Itching to head to Artist Point? Here’s how close you can get by car now
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Crews began clearing 2.7-mile road to Artist Point after winter closure.
- Lower snowfall and faster melt may accelerate reopening by late June.
- Recreational users allowed near site but must avoid active work zones.
Snow-removal crews have begun clearing the road to Artist Point, which has been closed since mid-October, the Washington State Department of Transportation announced Monday.
Clearing efforts focus on the eastern 2.7 miles of Mount Baker Highway, from Heather Meadows to Artist Point — a summertime tourist destination and the trailhead for several popular hikes in the North Cascades high country.
Skiers, snowboarders and hikers can use the area, WSDOT tweeted.
“Recreationalists are allowed in the area but do so at their own risk. This is an active work zone. Stay clear of crews as they work,” WSDOT said.
Road-clearing crews are working 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, WSDOT’s Madison Sehlke told The Herald.
At an altitude of 5,000 feet, Artist Point offers a breathtaking 360-degree vista that includes Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan and other Cascades peaks in Whatcom County.
Artist Point closes to cars near Heather Meadows after fall’s first major snowstorm.
Clearing efforts in spring require heavy snow-blowers, skip loaders and dump trucks and usually take six to eight weeks. That may go a little quicker this year, because seasonal snowfall was below normal and is melting quickly, thanks to a weak La Niña weather pattern in winter and warmer spring temperatures.
“Reopening the road depends on the amount of snow and the conditions of the roadway underneath, but usually we reopen the road to Artist Point toward the end of June or beginning of July. Last year, crews opened the Road to Artist Point on June 21,” Sehlke said in an email.
A total of 585 inches of snow fell at the Mt. Baker Ski Area from September through April, according to the Mt. Baker Ski Area, which records snowfall for the National Weather Service. Snowfall data for the season is not yet official.
“Snow water equivalent” of the North Puget Sound snowpack was at 51% of normal on Monday, according to the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.
This story was originally published June 3, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
