Looking for the best hiking trails on the Mount Baker Highway? For the best hiking trails accessible from Washington’s Mt Baker Highway for families, hard hikes, and mountain views, read on!

why me? Hi there! My name is Maddy, and I work as an outdoor guide and writer, but mostly importantly I’m a real person writing this blog. I spent all of Fall 2023 from September to November based at the beginning of the Mt Baker Highway. Every chance I got I was exploring the area, and I’m so excited to show you around.

10 Epic Hiking Trails off The Mt Baker Highway

Washington’s Mount Baker Highway (542) is one of the most scenic drives in Washington State and a great hiking destination!

Note! This post contains affiliate links; that means if you choose to make a purchase based on my recommendation I make a small kickback at no additional cost to you.

What to pack for hiking and backpacking around Mount Baker:

Hiking and backpacking around Mt. Baker is an awesome experience and snow-free roughly July-mid October. The best months to visit are September and October. Here’s some of the best gear to pack for hiking on the Mt Baker Highway:

• 2 lightweight, long hiking pants. I wear a size 8 and am short, and find the REI trailmade to be super flattering as well as the Kuhl freeflex.
• A pair of shorts, and yoga pants with pockets 
• A fleece. Any fleece will do, but I really love my Patagonia Synchilla
• Wool baselayers. Five years of heavy paddling and my Smartwool baselayers are the only wool baselayers I’ve had that have really stood the test of time. For seven days, pack four baselayer tops. 
• Study hiking boots. I like my Briger Mids. Working in outdoor retail I literally never had anyone try on these shoes and not buy them. Pair with Darn Tough hiking socks and pack at least five pairs. In the alpine areas, trekking poles are also a great choice!
• hiking sandals
• Quick dry shots: I like Patagonia Baggies
• A puffy jacket. It can be cool even in the summer near the lakeshore, especially evenings. My partner Andy (also a wilderness guide) swears by the Patagonia Nano Puff. I like my Helly Hansen Liftloft. 
• If camping, a tent, packable sleeping bag (Nemo Disco) and pad (comfortable sleeping pad): Read my budget tent recommendations here!
• A day hiking pack: I love my Perimeter 35L. I was gifted this pack a few years back and it’s still my go-to day pack; a savvy packer can easily pack for a seven day hiking trip in this bag. 
• A raincoat. I love the Moss Raincoat from Helly Hansen; It’s affordable, cute, and super durable.
• A Northwest Forest Pass is required to hike in the National Forest (National Parks Pass also valid)
• Mt. Baker Trails Map by Greenmaps

looking for a more detailed guide to packing and planning for your PNW trip? Click here 🙂

Leave No Trace in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest:

The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is on the land of the Nooksack Indigenous People. When recreating here, you are recreating on potential cultural and archeological sites. Remember to tread with care, pack out all waste, and take nothing with you.

Food must be stored in a bear-resistant manner (I recommend the Urssack). In addition, all human waste must be packed out and not buried. In this area, it is especially important to say on trail as alpine meadows can be easily damaged by foot traffic.

One of the most common Leave No Trace mistakes even seasoned backpackers make is camping too close to apline lakes! Camp at least 200 feet from all lakes and streams. View more LNT in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest here.

1) Horseshoe Bend

If you’re looking for one of the best easy hikes on the Mt. Baker Highway, look no further than Horseshoe Bend Trail. While many of the trails on the Mount Baker Highway are inaccessible in the winter, Horseshoe Bend is at a lower elevation.

Check out that moss! Here, I’m wearing the Helly Hansen Moss Raincoat, Handknit mittens, a Fjallraven Hip Pack, and Oboz Insulated Sapphires.

Here, the trail follows the North Fork of the Nooksack River past beautiful bends and over high banks of the river. Personally, my favorite part of this trail is the beautiful mossy trees. This hike is an out and back hike with up to three miles of hiking.

2) Yellow Aster Butte

For hikers looking for one of the prettiest hikes in Washington, head up to Yellow Aster Butte. This trail is almost eight miles with just under 3,000 feet of elevation. Personally, I’ve only hiked the beginning portion of the hike.

View from the road to Yellow Aster Butte!

Nonetheless, this hike is beautiful every step of the way with fall colors. The road up to the trail can be a little rough. Alternately for higher clearance vehicles, you can continue up the very sketchy road to Twin Lakes and Winchester Mountain. Overnight camping is allowed at campsites; all human waste must be packed out and not buried.

3) Huntoon Point / Artist’s Ridge: Best easy hiking trail on the Mt Baker Highway

This short, one mile trail is one of the best easy hikes off the Mount Baker Highway. Here, you’ll be treated to views of Mount Shuksan, Mount Baker, and a few small ponds with mountain reflections all while on a fairly easy hike.

Beautiful views from Huntoon Point/ Artist Ridge off the Mt. Baker Highway!

4) The Lake Ann Trail

For a beautiful, moderate hike to an incredible Alpine Lake, check out the Lake Ann Trail. While officially this hike clocks in at just over eight miles round trip, with a quick detour toward the Lower Curtis Glacier it can easily become closer to ten. Hiking to the Lower Curtis Glacier as well as the lake takes you on a trail that is technically a climbers trail. Despite this, a good portion of the beginning of the trail is suitable for hikers.

Glacier views on the Lake Ann Trail! Here, I’m wearing my favorite Granite Gear Perimeter Pack!

This beautiful trail covers just over 2,000 feet in elevation, less than most of the longer trails in the area. Still, the Lake Ann Trail finishes on a pretty brutal uphill to the parking lot.

The Lake Ann Trail is easily one of my favorite hiking trails on the Mt Baker Highway. Along the way, we saw a number of people unprepared for the hike! Remember to pack adequate water, snacks, maps, and wear appropriate footwear for the hike. This trailhead becomes crowded by about 10am every day, and thins out again at around 4pm.

Overnight camping at designated campsites is allowed but note that all human waste must be packed out and not buried.

Read my full Lake Ann Trip Report

5) Ptarmigan Ridge

For a difficult hike with incredible views, head out on the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail. This trail leaves from the Artists Point Parking lot and is an out-and-back. Because of this, it’s easy to turn around at any point!

Views from the Ptarmigan Ridge trail in late september. On the right, you can see the trail winding toward Mt. Baker.

At some point, the trail turns to a climbers trail. Use your own good judgement on how far you would like to hike.

6) Chain Lakes Loop: Best Hiking trail on the Mt Baker Highway

If you’re looking for a moderate hike featuring alpine lakes and beautiful views of Mt. Baker, check out the Chain Lakes Loop. This beautiful hiking trail is one of the most popular and beautiful hiking trails on the Mt. Baker Highway.

Some of the incredible views along the Chain Lakes Loop! Here, Andy is wearing his favorite Gregory Day Pack and Fjallraven Trousers.

Here, you’ll be hiking almost seven miles and 2,000 feet of elevation. There are a few different starting and ending options along this hike. Personally, I like to park down by heather meadows and begin with the climb rather than park up at Artist’s Point and climb at the end.

7) Hannegan Pass

For a beautiful out and back through a valley up to beautiful Hannegan Pass (and peak if you’re willing), check out the Hannegan Pass Trail. This trail features beautiful views and on rainy days, incredible waterfalls. At 10 miles round trip and 3,000 miles of elevation gain, this trial makes for a great overnight backpacking route.

Incredible & moody fall views along the Hannegan Pass Trail.

The Hannegan Pass trail is also often used as an entry point into North Cascades National Park. While you do not need any particular camping permit to backpack in the National Forest, you will need a permit once you cross into the National Park.

Overnight camping at designated campsites is allowed but note that all human waste must be packed out and not buried.

8) Excelsior Peak: Most difficult Mt Baker Highway Hike

For a difficult nine mile hike with 4,000 feet of elevation gain, check out the Excelsior Peak trail via the Mt. Baker Highway. This hike begins at the Mt. Baker Highway and then travels straight up for three miles a series of switchbacks in the woods before finally breaking clear of the treeline.

Beautiful views from the Excelsior Pass & Peak trail. Here, I’m wearing a handknit sweater.

Once out of the woods, the views are truly unbeatable. From Excelsior Peak, you’ll be treated to beautiful 360 views of the North Cascades and Mt. Baker. Note that this route can be easier accessed from the Damfaino Lakes area.

9) Picture Lake: Most beautiful stop on the Mt. Baker Highway

While there are plenty of difficult hikes on the Mount Baker Highway, you can’t miss this popular roadside attraction. Picture Lake is likely one of the most photographed alpine lakes in Washington, and for good reason. Here, you can see Mount Shuksan reflected in the beautiful lake.

This is a short walk from the car and a beautiful place, especially at sunrise and sunset. I didn’t take any photos here when I visited in August! We just stopped quickly to check it out, but the area was SWARMING with photographers even though it was only 7am!

Looking to see the best of Washington State in just a few days? I planned the perfect one-week road trip to see the best that Washington has to offer!

10) Bagley Lakes

For a quick loop featuring alpine lakes on the Mt. Baker Highway, head to the Bagley Lakes loop accessible from the Heather Meadows visitors center. This is a quick, 2 mile kid-friendly hike!

Some of the beautiful views along the Bagley Lakes area.

11) Bonus: Heliotrope Ridge

As of November 2023, the road to Heliptrope Ridge has been repaired! This is a 5-mile trip with beautiful Mt. Baker views and glacier views. In addition, except to cross several small streams. For more, important information on safey when hiking to Heliotrope Ridge, check out the WTA’s write up here.

What’s the weather like for hiking in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest?

The weather in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National forest is usually beautiful from July-October! This is the best season for hiking off the Mt. Baker Highway. Snow is likely to linger at higher elevations well into June. In general, most of the hiking trails are accessible until mid-November.

Come November, the last few miles of the Mt. Baker Highway above Heather Meadows close for the season. The rest of the highway is still accessible, though vehicles are required to carry chains.

How do I go backpacking in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest?

To go backpacking on most of the National Forest Land or in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Wilderness area you do not need a permit. However, I still suggest checking in at the ranger station before hitting the trail. Chat with the rangers in Glacier, the last town off the Mt. Baker highway, for relevant information for backpacking.

If you plan on crossing into North Cascades National Park, you will need a permit to camp. All human waste must be packed out and not buried. Camping is allowed only in pre-determined campsites. I recommend picking up a physical map of the area with campsites marked before heading out. There is little to no cell service in most of the region. Several, but not all of the campsites have rustic pit toilets.

Where can I car camp off the Mt Baker Highway?

There are two excellent and reservable campgrounds off the Mt. Baker Highway! The Silver Fir Campground is located near the road to Hannegan Pass. This campground is a great place to basecamp to access some of the higher elevation hikes. There is a pump for water and pit toilets available.

Alternately, the Douglas Fir Campground is located near the Horseshoe Bend Trailhead with excellent access to many of the hikes at lower elevations and the town of Glacier.

Love reading about the best hiking trails on the Mt Baker Highway? Check out these related articles…

• Check out a budget-friendly guide to Olympic National Park
• Visit Washington’s incredible San Juan Islands
• Plan an Oregon Coastal Road Trip

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