Walk through idyllic meadows covered in vibrant colors, swim in crisp alpine blue lakes, and admire the imposing mountains sitting overhead. Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker Washington truly is the quintessential Pacific Northwest hike!
Mount Baker has been on my list for a while and we finally made it there in the Fall. We had heard great things about the Chain Lakes trail, and it lived up to the hype! 🙌🏻 There were stunning fall colors along the way, gorgeous lakes, and unbelievable views of the surrounding mountains.
If you only have time for one trail in Mount Baker make it this one!
It can be a confusing trail with multiple waypoints and areas that cut through parking lots. So, I’ve written this post with everything you need to know about hiking the Chain Lakes loop trail. It includes how to get there, which way to go, and what you need to know before you go! I hope you enjoy this wonderful trail.
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Chain Lakes Loop Hike Guide
Quick Hike Info
Distance: 6.2-7 miles
Elevation: ~1800 feet of gain
Type: Loop
Length: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Chain Lakes Location
Chain Lakes is in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest as part of the Mount Baker wilderness. It’s in the Northern area of Washington just 90 minutes from Bellingham and 3 hours from Seattle.
The Mount Baker Wilderness covers a lot of the Western region of the Cascade Mountains and is near North Cascades National Park. 🏔 This trail takes you to gorgeous views of some of the most spectacular mountains including Mount Shuksan and Mount Baker.
The Chain Lakes Loop trail is located off of Mount Baker Highway, which is one of the most popular areas within the region. This highway has plenty of scenic pull offs 🤩, campgrounds, and the stunning Artist’s Point at the end.
How to Get to the Chain Lakes Loop Trail
There are actually three access points to this trailhead: Artist’s Point, Heather Meadows, and Bagley Lakes. I recommend simply starting from whichever point you can get parking. 🅿️
Artist’s Point is an incredibly popular spot to park, because of the incredible panoramic views that you can see from this point. Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan are both visible from this lot! 😮 The trail actually goes through the lot, so you can either go Clockwise from the Northwest corner or counter clockwise from the South.
Then, your next option is parking at the Heather Meadows Visitor Center. This is the trail that we began at and it was a beautiful way to go. I recommend going counter clockwise and walking down to the lakes before heading up through the mountainous region.
Finally, you can hike starting at Bagley Lakes, which is the first point along Mount Baker Highway. But, if you start from here, just know that your hike will be a mile or so longer. 🥾
Things to Know Before You Go
💵 There is a $5 Daily Fee for Mount Baker National Forest. But, you can also use the America the Beautiful Pass, the Northwest Forest Pass, or another annual pass.
☀️ Weather changes quickly in the mountains, which means you should be prepared for inclement weather. We were there for two days and we saw all sorts of weather from rain to fog to sun.
⛺️ There are a couple of camping locations on the Chain Lakes Loop Trail. They are at Mazama and Hayes Lake, I will share more about camping there below, but all sites are first-come, first-served.
🐻 This is black bear country and we even saw one off the road there! Make sure that you stay bear aware and carry bear spray with you on the trails.
🦮 Pets are allowed in the Mount Baker area, but they must be kept on a leash at all times.
⚠️ This area of Mount Baker is only open from the summer to fall. You can check the road conditions here.
🍃 Remember to follow the Leave No Trace Principles. As always, you want to leave nature looking better than you found it.
Best Time to Hike the Chain Lakes Loop
This area of Mount Baker is at a high elevation and is actually one of the snowiest places in the entire US! ❄️ That means that the road up to Artist’s Point and the Chain Lakes Loop trail is usually only open for a short period of time.
Chain Lakes Loop usually opens around late June or early July depending on the snowfall and closes in November.
So, really the best time to get out on this trail is whenever it is open and the snow is gone! In summer, you’ll get sunny skies, wildflowers, and incredible views of the mountains with higher temperatures. In late summer, stop along the trail to pick blueberries 🫐. Then, in the Fall, the area will start filling up with reds and yellows, which looks like something out of a painting.
You really cannot go wrong! 👍🏻
What to Pack for Chain Lakes
Chain Lakes is a fantastic day hike, but you can also go backpacking there. Either way, you will want to pack plenty of water 💦, bring layers, and have durable hiking shoes. This trail has a lot of elevation, especially on the downhill if you go counter clockwise, so I recommend trekking poles.
No matter what season you go, there is always a chance of inclement weather 🌧, so it’s best to be prepared. Below, you’ll find my packing list for a day hike on the Chain Lakes loop trail.
Day Hiking Packing List:
- Comfortable Hiking Boots
- Day Pack
- Hiking poles
- Water Reservoir
- 1-2 Liters of Water
- Snacks and Food
- First Aid Kit
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Bear Spray
- Headlamp
- Shelter
- Rain jacket
- Light winter jacket
- Base Layer
- Good Hiking Pants/Bottoms
- Winter Hat
- Gloves
- Satellite phone
- Bathing Suit (optional)
- Towel (optional)
- Downloaded AllTrails Map
If you plan on backpacking you can read my complete gear guide here.
Can you Camp There?
Yes, there are two areas where you can stay overnight: Mazama and Hayes Lakes. Each of these areas has four campsites with a backcountry toilet. 🏕 They are first come-first served.
You must pack in and pack out everything that you bring!
That being said, these campsites are very popular and competitive to get. If you want to go during the summer or on a weekend, then you will want to arrive early. For those who miss out on getting a spot here, you can try free camping areas in other areas of the national forest.
Chain Lakes Loop Trail Description
Below, you can read a detailed description of the Chain Lakes Loop hike. There are two ways to do this hike: clockwise or counter clockwise ⏱. If you do it clockwise, then you will have to climb the steep stairs to Artist’s Point, if you do it counter clockwise you’ll descend this same long staircase.
I recommend doing this hike in a counter clockwise direction, because you’ll get the hard part out of the way and get to enjoy the stunning views of the mountains. The trail description will begin from Artist’s Point, because this is the most popular way to hike it.
Just note that you will need to follow portions of the Wild Goose Trail to make this hike a loop. Otherwise, you can do a one way hike to Bagley Lakes, if you leave a car at the other side.
Down to Bagley Lakes
From the Artist’s Point parking lot, you will look for bathroom. From there, you’ll see an unmarked trail with rocks. You’ll go on that before seeing a trail sign for the “Wild Goose Trail.”
This is when you will descend down the steep trail and stairs until you get to Heather Meadows. I’m not going to lie, I did not enjoy this part of the hike and I ended up tweaking my knee on the stairs 😩 (maybe that’s why I didn’t take a picture of them).
However, you’ll get this part out of the way and the rest of the hike is amazing! You’ll again arrive to a gap in the trail at Austin Pass. There will be a break in the wall that you will continue through and then it will begin to go down to Bagley Lakes.
From there, you can cut across Herman Saddle or add an additional mile to your hike by looping around Bagley Lake. We chose to do the saddle and I do not regret it!
Herman Saddle
After you walk along the stunning lake, you will begin to ascend back up Herman Saddle. This part of the hike gains about 1000 feet 🥵 to the highest point on the trail.
During the fall, stunning reds cover the hillside, while Mount Shuksan stands imposingly behind you. So, you can stop and take breaks by looking behind you at the gorgeous mountain.
Finally, at the top of Herman Saddle you will get spectacular views of both Mount Shuksan and Mount Baker with Iceberg Lake below. It’s a fantastic spot to take photos 📸 and enjoy a rest before continuing onwards. It’s honestly one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen!
To the Lakes
Now that you’ve completed the hard part, it’s all smooth sailing from here. Continue down towards the bright blue Iceberg Lake. You’ll enjoy the rolling meadows, thick trees, and gorgeous mountains that appear all around you.
Once you get to Hayes Lake on the right there will be three paths in front of you. The right leads to Hayes Lake, which is a nice place to go for a swim 🏊♀️ or set up camp. The left leads to a toilet and the main trail is in the middle, you’ll follow that one.
Continue on the main trail where you will pass both Mazama Lake and Iceberg Lake. Campers can set up at one of the spots at Mazama and day hikers may enjoy some time at these vibrant lakes before continuing on.
What goes up, must come down and vice versa. So, you’ll need to climb up the mountain once again. Luckily, this climb is a lot less steep than the one up Herman Saddle and at the top you’ll be rewarded with more views of the mountains.
Back to Artist’s Point
From the top of this crest, you’ll walk along a stunning ridge line, which is mostly flat. You’ll want to take the trail to the left that will take you back to the parking lot and your starting point.
This last part of the trail was one of my favorites, because it had remarkable views of both Mount Shuksan and Baker, while being surrounded with fall colors 🍂. Reds and oranges covered the hill sides there and marmots even ran about. It was a wonderful way to end the fantastic Chain Lakes Loop!
Final Tips for Hiking the Chain Lakes Loop
The Chain Lakes Loop trail is one of the most fantastic hikes in the Pacific Northwest. It has it all from bright blue lakes, to incredible mountain views, and fragrant pines. Because of this, it’s incredibly popular.
So, I recommend going early in the day or later in the afternoon to avoid crowds. Make sure you know what you’re getting into and download your maps 📲 so you don’t get off the trail. If you do all that, you’ll have a fantastic time!
Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this trail guide!
📍 Pin Guide to the Stunning Chain Lakes Loop Hike to Pinterest
Colorful flowers, inviting blue water and mountains, this hike has it all! I’m adding it to the list.
It’s seriously amazing!
This guide is incredibly helpful for planning a hike on the Chain Lakes Loop! Your detailed tips on navigating the trail and the best time to visit are really valuable, especially for those new to Mount Baker. I love how you highlighted the breathtaking views of Mount Shuksan and the fall colors along the way. It’s clear that you’ve covered everything one would need to know, from parking spots to trail difficulty and camping options. Thanks for sharing such a thorough and insightful guide!