Snowsports

Fly straight into Bellingham...and bring your skis!

Southwest Airlines lets you checked snow ski equipment as your free bag. This includes skis, snowboards, ski boots, and ski poles. When checking ski equipment as your free bag, they allow you to count up to two bags (containing one set of snow skis, poles, and ski boots, for instance) as one item, even if they're packaged and tagged separately.

Plus, the airline won't charge an excess size fee for snow ski equipment. However, excess weight charges may apply.

Need to rent snow gear? No problem. Learn where you can rent outdoor gear in Bellingham & Whatcom County.

Snowboarders and skiers enjoy a variety of terrain, day lodges, ski lessons and rentals. Mt. Baker Ski Area has the longest season in the state and often the most snow in North America.

Average snowfall 659 inches (1,673 cm)
Vertical rise 1,500 ft (455 m)
Heather Meadows elevation 4,300 ft (1,300m)
White Salmon elevation 3,500 ft (1,060m)
8 quad chairs, 2 handle tows
Runs: 42% Expert, 35% Intermediate, 23% Beginner

Salmon Ridge Sno-Park Area
Provides up to 15 miles (25km) of trail depending on snow. Trails are groomed on a volunteer basis and is not guaranteed. Trail use is free, but a Sno-Park Permit is required to park at the trail head. The Trail is located about 13 miles beyond the town of Glacier on the Mt. Baker Highway, State Route 543 (between mileposts 46/47), and is across the road from Silver Fir Campground (Razor Hone Road #3070 and Anderson Road #3071).

If you're a cross country enthusiast looking for your cohorts, try the Nooksack Nordic Ski Club, the local group that provides and maintains the trails and community around the sport.

Most snowshoe trails can be found off the Mt Baker Highway (State Route 542), about a one-hour drive from Bellingham. These trails offer scenic views, beautiful waterfalls, majestic old-growth forest, unique geologic formations, mountain peaks and wild river valleys. Plentiful feet of snow can be found throughout the Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest every winter. Fresh snow falls regularly on trails near and on Mt Baker from November-April.

Snowshoe trails:

Coal Pass, FS 39: Just east of the town of Glacier and milepost 34, turn south on Glacier Creek Rd/FS 39.
Excelsior Trail: There is a sizeable parking lot at the trailhead on the north side of SR 542, east of milepost 42. A steep, forested trail leads to the open meadows of Welcome Pass. Route finding skills recommended.
Hannegan Pass: Just east of the DOT equipment sheds by milepost 46. There is a sizeable parking area where Hannegan Road meets SR 542.
Silver Fir Campground: Across from the large SnoPark east of milepost 46. Flat, amid old growth, by the Nooksack River.
Bagley Lakes: Just west of Mt. Baker Ski Area. Drive SR 542 to the end. Park in the farthest corner of the farthest parking lot to access the Bagley Lakes Trail.
Artists Point: Follow SR 542 to the end. Park in the farthest corner of the farthest parking lot.
Canyon Lake Community Forest: East of milepost 16, go south on Mosquito Lake Rd, then left on Canyon Lake Road. Park at the snowline. The access road to Canyon Lake Community Forest was washed out in several places by the January, 2009 storm. The road is closed at the gate, requiring a 5.7 mile hike to the trailheads.

There are two groomed trails off the Mt. Baker Highway 542; Canyon Creek (Road#31) and Glacier Road (Road#39). Snowmobiling is allowed when the road systems are closed to vehicles and there is sufficient snow pack (24″). These Trails are designated Washington State Sno-Park and you need to show your permit in your vehicle window when parked at Sno-Parks.

We acknowledge that Whatcom County is located on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples. They cared for the lands that included what we’d call the Puget Sound region, Vancouver Island and British Columbia since time immemorial. This gives us the great obligation and opportunity to learn how to care for our surrounding areas and all the natural and human resources we require to live. We express our deepest respect and gratitude for our indigenous neighbors, the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe, for their enduring care and protection of our shared lands and waterways.

Snowsports

Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding

Cross-Country Skiing

Snowshoeing

Snowmobiling

Sledding