Artist Point opens in Whatcom County for the summer high-country hiking season
With only 20 feet of snow to clear and no major road repairs this summer season, the route to Artist Point opened Wednesday morning, the Washington State Department of Transportation announced in a statement.
Snow-removal and other work started May 27 to open last 2.7 miles of road from the winter closure near Heather Meadows to Artist Point, offering hope for an early hiking season in the Mount Baker high country.
Although the road is clear, heavy snow remains in the backcountry.
“Many of the trails accessed from Artist Point remain under deep snow, and most signs with directional maps are still unavailable. Vault toilets and garbage cans are available at Artist Point. Recreationalists should plan for limited (mobile phone) service and pack extra emergency supplies,” WSDOT said Wednesday. “It is unknown when the U.S. Forest Service’s Heather Meadows Visitor Center will open for the season.”
A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park a car in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Day-use passes at $5 and can be bought online or at the U.S. Forest Service station on the Mount Baker Highway just east of Glacier. Annual passes at $30 are good at all national forests in Washington and Oregon.
Travelers should still expect to see WSDOT maintenance and U.S. Forest Service crews working along State Route 542 (Mount Baker Highway), as they continue to maintain the road through the season,” WSDOT said.
About 650 cars and trucks travel to Artist Point per day during the summer season. Nearly 40,000 people visit the Glacier Public Service Center for trail information and to see the natural history displays.
Snowfall in the high country closed the last part of the Mount Baker Highway on Oct. 15, 2025.
A total of 502 inches of snow fell at the Mt. Baker Ski Area during the 2025-26 season, the lowest amount since the 303 inches during the winter of 2014-2015.
