Traffic

Itching to visit Artist Point trailhead? WSDOT crews preparing to reopen road

Road-clearing crews with the Washington State Department of Transportation unload bulldozers in the snow near Heather Meadows on June 2, 2025, as clearing efforts started for the road to Artist Point in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest east of Bellingham.
Road-clearing crews with the Washington State Department of Transportation unload bulldozers in the snow near Heather Meadows on June 2, 2025, as clearing efforts started for the road to Artist Point in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest east of Bellingham. Washington State Department of Transportation Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald

The road to Artist Point, a popular trailhead at the end of Mount Baker Highway, will be reopening at 8 a.m. Friday, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The road closes each year in mid-October to keep travelers safe during the winter months, then reopens in the summer.

Clearing efforts of the 2.7 miles of road began at Heather Meadows in early June and will soon be wrapping up.

Artist Point offers stunning 360-degree views of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan and provides access to multiple trails, all at an altitude of 5,000 feet.

A National Forest Pass is required to park at Artist Point. A list of vendors that provide a National Forest Pass is available through the U.S. Forest Service.

Profile Image of Jack Belcher
Jack Belcher
The Bellingham Herald
360-715-2206
Jack Belcher covers transportation and recreation for The Bellingham Herald. He graduated from Central Washington University with a degree in digital journalism in 2020 and joined the staff in September 2022. Belcher resides in Bellingham.
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER