Driving the Mount Baker Scenic Byway to Artist Point

Artist Point lies at the end of the Mount Baker Scenic Byway, near Washington’s border with Canada. A striking viewpoint of epic proportions, it boasts a 360 degree canvas of picture perfection. 

Artist Point’s craggy snow-clad mountains puncture the horizon in all directions. Looking southward, Mount Baker’s snow-clad cone looms above the forest. To the east, the peaks and valleys of North Cascades National Park disappear into the distance. Northward, Mount Shuksan’s lopsided dome acts as a magnet for photographers and artists. 

Beneath their elegant winter regalia, these dazzling mountains conceal a tapestry of coniferous forest, alpine lakes, and vertiginous cliffs.

 

THE MOUNT BAKER SCENIC BYWAY IN WASHINGTON

State Route 542, also known as the Mount Baker Highway, winds along the North Fork of the Nooksack River, east of Bellingham. The byway is a winding road that features gushing waterfalls, mirror-like lakes, and splendid mountain vistas.

At its pinnacle, the byway showcases some of the Washington State’s best views of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, and the North Cascade Range. 

For 57 miles, the road traverses farm-speckled valleys, penetrates fir-clad forests, and scales sinewy mountain ridges.

As the byway proceeds toward the North Cascades, its scenery becomes more grand and awe-inspiring with each passing mile. Just east of Glacier, the highway enters the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It passes by Nooksack Falls and then zigzags up a spectacular road to the base of the Mount Baker Ski Area in Heather Meadow.

During snow-free months, the road continues for 2.5 miles beyond Heather Meadow, to Artist Point—one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the Pacific Northwest. 

NOOKSACK FALLS

Nooksack Falls is a Washington waterfall that lies east of Glacier, between Bellingham and the Mount Baker Ski Area. It is one of the first major attractions along the Mount Baker Scenic Byway. 

Nooksack Falls’ unique shape consists of three independent strands that tumble over a rock wall. The waterfall flows through a narrow valley and drops 88 feet into a deep rocky river canyon.

The cascade is viewable from a small clearing near the cliff’s edge, just a short walk away from the parking area. 

Unfortunately, Dan and I were unable to find a trail that would give us a full-length vantage point of the split waterfall. 

As such, we had to remain content with partially obstructed views from the trail’s main observation area. 

 

HEATHER MEADOW, WASHINGTON 

Beyond Nooksack Falls, the Mount Baker Scenic Byway continues toward Heather Meadow in a series of switchbacks. The Heather Meadow Area is one of Washington’s most scenic destinations. Famed for its reflection lakes, its fantastic ski resort, and its miles upon miles of alpine hiking trails, it is a place that beckons adventure-seekers year-round. 

At Heather Meadows, glistening lakes nestle between rocky knolls. Ridges bristle with 900 year old hemlock. Ancient lava flows litter the valleys and add to the area’s unique geology.

In summer months, its meadows lure hikers toward scenic vistas. In winter, its slopes become magnets for skiers, snowboarders, and snowshoers. 

During the summer and winter tourist seasons, Heather Meadow’s amenities include a cafe and a day lodge. Accommodation and a wider range of food options are available in the town of Glacier, about 20 miles down the road. 

 

• MOUNT BAKER SKI AREA

The Mount Baker Ski Area boasts 1,000 skiable acres, five chairlifts, and a network of backcountry trails. It is the snowiest resort in the Pacific Northwest and is generally considered to have the best powder in Washington.

Unofficially, Mt Baker has more snow than any other resort in the world. In fact, in the 1998-99 season, the ski area recorded a whopping 1,140 inches of snow. 

Ski season at Mount Baker typically runs from late November until the end of April.

For those looking to have a slightly less crowded skiing experience, I understand Mount Baker presents a fantastic alternative to the Seattle-area slopes. 

 

• PICTURE LAKE

Picture Lake is the centerpiece of a strikingly beautiful landscape in the Heather Meadows area. The classic alpine vista of Mt. Shuksan mirrored in Picture Lake is one of the most photographed mountain scenes in North America. 

When I first saw an image of Picture Lake, I couldn’t believe I’d lived in Seattle for five years and never taken the time to visit. The placid lake reflects the jagged peak of Mount Shuksan in perfect symmetry. It truly lives up to its name.  

Picture Lake sits adjacent to Highwood Lake. Though less photographed, Highwood Lake is also worthy of a quick photo op. 

ARTIST POINT

Beyond the Mount Baker Ski Area, the road continues for 2.5 miles to Artist Point.

Artist Point sits atop Kulshan Ridge and boasts spectacular 360 degree views. In all directions, the landscape is a medley of dark cliffs, verdant forests, and patchwork quilts of snow. 

Admiring the view from Artist Point on a clear day grants some of the most awe-inspiring scenery in Washington. Some even consider it to be the best panoramic point in the state—which is high praise in a place so densely packed with scenic gems.

The artist’s canvas on Kulshan Ridge is incredible. From its mile-high vantage point, spectacular views frame two of the most glaciated and iconic mountains in the Pacific Northwest: 10,781-foot Mount Baker and 9,131-foot Mount Shuksan.

 

• MOUNT SHUKSAN

Mount Shuksan is a jagged  massif that lies at the northwestern edge of North Cascades National park. The mountain’s craggy peak has a distinct unmistakable form. Its misshapen summit contains a sprawling mass of pinnacles, glaciers, ridges and protrusions that make for particularly interesting photos. 

While Picture Lake provides the best opportunity to photograph the oddly-shaped mountain, soaking in its surroundings from Artist Point is equally worthwhile. 

Trails from Artist Point’s parking area lead to a number of vantage points that afford beautiful head-on views of Shuksan and Baker. 

When Dan and I visited Artist Point, we spent about an hour hiking along the ridgeline.

 

• MOUNT BAKER

Mount Baker is the northernmost peak in a long chain of snowcapped volcanoes that stretch from northern California to the Canadian border. The volcano is one of the snowiest places in North America and holds a record for amount of snowfall in a winter season. 

Artist Point is the best place from which to view Mount Baker’s snow-draped peak. The cone-shaped volcano lies directly across from Mount Shuksan and vies for its attention. 

Despite being one of Washington’s most prominent peaks, Mount Baker stands firmly out of the limelight. It receives far less recognition than Mount Rainier or Mount Saint Helens, and remains largely undiscovered among out-of-state visitors.

 

VISITING ARTIST’S POINT IN WINTER

In summer months, the road to Artist Point is open to vehicle traffic. 

But between late October and July, a closed gate and unplowed roads preclude cars from traveling the last 2.5 miles of the Mount Baker Highway.  

The road closure beyond Heather Meadows does not hinder tourists from visiting Artist Point during winter months, however. In fact, the area is a hiker’s wonderland that is perhaps most beautiful in all its snowy regalia. 

Dan and I traveled to Artist Point in late October, a week after the road closure. During our visit, recent snowfall and freezing temperatures left icy patches on the pavement. 

Had we visited a few weeks later, the road leading to the viewpoint would have likely been covered in a sheet of fresh powder and optimal for snowshoeing.

As it stood, we visited a little too early and encountered slick ice along the road. Crampons or microspikes would have most definitely been beneficial. 

 

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Visiting Artist Point is like stepping foot into a painter’s canvas. The scenery is a work of art. A testament to nature’s creative genius. A pinnacle of alpine beauty. 

With craggy contour lines and snow-drizzled peaks, I left the area knowing one thing for sure:

Artist Point certainly lives up to its name. 

 

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