Let the research begin!

Hi folks, a lurker here from the RMNP area. I'm headed up to northern WA and southern BC in about 5 weeks and have a few questions.

With all the snow you've been getting, how close can one drive to Mt Shuksan. (translation: How dang far will I have to snowshoe?)

Same question regarding the Baker Lake hot springs..

Any other info you want to volunteer would be greatly appreciated.

Bill

Sunset Hwy (542) is kept in pretty good shape you should be able to get all the the way to picture lake. The road to artist point is closed. Don't expect any Mt Shuksan reflection off picture lake. Also you need a Wilderness Forrest parking permit you can by it for a day or yearly. The last 6 miles of the 542 are where you get into the pretty good switchbacks but you should be okay.
If you wanted to go on the cascades hwy (20) you are only going to get 53 miles east of Sedro Woolley it is closed at Nehalem

Ray Still

Good stuff Ray, thanks. As I recall from my college days the road to Baker Lake hot springs is right around Concrete so I should be okay. I appreciate the information.

Hi Bill,

I've been a season pass holder at the Mt Baker Ski Area for a number of years so I'll add my input about Shuksan. First, you won't need any parking permit because you will just be parking at the ski area. Your best vantage will be from the lower lodge (named the White Salmon Day Lodge). It will be your first ski area turn off of the highway. It's located at a lower elevation than Heather Meadows (the site of Picture Lake and all those postcard photos of Shuksan) so that will save you at least some switchbacks and mtn driving.

Here's a photo of Mt Shuksan that I took yesterday from the second story balcony of the lodge. Unfortunately, you won't be able to see Mt Baker unless you actually ski or snowboard. During ski season, you'll only see it from atop Pan Dome, which is accessed from one of the ski lifts located at the upper lodge at Heather Meadows.

Another very quick sidetrip would be to Nooksack Falls. It's only a half mile off of the Mt Baker Highway. That road isn't plowed but it's an easy hike (or snowshoe) down the road to the falls. One last suggestion is the Horseshoe Bend Trail that travels alongside the North Fork Nooksack River. It's a relatively flat trail which offers a number of photo ops of the river in winter (the water here is crystal clear). The trailhead is located east of the town of Glacier and at the first bridge you encounter when you cross the river after leaving town.

Good luck & feel free to ask any followups..

Steve

I sometimes make the drive north and then east on 542. A number of times, there are people snowshoeing past Pan Dome in the spring. Not sure how long it would be before one would come into view of Mt. Baker via that route.