| Mt. Baker Scenic Byway is 24 Miles long. Enjoy spectacular scenery ranging from dense rain forests to the rugged peaks of the North Cascades. Most of the elevation gain (3,200 feet) occurs in the last 10 miles as the road climbs steeply past the Mt. Baker Ski Area to 5,400-foot Artist Point and grand views of Mt. Shuksan. A stop at the Glacier Public Service Center as you begin will provide you with local information and history. Much of the road follows the North Fork Nooksack River, which runs in a gorge 400 feet deep in places. Pullouts along the way let you stop for gazing and pictures. Nooksack Falls, just a few miles west of Glacier, plummets 175 feet in two columns. Just before the big climb at the end of the drive, watch for a forest of 500 year old western red cedar. Heather Meadows offers views of Mt. Shuksan and Mt. Baker, a 10,778-foot active volcano which occasionally emits steam and sulfurous fumes and has active glaciers down to 4,000 feet elevation. Self-guided interpretive trails and a staffed visitor center in an historical setting welcome the summer visitor. During the winter months, the Mt. Baker Ski Area offers alpine skiing and snowboarding. |
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