Snowshoeing at Mount Baker - Artist Point

Arriving at the dead end of the road to Mount Baker, the adventure begins. Hop out of the car and gather your gear before setting off up the mountain. From overheard conversations in the parking lot, it is safe to say that many people are confused as to where the trailhead is for this winter wonderland hike. Pro tip: it's just left of the bathrooms and follows along the roped off ski paths.

Wait until you're past the bathrooms to strap on your snowshoes, and then start the exciting march up the mountain from 4100-foot elevation to 5100-foot elevation.

The beauty of snowshoeing is that you can make your own path since you are essentially floating on top of snow that you'd normally post-hole in. At first the trail is a fairly open white meadow that you can traipse across however you'd like using the general tracks of those who have gone before you to make sure you end up at the correct destination.

To your right side the slope falls off steeply and on your left that are guidelines that separate snoeshoeing persons from the downhill skiers. As long as you stay between these two boundaries you should summit at Artist Point.

The jagged mountain to your immediate left is Mount Shuksan and it is the star of the show on this wintery hike. Turning your head 360 degrees you find that you are utterly surrounded by snow-capped peaks. It's breathtaking.

Mindful that in winter it often is dark by 4:30 PM, make sure that you allot enough time to make it to the upper view point of Artist Point in time to make it back down. My trip took two hours climbing and 45 minutes descending with an hour at the top to soak in the views and devour a protein bar.

The views at the summit are what make this drive up from Seattle completely worth it. If you're up for it, I highly recommend bringing a tent and spending the night. Make sure you pack incredibly warm clothes and extras of anything that may get wet.

This hike is fairly busy in the winter since it is also a popular skiing destination, making you feel much safer in case of emergencies. Always check the avalanche reports before going, bring extra food, and carry a headlight whether you plan to camp or not. The road to Baker can be snowy and icy and it's always recommended to have tire chains in your car just in case.

I've hiked roughly 300 miles this year and can firmly attest to this experience being one of the best possible in Washington and Oregon, don't miss the opportunity!