Honestly not sure if there is a better view to be had! You could just take it in from the parking lot (it's worth the drive up), or embark on one of many hikes which originate from the trail head. Even the short trails give you unbeatable views of Baker and Shuksan. Definitely check snow and weather conditions before you drive up, especially in the shoulder season. It's otherwise usually closed in the winter. Will be back for sure! read more

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World class views and potential photos here with minimal effort so long as the snow conditions are not a problem for your vehicle, driving skills, or patience. read more

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I just had extensive work completed on my car, so I decided to do the 2.5 hour road trip using GPS from Shoreline (8/25/22). Artist Point is at the end of the Mount Baker Highway (beyond the Mount Baker Ski Area) and usually accessible late June to September. The rest of the year it is closed due to the heavy accumulated snowfall. Consult Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for status updates. At the very top, there is a paved parking lot and toilet facilities (porta potty style, no sinks, no changing tables for babies, just hand sanitizing foam). No other amenities like running potable water or water fountains. There are some benches to take in the view, information signage, and some snow piles for the kiddos to marvel at. Some of the smaller towns beyond Sedro Wooley prior to Artist Point, businesses were closed or gas stations had no fuel. So it is highly recommended to have a full tank of gas, food/snacks, water/beverages, sanitizing wipes, and appropriate clothing/footwear. It was so hot and bright, so sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses came in handy. I brought my WA State Discover Pass, but there was no requirement for this. There is a day fee for an extensive stay, but I didn't see enforcement as part of the Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (vs national park). This is probably due to post pandemic staffing. I enjoyed the curvy route headed up and down via car. I did see the usual sedans, SUVs, passenger trucks, and motorcycles, but no large RVs or trailers. The latter probably is not recommended because of the altitude gain and tight, hairpin turns. This is not for the faint of heart. There are some spots to pull over, but most of the route had narrow shoulders and sheer dropoffs. Make sure to be alert and pay attention while driving. I was there when it was in the upper 90s, but there were some fallen tree debris and rocks proximate to the main route, plus a one lane portion with flaggers at a construction zone. Beautiful scenic viewpoints, stellar views of Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan, and starting point for a number of hiking trails. I arrived after 11am on a weekday and was amazed at how full the parking lot was already. Washington resident for nearly 49 years, but this was my first visit. Absolutely beautiful and worthwhile! read more

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Scary roads you need to drive on to get there. That thrill is just not something I need!! Others clearly enjoyed it. But driving on roads with no guardrails while being just inches from breath-taking cliffs (on single lane narrow winding roads) was just a bit too much for me. Only adding this review because it needs to be said. I researched before going but didn't see any comment about the roads specifically and it would have helped to know. . read more

Located on top of a curvy road above the Mt. Baker Ski Area, Artist Point and its trails are a must-do for anyone visiting Whatcom County who wants to marvel in world class views of our resident volcano and its surrounding mountain range. Open only a few months a year due to its elevation attracting quite the depths of snow, AP is only accessible in the warm summer months. Still, even on my recent July visit, there were plenty of huge patches of snow along the edges of the parking lot and shady spots along the trail. These attracted adventurous kids and snow-angel-makers, of course. Beyond the parking lot is the main trail, which begins as a fairly level and wheelchair-friendly out-and-back to a viewpoint with stunning vistas of Mt. Baker. Beyond this short trail is a longer loop trail, with a few sets of steep steps and some minorly challenging hills that will get your heart pumping for sure. It's worth the effort, though, for the absolutely Alps-like views of neighboring Mt. Shuksan and several peaks throughout the North Cascades. On my recent visit, there was a volunteer with a telescope aimed at a nearby herd of mountain goats grazing in a meadow. This gentleman spends hours (if not days) every week along the path and happily answers questions as he's an expert on the area. Pro tip: get there early, especially on a summer weekend day, as even the large parking area can fill up quickly. There are only pit toilets in the lot, and no running water, so bring your own water and snacks - luckily there are plenty of spots to find a rock and sit down for a picnic. read more

Besides the long drive, AMAZING place to hike or snowshoe. Not that strenuous and the round trip would take a few hours. The trail is popular and heavily trafficked. There is a ski slope nearby as well so that made me jealous I didn't bring my snowboard. If it hasn't snowed that week then you most likely won't need snowshoes and spikes would suffice. I took mine off in the beginning. read more

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This is THE place to get THE shot of Shuksan. You know the one. You see it on every hipster instagram. On every pre-printed piece of IKEA wallart. But now, now you can have your own! Seriously though, this mountain is gorgeous. This short trail is a great place to shoot it, particularly in the fall. read more

Beautiful easy hike with so many beautiful views. They have quite a few benches along the trail to take in the amazing scenery. read more

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Steve and I have been wanting to go to Artist Point for a few years now. The road to the very top sometimes never opens all year due to the amount of snow piled up but usually it is open by mid summer. The drive up here is very scenic and beautiful but a bit more intense than what I bargained for. I'm an old pro with driving on mountain roads, even the narrow ones but not when there are so many bicyclists on the road. There were packs of them all the way up to the top. Some didn't want to ride single file because they wanted to visit and sometimes took up a good portion of the road... and of course this happened when you were going around a sharp turn... so you had to slow way down or stop... or if you thought you could make it dart around them before a car from the opposite direction comes. I get it that you often have to take up more roadway when going uphill on a bike but there was just SO many of them! I don't know if there was a bike event going on the weekend we came here or if this is normal for the area but either way... you definitely have to be very alert on the roads to Artist Point. If it is normal bike traffic I would hope that a bike lane gets put in.... yes... it would be a very, very long path and expensive but if that is the norm I'm sure a lot of people would get a lot of use out of it. Getting up to Artist Point early helps too but where I live it is about three hours or so to reach there so you would have to get up extremely early to beat the crowd. And actually once you do get there the crowds and the people are not bad at all. Parking seemed plentiful up at The Point and there were not long lines for anything like that so it wasn't all that bad... just the drive up I wasn't a fan of. The drive down was easier as well but you still had to pay attention for bikes. Artist point is located in the Mount Baker National Forest and while a lot of places in national forests can be free to park at Artist Point it is not. The parking or entrance fee is $10.00 but it is totally worth it for what you see and the views you get. At the top of Artist Point it is not devoid of snow at all and the paths that lead you to the gorgeous views are snowed in. You have to make the plunge and follow the trail through the snow to get to the viewing area. Often times being in the mountains is more cooler but it was very hot here so it was a bit odd walking in the snow and being in a fair amount of heat. The occasional breeze that came through the snow was very refreshing. After walking through the snow and to the viewing area where you can get some wonderful views of Mount Shuksan and Mount Baker there was a staff member from the forest service there to answer any questions and to provide the geological history of the area. He gave Steve and I a very brief description of the area which was most helpful! There was some haze at the viewpoint due to forest fires but overall we got some beautiful and clear pictures of the surrounding area. This was a great summer time outing and is well worth coming back to on numerous occasions!! read more

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Hiked here this past Friday - my first time at Mt Baker in the summer! What a lovely surprise to see both lush greenery and picturesque lakes, with remnant swaths of snow decorating the mountain. (I watched a backcountry skier hike up and ski down one of those patches multiple times, awesome!) Temperature was low 60's, felt slightly humid. So many nice opportunities to stop for water, snacks, or photos. It was a fairly even walking trail for the first couple miles. Elevation ramped up quickly after that. I think we gained about 800 feet over the last half mile...big kudos to the runner I saw. View was amazing, 360 degrees. Highly recommend the Artist Point trails, and can't wait to head back! read more

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Well worth the long drive from Bellingham. As you make your way up to the parking lot, you will see some dramatic drop-offs at the road's edge. If you are afraid of heights, don't look down! The road will come to a "Y" with a brilliant view of Baker, and Picture Lake. Park nearby and walk along the water. There are kiosks near to get your parking passes as well. Artist Point has restrooms and a spacious parking and is another 10 minute drive from here. Up top, you will have choices to hike on multiple paths, like Chain Lakes and Ptarmigan and other day hikes with mountain views. The road to Artist Point typically opens in the summer (July-ish) and closes around October. These times depend on the snowfall and can be unpredictable. The earliest opening occurred in May, closed in August, so if you are out of town, check before driving over. read more

Great motorcycle ride up! Challenging hairpins and some nice sections of 25-35 mph corners. That's if you don't get stuck behind the Subaru full of looky-loos going less that the recommended speed and brake checking every curve. This time I got lucky and had a clear road most of the way up. Once there the views all around are worth the trip up. Just be careful of the cage drivers who think the entire road is theirs and not just their side of the double yellow. You know who you are silver Suburban with the Canadian license plate. read more

Awesome place for great views of Mt. Shuksan and Mt. Baker. Only accessible in the summer after they plow the road past the upper parking lot of the ski area. This is a good place to go for the elderly, very young, and disabled to get excellent views that would normally require a great deal of hiking. Word of warning, though, this place can get packed on nice weekend days and parking can be difficult. You may have to park on the road. read more

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