Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
to
Heather Meadows
and Picture Lake, in which the reflection of Mount Shuk-
san can be seen when the waters are still. Each year in July and August the mead-
ows of this area burst into bloom and attract crowds of weekend hikers who
tramp the many miles of trails that radiate out from here. Between late July and
early October, the
Heather Meadows Visitor Center,
milepost 56 on Mount
Baker Highway (no phone), has trail maps for the area and information on this
region's unusual geology.
Two of the most rewarding hikes in the Mount Baker area actually originate
not in the Heather Meadows/Artist Point area but off side roads 1 mile east of
the town of Glacier. These are the
Heliotrope Ridge Trail
(off Forest Ser-
vice Rd. 39) and the
Skyline Divide Trail
(off Forest Service Rd. 37).
Both of these trails climb up through meadows with excellent views of Mount
Baker, and, from the Heliotrope Ridge Trail, there are also impressive glacier
views. Also near Glacier, at milepost 41, is a short trail that leads to 100-foot
Nooksack Falls.
In order to park at Heather Meadows, Artist Point, and other trail heads in
the area, you'll need a Northwest Forest Pass. These permits cost $5 per day ($30
for an annual pass) and can be purchased at ranger stations and national forest
visitor centers.
While Kodak-moment meadows of colorful wildflowers are a big attraction
throughout the summer, Mount Baker is better known as one of the nation's top
snowboarding areas. Each winter, Mount Baker receives an average of more than
500 inches of snow, and in the winter of 1998-99 set a world record with 1,140
inches of snow. All this snow, combined with lots of extreme terrain, produces
awesome skiing and snowboarding conditions. Consequently,
Mount Baker Ski
Area
(
&
360/671-0211;
www.mtbakerskiarea.com), located at Heather
Meadows, is well known throughout the region for always being the first ski area
to open and the last to close each year. All-day lift tickets range from $29 to $37.
Ski and snowboard rentals are available at the ski area, and snowboards can also
be rented in the town of Glacier at
Mt. Baker Snowboard Shop,
9996 Forest
St. (
&
360/599-2008
). Cross-country skiers will find a few miles of groomed
trails at Mount Baker ski area, as well as many more miles at the
Salmon Ridge
Sno-Park
farther down the mountain. Telemark skiers and backcountry snow-
boarders will find lots of great terrain adjacent to Mount Baker ski area.
En route to or from Mount Baker, you can sample local wines at
Mount Baker
Vineyards,
4298 Mt. Baker Hwy., Deming (
&
360/592-2300
); and stock up on
gourmet picnic foods at the unexpectedly hip
Everybody's Store,
5465 Potter Rd.,
Van Zandt (
&
866/832-4695
or 360/592-2297; www.everybodys.com).
THE NORTH CASCADES SCENIC HIGHWAY
Wash. 20, the North Cascades Scenic Highway, is a bit slow in sharing its beau-
ties. Though it runs along the Skagit River on the west side of the Cascades, it
is not until you get to the Ross Lake area that the scenery becomes truly grand.
However, there are several distractions along the way before you reach the most
scenic stretch of the highway.
North of Concrete, which was named for the cement it once produced, lie
Lake Shannon and Baker Lake, the latter being a popular summer camping and
boating destination. From the road leading to
Baker Lake,
you can also access
the
Mount Baker National Recreation Area,
which lies on the south side of
Mount Baker. Several trails here lead through beautiful alpine meadows. The
Railroad Grade-Paul Scott Trail is absolutely breathtaking.
