A Weekend Hiking the Chain Lakes Loop

The Chain Lakes Loop is roughly 6.5 miles with about 1,800 feet of elevation gain. It is a moderate alpine loop in the Heather Meadows and Artist Point area at the end of the Mount Baker Highway, passing Bagley, Mazama, Iceberg, Hayes, and Arbuthnot lakes with near-constant views of Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan.

This is high, snowy country, so the loop is usually only snow-free from roughly late July or August into early October. A huge snowpack sits over the area the rest of the year and Artist Point Road stays gated, so always check the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest road and trail status before you drive up. Late summer brings wildflowers and early fall brings fiery red and orange color.

There are two starts. Artist Point sits at the very top of the Mount Baker Highway, where most hikers begin and run the loop clockwise. The Bagley Lakes and Heather Meadows trailhead sits a bit lower down and hike it the other way. Either way the loop connects the same chain of lakes between Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan.

The Chain Lakes Loop trailhead sits in the Heather Meadows and Artist Point area at the very end of the Mount Baker Highway (State Route 542), in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest near Glacier, Washington. Most hikers park at the Artist Point lot at the top of the highway, around 5,100 feet, while others start lower at the Bagley Lakes / Heather Meadows trailhead. Both are reached by driving Highway 542 east past the town of Glacier, WA, and you need a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful pass to park.

Yes, there are established backcountry campsites along the route, with the sites near Mazama Lake being the most popular for an overnight, which turns the day hike into an easy backpacking loop. Camping is typically limited to designated sites to protect the fragile heather meadows, campfires are generally not allowed in this alpine zone, and you should pack out everything and treat all water. Rules and site availability can change, so check current Chain Lakes Loop camping regulations with the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest before you go.

The Chain Lakes trail is in northwest Washington, high in the North Cascades at Mount Baker. It runs through the Heather Meadows and Artist Point area at the end of the Mount Baker Highway (SR 542), reached by driving east from Bellingham or up past the small town of Glacier, WA. The whole Chain Lakes hike sits between glacier-clad Mount Baker and the horn of Mount Shuksan, roughly an hour and a half from Bellingham.

There is no permit required for day hiking it. You do need a Northwest Forest Pass or an America the Beautiful pass to park at the Heather Meadows and Artist Point trailheads. Keep a valid pass displayed on your dashboard.

It is a moderate hike: about 6.5 miles with roughly 1,800 feet of gain over rolling alpine terrain, including a climb over Herman Saddle. It is well within reach of a reasonably fit hiker for a day, but the elevation, lingering snowfields, and fast-changing weather mean you should carry layers, water, and the ten essentials.

The loop strings together five alpine lakes, Bagley, Mazama, Iceberg, Hayes, and Arbuthnot, set in heather meadows that bloom with wildflowers in late summer and turn fiery red and orange in fall. The whole way you trade views between glacier-clad Mount Baker and the jagged horn of Mount Shuksan, two of the most striking volcanoes in the Cascades.

The toughest stretch is the climb over Herman Saddle, a steep, sustained grunt that gains much of the loop's elevation in one long push. Keep a steady, patient pace and take breaks, and it stays well within reach for a reasonably fit hiker. Note too that there is no reliable treated drinking water anywhere on the loop, so carry a filter or all the fluids you will need for the day.

No. The lower highway stays open, but the upper miles to Artist Point are gated under snow for much of the year and open late, sometimes not until July after a heavy Pacific Northwest snowpack. Check both the WSDOT highway status and the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest road status before you drive up, since late-spring snow can keep the final miles closed even when the valleys are warm.

Table Mountain and Ptarmigan Ridge are both excellent add-ons right at Artist Point, and the short Picture Lake stroll in Heather Meadows is the famous spot where Mount Shuksan reflects in a tarn. The drive itself, the Mount Baker scenic byway up SR 542, is one of the best in Washington.

There is no lodging at the trailhead. The closest base is the small town of Glacier, Washington, partway up the Mount Baker Highway. For more lodging and dining options, stay down in Bellingham and drive up each morning, about an hour and a half each way. The nearest airports are Bellingham (BLI) and Seattle (SEA), about 2.5 hours away.

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