Hiking

More than 200 miles of hiking trails meander through the Mt. Baker [1] district, and, fortunately for hikers, all of them are closed to motorized vehicles. The variety of trails is great: both backpackers and one-milers alike can find striking scenery within their reach.

Wilderness permits are not needed for hiking within the Mt. Baker Wilderness, but be sure to get one at the Glacier Public Service Center if you will be entering North Cascades National Park [2] from the Mt. Baker area.

One of the most popular local day hikes is the 3.5-mile round-trip Heliotrope Ridge Trail to the edge of Coleman Glacier, the starting point for Mt. Baker summit climbs.

An easy four-mile round-trip hike leaves from the end of Twin Lakes Road off Mt. Baker Highway [3] to a lookout atop Winchester Mountain, with excellent views of Mt. Baker, Mt. Shuksan, and the North Cascades.

Popular with equestrians and hikers alike is the six-mile round-trip Skyline Divide trail, beginning 13 miles up Road 37 and providing ample Baker views and wildflower meadows.

Other popular hikes include Loop Trails [4] and the Heather Meadow Trails [5].