Explore beautiful Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest for some of the best hiking in Washington.
Visiting the Northwest is like reading a menu from a five-star restaurant: How do you choose from all the amazing delicacies? Do you pick the classic drive to Mount Rainier, or order a delightful tour of the San Juan Islands? Perhaps the sampler platter—an all-encompassing excursion to Olympic National Park? This time we chose an often overlooked, slightly out-of-the-way drive through Austin Pass up to Artist Point, in the heart of the soul-satisfying Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
From Bellingham on the coast, head east on Highway 542, and 58 miles later you’ll reach the top of Austin Pass. As you crest the ridgeline at mile 55, the reflection of Mount Shuksan in Picture Lake will be your first tasty bite. This view, one of the most beautiful Washington state has to offer, has actually been used on a brochure advertising the Swiss Alps! Mount Shuksan is said to be the world’s most photographed mountain.
It’s a good place to stop for some of the best hiking in Washington. The easy trail wraps around the lake, and strategically placed resting spots mark the best places to drink in the delectable scenery. This road remains open year- round for travelers to the nearby Mount Baker Ski Area, a major commercial ski complex. It’s known for having some of the deepest snow anywhere in North America, with an average annual snowfall of 647 inches, or 54 feet.
Save your lunch for the Heather Meadow Picnic area, just a mile farther on, where you can also take in the amazing views of the North Cascades. Afterward, stretch your legs and cleanse your palate in the web of short trails winding down the hillside to a small creek. Here the path crosses a charming stonework bridge and continues along the shoreline of sparkling Upper Bagley Lake.
Back on the highway, the last 2 miles jaunt upward through Austin Pass and end at the aptly named Artist Point, with its truly inspiring panorama. This may be the most scenic parking lot in the Northwest. At the north end, there’s a bird’s-eye view of the Bagley Lakes area. The south end faces the striking snowcapped peak of Mount Baker, one of the highest points in the state.
To the east, a fairly flat walking trail follows the ridgeline paralleling Mount Baker, providing spectacular views that challenge you to decide where to look first. Look to your right and see Mount Baker’s sparkling white glaciers. Look to your left, and an incline introduces an intimate view of Mount Shuksan. Spread out below, summer meltwater from the glaciers forms small tarns, or pools, that reflect views of Shuksan back up to our eager eyes.
Summer also means wildflowers. Green sedges and pink-blossomed fireweed and spirea edge the shoreline of Picture Lake, while mountain heather dots the high alpine slopes. For me, early October is when the flavors of the scenery truly come together. Warm hues of mountain ash, huckleberry and meadow grass against the muted blue autumn sky simply take my breath away.
After an afternoon of feasting my eyes on the expansive views of Austin Pass, I’m full to bursting. I don’t think I could take in another craggy slope or vivid reflection. Well, maybe just one more peek.
By Mary Liz Austin
