If your family is heading to the Mt. Baker area, the question most people ask first is: what should we do? The mountain is the obvious answer. But there’s a lot more in this corridor than the ski area, and the timing works well when you have a real base to come back to.
Baker Bliss is a two-bedroom cabin in Glacier Springs — six guests, fully equipped, hot tub out back, fenced yard for the dog. It about 40 minutes distance from the Mt. Baker Ski Area, which makes all of these suggestions within easy reach.
Here’s what we send guests to, by season.
Summer and Fall
Nooksack Falls
Short drive east of Glacier on SR-542, short walk from the parking area, and a 170-foot drop into a basalt gorge that stops people mid-sentence. This one works at any age — nothing strenuous, genuinely dramatic. Worth it even if you don’t hike anything else.
Picture Lake
The reflection of Mt. Shuksan off the water at Picture Lake is one of those views that doesn’t look real until you’re standing in front of it. The loop path is just over half a mile, flat and paved — accessible with a stroller. It’s not a hike, it’s a 20-minute walk with a spectacular payoff.
Heather Meadows and Artist Point
A few minutes past Picture Lake, Heather Meadows opens up into wildflower country in late July and August. The Bagley Lakes trail (about 1.7 miles, relatively flat) is a good fit for families with older kids. The visitor center has restrooms and rangers who know the area well.
At the very end of SR-542 sits Artist Point — panoramic views of Baker and Shuksan in every direction. You don’t have to hike anything to get there. Drive up, get out, look around.
Heliotrope Ridge and Skyline Divide
For families with kids who can handle a longer day: Heliotrope Ridge gets you close to the Coleman Glacier with views of ice and wildflowers, and Skyline Divide is one of the better ridge walks in the area. Both trails open progressively through summer and are worth planning around.
The drive itself
The Mt. Baker Scenic Byway along SR-542 is worth the trip on its own. There are pullouts, river views, and the kind of scenery that doesn’t require a trailhead.
Winter
Mt. Baker Ski Area
The mountain holds the world record for seasonal snowfall — 1,140 inches in 1998–99 — and most years live up to that reputation. The ski area is about 40 minutes from Baker Bliss, close enough for an early start and back for a soak in the hot tub by early afternoon. Terrain covers all levels, and lessons are available for beginners.
Snowshoeing at Heather Meadows and Salmon Ridge Sno-Park
When the snow closes Artist Point Road, Heather Meadows and the Salmon Ridge Sno-Park open up for snowshoeing. These are accessible, well-marked routes that work well for families who aren’t skiers.
Nooksack Falls in winter
The falls look completely different with ice. If you’re up in the winter months, it’s still worth the short detour.
In Glacier
The town is small. Wake ‘n Bakery is the morning stop — coffee and pastries, worth knowing before you head up the highway. Chair 9 Woodstone Pizza & Bar handles dinner after a long day out. That’s most of what’s there, and that’s fine.
Groceries are limited up here. Stock up in Bellingham before you make the drive.
Back at Baker Bliss
The hot tub sits under the trees. After a day on the mountain or a longer hike, it does exactly what it should. There’s a propane fireplace inside, a fire pit out back, and a fully stocked kitchen for the mornings when you’re not in a hurry to go anywhere.
The fenced yard means dogs can run. The cabin comes with dog beds, bowls, and a toy — the kind of thing that makes it clear someone thought it through. The s’mores supplies are there too, if the kids want to use the fire pit in the evening.
Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, sleeps six. The king suite is on the main floor; upstairs has two queen beds and a second full bathroom — a good setup for families or two couples.
Plan ahead
Baker Bliss fills up in winter — people who want a real base camp near the mountain book early. Summer books up in late July and August when the wildflowers are out and the trails are all open. If you’re looking at either of those windows, don’t wait.
Looking for more?
Whatcom County has lots to offer: Summer in Whatcom County
*PNW Concierge manages a small number of properties in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. Baker Bliss is our Mt. Baker property — two bedrooms, dog-friendly, hot tub, fire pit, in Glacier Springs.