Skip to main content

Mt. Baker Ranger District

Mt. Baker Ranger District is the northernmost district of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It is bordered by Canada to the North and North Cascades National Park to the east. The Mt. Baker Ranger District offers a diverse range of landscapes and miles of forest roads and trails. Most of the district may be accessed by Baker Lake Road #11, North Cascades Highway State Route 20 or Mt. Baker Highway State Route 542. 

There are outdoor opportunities for every season and every ability.  From world class viewpoints you can drive to and ADA accessible trails to challenging Wilderness hiking and mountaineering, Sno-Parks with groomed trails for motorized and non-motorized winter sports and a developed ski area, a reservoir with lake side campgrounds, and many more opportunities for wildlife viewing, photography, picnicking, fishing, swimming, and boating. 

The district is home to the Mt. Baker National Recreation Area, Baker Lake, the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail, and Mt. Baker and Noisy-Diobsud designated Wildernesses. Portions of the Skagit Wild and Scenic River System pass through the Mt. Baker Ranger District. 

People standing by a low stone wall and sitting on a bench looking at a large snow covered mountain
Sign panel on stone wall in front of trees and snow covered mountain
View of a highway from above. Fall colors reds and greens and yellows. White rock.
Blue lake. people stand on dock. peaks and forest in distance.
aerial view of lake
boardwalk through vegetation
A lush upper elevation valley. trees. Snowy peaks. Blue sky.
A large turquoise colored lake. Forested peaks surround. Clouds. Blue sky.
View of snow patched peak. high elevation views. Evergreen trees. Clouds.
A view from above of a parking lot in a high elevation open landscape, peaks surround.

Recreation Sites

Showing: 1 - 10 of 109 results

Anderson Butte Trail 611.1
Hiking Outdoor Science and Learning
Enjoy breathtaking views of Cascade peaks from this old fire lookout site. The 1930s lookout was removed in 1964. Start hiking at the junction one mile along the Anderson-Watson Lakes Trail 611…

Anderson Creek Sno-Park
Winter Sports
Anderson Creek Sno-Park is located in the Mount Baker/Methow region. This Sno-park features 14 miles of motorized snowmobiling trails.  More information at Washington State Parks. Anderson Creek…

Anderson-Watson Lakes Trail 611
Hiking Fishing
Accessed via Watson Lakes Trailhead. This is a family-friendly hike to beautiful sub-alpine lakes. The first mile gently winds through forest, into a lush open meadow and a junction with Anderson…

Artist Point Trailhead
Site Open
Hiking Scenic Drives Winter Sports Outdoor Science and Learning
Artist Point is a scenic vista, parking lot, and trailhead at the end of the Mt. Baker Scenic Byway, Washington State Route 542. The road to Artist Point is not plowed in winter and there is no set…

Artist Ridge Trail 669
Hiking Outdoor Science and Learning Winter Sports
Reach this popular trail in the Heather Meadows area from the end of the Mt. Baker Scenic Byway. Along the Artist Ridge Trail patches of heather and mountain blueberries dot the landscape and you may…

Austin Pass Picnic Area
Site Open
Picnicking Outdoor Science and Learning Scenic Drives
Located in Heather Meadows, this picnic area provides views of mountains, sub-alpine vegetation and occasional wildlife. Parking is abundant and includes spaces for large busses and RVs. The Heather…

Bagley Lakes Trail 684.1
Hiking Outdoor Science and Learning Fishing
The Bagley Lakes Trail travels .75 mile one-way along the eastern shore of Bagley Lake. Table Mountain and Mt. Herman tower above this family-friendly lakeshore hike. Waterfalls, wildflowers and…

Bagley Lakes Trailhead
Site Open
Hiking
Provides access to: Bagley Lakes Trail 684.1, Wild Goose Trail 684.3, and Panorama Dome Trail 684.41. This is also an access point for Chain Lakes Trail 682 which enters Mt. Baker Wilderness. 

Baker Lake
Site Open
Fishing Water Activities Hiking
Baker Lake is a large freshwater lake that is home to several species of fish, including kokanee, bull trout, rainbow trout, sockeye salmon and mountain whitefish.  The recreation area around this…

Last updated April 1, 2026

Return to top