits & Border Crossing

You will need a Northwest Forest Pass (one per car), which can be purchased in person at the Glacier Public Service Center at 10091 Mt. Baker Highway, Glacier, WA (link to map).

Or you can buy an ePass in advance online at the Discover Your Northwest website.

Border crossing tips: bring your passport, Nexus, or enhanced ID. No fruit, no vegetables, no meat (this isn’t a complete list). Trail mix is okay.

A great resource for current conditions for this hike is the WTA website. Check it out!

Interesting Facts

This entire hike sits within the subalpine zone of the North Cascades, generally defined as the band between about 1,200 and 2,100 m elevation, which lines up closely with this trail’s range of 1,259 to 1,654 m
Some of the mountain hemlock trees in the Heather Meadows area are estimated to be around 900 years old, remarkably old for trees growing in such a harsh, high-elevation environment
The US Forest Service has run restoration projects in the Heather Meadows and Artist Point area to repair meadow damage caused by foot traffic, including installing low barriers to keep hikers from cutting across sensitive vegetation

Trail Stats

Today’s stats:

Distance: 10.7 km
Time: 6 hours
Low point: 1,259 m
High point: 1,654 m
Elevation gain: 395 m
Cumulative elevation gain: 725 m

The Route

The actual GPS track from this hike, drawn on the map below. Green marks the start/end point. Use the layer control in the top right to switch to a satellite view.

Photos

Northern Bagley Lake through wildflowers

Conditions on this trail can change over time — trailheads move, access rules shift, and businesses close. This post reflects what I found when I did the hike.

Before You Hike

Yellow Aster Butte

July 21, 2016Mt. Baker, Non-Buntzen Lake Hikesadmin

The Mount Baker area never ceases to amaze me. The 4.2 mile (6.8km) gravel road up to the trailhead is not bad and I think most 2wd cars will make it. The road is better than the Skyline divide road. You just have to go slow and watch for potholes and oncoming traffic.

The location of the start of the forestry road (NF-3065) to the trailhead is HERE

It was a beautiful sunny day and the views were stunning. There were many wildflowers to be seen and minor snow patches which are easy to cross. I put on bug spray at the beginning and didn’t have a problem with the bugs – no bites !

The trail is a gradual climb and never really steep. The steepest part is at the end on the way up to the butte, but it’s short and pretty easy.

I highly recommend this hike !

Remember – You will need a Northwest Forest Pass, which can be purchased in person at the Glacier Public Service Center at 10091 Mt. Baker Highway,Glacier, WA (Link to Map)

Or you can buy an epass in advance online at the Discover Your Northwest website

Border crossing tips: Bring passport, Nexus or enhanced ID !!; no fruit, no veges, no meat (this isn’t a complete list !); trailmix is ok. There is an IGA just across the border if you want to get some fruit or a sandwich for your hike.

A great resource for current conditions for this hike is the WTA website.
Check it OUT !!!

The stats:

Distance: 12.6 km (7.8 miles)
Time: 6 hours
Low point: 1075 m
High point: 1896 m
Elevation gain: 821 m
Trailhead: 48° 56’ 36” by 121° 39’ 45.7” (Google Map)

The route…

Here are the photos…

★★★★★★★★★★★

Before heading out on your hike, make sure you are well prepared. This means, having the TEN ESSENTIALS. It is also important to leave a trip plan (route details and estimated return time) with someone you trust.

Bring your smartphone, fully charged and put it in airplane mode while hiking. I always bring back-up battery packs for extra piece of mind. It is highly recommended that you bring a GPS device; I use my smartphone with a GPS app (Backcountry Navigator). The GPS will work in airplane mode. Learn how to use it before your hike.

For anyone new to hiking, there is a rule to which hikers follow; it is called “Leave No Trace” or LNT. The concept is generally to pack out what you pack in and respect nature, so all future visitors can enjoy what you have enjoyed.
To learn more about LNT, please check out this BLOG by a certified LNT Trainer.

★★★★★★★★★★★

Ptarmigan Ridge

September 12, 2015Mt. Baker, Non-Buntzen Lake Hikesadmin

Ptarmigan Ridge is another great hike in the North Cascades in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington. The trail starts at Artist Point, 12 km northeast of Mount Baker summit. Artist Point is the starting point for a number of great hikes, such as Table Mountain and Chain Lakes. And a bonus… the road to Artist point is paved the entire way !! The trail is almost entirely in the open, with shaded areas in the premium. The route follows a well built trail traversing scree slopes of the ridge. There are non-stop views on this hike, including Mt. Baker, Mt. Shuksan, numerous glaciers, ice fields, lakes and former glaciers, which appear to have a short time left; we even saw five mountain goat. Today was an amazing mid-September day, with highs in the upper 20’s, no clouds, no wind and no bugs, making for an enjoyable hike. The Ptarmigan Ridge trail seems to go on for a long time. We finally had to make a decision when to turn around. This hike would make a great area for camping, as there are many locations to pitch a tent and so much to explore.

Remember – You will need a Northwest Forest Pass, which can be purchased in person at the Glacier Public Service Center at 10091 Mt. Baker Highway,Glacier, WA (Link to Map)

Or you can buy an epass in advance online at the Discover Your Northwest website

A great resource for current conditions for this hike is the WTA website.
Check it OUT !!!

The location of Artist Point is HERE

The stats:

Distance: 16.2 km (linear return)
Time: 6 hours
Low point: 1525 m
High point: 1878 m
Elevation gain: 353 m
Cumulative Elevation gain: 785 m
Trailhead: 48° 50’ 47.6” by 121° 41’ 36.6” (Google Map)

The route…

From Google Earth…