Mount Baker

Mt. Baker is without doubt Bellingham and Whatcom County's pride. If you are into exhilarating experiences there is nothing better than letting Mt. Baker surround you with its majesty and grandeur. Hiking, biking, camping, canoeing, rafting, bird watching, fishing, swimming and horse riding are just a few of the many activities that take place on this beautiful mountain. The Mt. Baker trails are covered in daffodils and tulips during the spring. Every summer about 65,000 outdoor adventurers come to explore Mt. Baker. Plan a hike; choose from short trails, strenuous treks or just drive all the way up to Artist's Point for an incredible panoramic view, especially at sunset.

A short loop will take you along the south shore of picturesque Lake Whatcom, up State Highway 9 through the old town of Deming, where each June they celebrate The Deming Logging Show. Deming is also home of The Nooksack Indian Tribe . The major highlights of the Mt. Baker highway include the Ancient Volcano, the Nooksack River Valley and the Timber production. Mt. Baker Mining District's last authentic mining can be found down the road from the Shuksan Picnic Area (Hwy, Mile 46). The most spectacular natural attraction is the glacier-covered volcano by the name of Mt. Baker, this is the second most active volcano in the Cascade Range; Mt. Saint Helens is the first.

Between 1911 and 1913, The Mount Baker Club hosted the first Mt. Baker Marathon with the aid of the Bellingham Chamber of Commerce, unfortunately due to a near fatal accident and insufficient funds, the race was cancelled in 1913. Sixty years later, The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry launched the Ski to Sea Race, an 82.5 mile relay that takes place annually during Memorial Day Weekend.

With the longest sky season in the state and typically the most snow in North America, Mt. Baker is a snowboarder's paradise and skiers' delight. It holds the world's record for the most annual snowfall and its glacial peak towers above the landscape at 10,781 feet.

Whether you are a summer explorer or a winter sports aficionado, Mt. Baker is just and spectacular experience.

Photos Courtesy of Doug Bascom Photography