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 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 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 description (include make, model, color and license number), where you will park and your climbing route.
Regulations
- The Mt. Baker Wilderness and National Recreation Area restrictions for hikers and climbers are 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.
Passes are not available onsite and must be obtained ahead of time or by downloading the Recreation.gov Scan and Pay app.
- 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.
There are no fees required for climbing Mt. Baker, but a valid recreation pass for each vehicle is required at the following trailheads that access Mt. Baker climbing routes: Heliotrope Ridge Trailhead, Artist Point (Ptarmigan Ridge) Trailhead, and Park Butte (Mt. Baker National Recreation Area) Trailhead.
Passes are not available onsite and must be obtained ahead of time or by downloading the Recreation.gov Scan and Pay app.
Pets are not prohibited, but not recommended due to steep drop offs and unmarked hazards.
Address: 810 State Route 20 Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
Phone: (360) 854-2553
Hours: **Closed December 24-26** OPEN Monday (all services provided); OPEN Tues-Fri (limited services: Maps, NW Forest Pass, Interagency Pass Only). Hours 8-4pm Closed 12-1 for lunch. CLOSED on weekends. (Closed on federal holidays)
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.
There are toilets at many of the trailheads that access the Mt. Baker Climbing routes, but no toilets on the climbing routes. All climbers need to be prepared to pack out human waste to a garbage can with the rest of their garbage. Use blue bags or another Leave No Trace method. Burial of human waste or depositing in glaciers is prohibited.
Water
Potable water is not available at this site.
Horse/Pack Animal Information
Horse/Pack animals are not allowed at this site.
