Mt. Baker Summit - Climbing
The most prominent feature of the Mt. Baker Wilderness is the 10,781 foot [3,286 meters] active volcano from which the wilderness takes its name. Mt. Baker is the northernmost volcano in the United States Cascade Range located 15 miles south of the Canadian border. The mountain is perpetually snow-capped and mantled with an extensive network of creeping glaciers. Baker's summit, called Grant Peak, is actually a 1,300-foot-deep mound of ice, which hides a massive volcanic crater. Directly to the south is a smaller and younger crater, which is currently a center of periodic steam eruptions. Sherman Crater is only partially ice-filled and the rim's pinnacle, known as Sherman Peak, reaches an elevation of approximately 10,160 feet [3,097 meters].
Mt. Baker lies in two separate congressionally designated areas: the Mt. Baker Wilderness and the Mt. Baker National Recreation Area. Most of Mt. Baker is in Wilderness, with the National Recreation Area encompassing the south slope.
Climbing Mt. Baker
- Mt. Baker offers a variety of approaches with varying degrees of technical difficulty for would-be climbers. Some of the more popular routes are via the Coleman Glacier and the Easton Glacier. Glacier travel experience, knowledge of crevasse rescue techniques and safe climbing habits are a must.
- Guide services offer a variety of climbing courses and provide an opportunity to acquire and improve mountaineering skills.
- All routes to the summit of Mt. Baker are technical climbs on glaciers:
Safety
- Review climbing safety information. Before climbing, leave your plans with someone you trust. Include your expected time of return, vehicle and license number, where you will park and your climbing route.
Regulations
- The Mt. Baker Wilderness and National Recreation Area maintain unique restrictions for hikers and climbers listed below.
- Review important sanitation information.
- Practice Leave No Trace methods.
General Information
More information
The U.S. Forest Service does not require permits for climbing Mt. Baker. Some trailheads accessing Mt. Baker climbing routes may have a trailhead register. Those trailheads marked as requiring a fee will require a valid recreation pass for each vehicle.
- Campfires prohibited on all climbing routes except parts of Boulder Glacier route. Self-contained stoves ok.
- Wilderness regulations apply within Mt. Baker Wilderness.
- Camping prohibited except in designated sites identified by constructed tent pads when camping below 6,000 feet within the National Recreation Area.
- A special-use authorization is required to conduct commercial activities or to provide any kind of service for instructing/guiding on Mt. Baker.
- Remove wands from your route and pack out all your garbage.
- Use mountain toilets when provided or the blue bag method; you can get bags at your ranger station.
Address: 810 State Route 20 Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
Phone: (360) 854-2553
Hours: OPEN: Mon & Tues 8am-4pm, full service (All Interagency Passes, Forest Permits, Maps, NW Forest Passes); Wed-Fri 8am-11:45 pm & 12:30 pm-4pm, limited service (Maps, NW Forest Passes, Interagency Annual Pass Only); CLOSED: Sat & Sun
Getting There
Directions
Northern Approaches
All of the northern approaches (Coleman Glacier, North Ridge, Park Glacier) start from either the Heliotrope Ridge Trail 677 or Ptarmigan Ridge Trail 682.1.
Eastern Approaches
The Boulder Glacier Route begins with the Boulder Ridge Trail 605.
Southern Approaches
Access the Easton Glacier and Squak routes from the Park Butte Trail 603 and Scott Paul Trail 603.1.
Facility and Amenity Information
Restrooms
Restrooms are not available at this site.
Water
Potable water is not available at this site.
