Four Itchy Feet

June 28, 2025. Blaine, Washington. Day 38 of 170

Today, we hiked the Chain Lakes and Bagley Lakes trails near the summit of Mount Baker. Mount Baker, also known as Koma Kulshan or simply Kulshan, is a 10,781-foot active, glacier-covered volcano. It’s second in size only to Mount Rainier in the Cascade Volcanic Arc and the North Cascades of Washington State. Mount Baker is also the second-most thermally active crater in the Cascade Range, after Mount St. Helens.

After Mount Rainier, Mount Baker has the heaviest glacier cover of the Cascade Range volcanoes. The volume of snow and ice on Mount Baker—0.43 cubic miles—is greater than that of all the other Cascades volcanoes (except Rainier) combined. It’s also one of the snowiest places in the world; in 1999, Mount Baker Ski Area, located nine miles to the northeast, set the world record for recorded snowfall in a single season with 1,140 inches.

Once again, we were caught by surprise by the amount of snow on the trail. What was supposed to be a leisurely afternoon hike quickly became a snow playground. We chose the lake trails, which are the most popular in the area, but within minutes, we were walking in two or three feet of packed snow. The views were some of the most breathtaking we’ve experienced in Washington. Mount Baker rivals any mountain in beauty and awe. Our time on the mountain was unforgettable.

After our hike, we decided to continue the drive to the summit, where there’s a large parking lot and facilities. What we found was a parking lot surrounded by 20 feet of snow! At this altitude, clouds were ever-present, but we managed a few clear views of the volcano’s majesty in between passing clouds. If you’re visiting Washington, Mount Baker must be on your to-visit list—it will not disappoint. On your way to the summit, don’t forget to make a quick stop at the Nooksack Falls for an impressive view of the glacier torrent rolling down the mountain!