Mt. Baker Summer Getaway - Cabins, Hikes, Swimming & More!

Mt. Baker Summer Getaway – Cabins, Hikes, Swimming & More!

The Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest is a stunning part of Washington, and if you are looking for a great spot to act as the basecamp for amazing hikes this summer – this is it! In this area, you will experience beautiful jagged mountain backdrops, densely forested areas, rivers, and waterfalls. It really is beautiful. Beyond that, I find it to be such a peaceful getaway. The air is crisp, the greenery surrounds, the mountains are your backdrop, and I was just able to exhale on our visit.

Although it is popular year-round for many reasons, I think it makes a wonderful summer trip with gorgeous scenery and many popular hikes to enjoy. This area is also beautiful in the fall, and very popular in the winter with the Mt. Baker Ski area and all the snow activities. There are ample opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty of this area year-round, but hiking time is definitely during the summer. Not to mention that it is a short drive (around 25 minutes) to Bellingham, making it a great option to enjoy the outdoors, along with some city visits, too.

If you are wondering when to plan your next trip to the Mount Baker National Forest, a great way to figure out what the weather might be like for the time of year you plan to visit is to check the Forest Service’s site here.

Because Mt. Baker is one of the snowier areas, it can be cooler in summer than some other areas. So while it is gorgeous (and we got plenty of pool time in at our cabin location), you will also want to pack some sweatshirts and things to keep you warm if it does cool down.

If hiking is not your thing, it offers plenty of opportunities for scenic drives, too.

During the summer, the views are often unobstructed, so whether you are the kind of visitor who gets out and wanders or you are looking for beautiful scenic drives, you are not likely to be disappointed!

The Nooksack River is a main water attraction in the area. We enjoyed it via hiking, but you could also book a whitewater rafting trip, fish, access it via pull-off areas on a scenic drive, and enjoy waterfalls feeding into it.

Different areas and different lighting present the river in various shades in our pictures here, but it really is a beautiful river. with more of a turquoise hue in many places.

For a moderate hike to enjoy the river, consider the North Fork Nooksack Trail. We share more about where to enjoy the Nooksack River below too.

Where to Stay in the Mount Baker Area –

One reason why I think this area is not talked about as much is that there are no large resorts in the area. Although there are no official lodging or resorts on Mt. Baker, you will find many rental options in Glacier that make a great spot to stay. It is around 30 minutes from Glacier to the Mt. Baker Ski area, and it is a quaint little town that makes for an enjoyable stay. You will find a few restaurants and shops in this town to enjoy while visiting.

There are some communities up here that you can rent people’s cabins in, that offer some fun amenities. Snowline community is the closest lodging to Mt. Baker, and where we stayed, and we loved the community.

For example, we stayed in a cabin in the Snowline community and had access to a pool, fishing lake, and park as well as beautiful scenery. We were also within walking distance of Chair 9 to get food (although you do have to cross the highway, so you may want to drive if you are visiting with kids).

The grounds were beautiful too. There was a stocked pond for fishing, a park area for kids to play in, and gorgeous views of the mountain.

Find cabins for rent in the Snowline community here.

Cabin rentals at Silver Lake Park

Another great option is that you can camp at Silver Lake Park, or rent one of their lakeside cabin rentals and lodge options.

And if you are mostly looking for a place to lay your head, the Blue Lodge in Glacier is a small 6-room lodge attached to Chair 9 Bar and Grill, and they offer very affordable rates.

What to Do in the Area –

This area is beautiful and full of many outdoor activities. Hiking is a major activity year-round, and the scenery is wonderful everywhere you look, it seems. You will find hikes that range from easy to more challenging, so there are options for many different levels.

Popular Hikes in the Area

Hiking is going to be the most popular activity in this area during the summer months. If Artist Point is on your must-visit list, then you will want to look at planning a July to August trip, ideally (the road there does not open until early July for many years).

Find more popular hikes in the area here, too. You can sign up for a free one-week trial of All Trails if you want to use it over your visit to help you plan your hikes, too! It is a nice tool, as you will be able to download offline maps (there is not always coverage up here), find trails that are near to you, and more.

More Outdoor Activities

Although hiking is a summertime highlight in this area, here are some more great ideas on how to spend your time.

River rafting – book a white-water river rafting trip for some adventure on the Nooksack River.

Enjoy Silver Lake Park — This Whatcom County park is a great option to enjoy some lake time. It has day-use areas, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and trails to explore (camping and cabins available too).

Day Trips / Scenic Drives In The Area

Here are a couple of ideas for popular day trips and scenic drives in the area.

Take a drive along the Mount Baker Scenic Byway and enjoy it winding around rivers, meandering through small towns, passing waterfalls, and more.

Head into Bellingham for a day trip. Depending on where you stay, it’s probably around a 25 to 30-minute trip. You can enjoy restaurants, shops, and parks. You could also plan a trip here on your last day, then meander back to the Puget Sound area via Chuckanut Drive.

You could also make a day trip to Birch Bay, or pair it with a visit to Bellingham. It sounds like the Birch Bay Waterpark will be opening again this year. We also share more ideas on what to do in the Birch Bay area at the bottom of our Semiahoo resort review here.

Seasonal Activities

This is a popular winter destination because of the Mt Baker Ski Area and all of the snow activities in the area, including:

Skiing
Snowboarding
Snowshoeing
Sledding

Find fall colors on beautiful drives during the fall. We also share lots of fall activities in Whatcom County for Families, if you will be in the area this time of the year.

Where To Eat When Visiting the Mt. Baker Area

There are not many spots to stop for food beyond Glacier, so this is definitely a place to stop and fuel up (both your body and your tank)! Some favorite spots in the area are:

Chair 9 In Glacier

My kids were fascinated by the phone booth outside this spot! But beyond some fun picture-friendly moments in front, it is a fun bar and grill to get a meal or a drink at in Glacier. We stayed in the community across the street from it, so we visited a couple of times.

They are probably best known for their wood-fired pizzas, but their build-your-own nachos are huge and definitely something to share too!

There is a game room to enjoy as well, but they are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Wake n Bakery

This is the most popular spot in the area to grab a cup of joe. In addition to great coffee, you will also find pastries, breakfast sandwiches, paninis, and soups.

Gunners BBQ

This spot gets great reviews, so if you are a BBQ fan, be sure to check this one out.

If you love the outdoors and the scenery that the Pacific Northwest is famous for, you will not be disappointed in a trip to the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. I highly recommend a visit during the summer months, to really take in the greenery of the area, but all seasons up here can be beautiful.

Mt. Baker Summer Getaway – Cabins, Hikes, Swimming & More!