Home to Mt. Baker Ski Area, Whatcom County is full of snow activities, events and sports during the winter.
Make sure to Recreate Responsibly and check Travel Advisories for the Mount Baker Highway [SR 542] so you can be at ease playing in our epic amounts of snow (the most at any ski resort in America aside from Alyeska)!
Get to know beautiful Mt. Baker in the snow. Select from a dozen remarkable snow adventures that allow you to experience some of the most spectacular scenery in Washington State.
Fly straight into Bellingham...and bring your skis!
Southwest Airlines lets you check 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.
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:
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.
Please note: Sledding is prohibited within the boundaries of the Mount Baker Ski Area.
One popular place to sled is at Highwood Lake near the Mt. Baker Ski Area.
Sled at your own risk and check ice thickness and conditions for safety.
Safety always comes first when adventuring in the outdoors.
Cascade Mountain Ascents is a mountain guiding collective with a mission to provide high-quality, customizable trips and industry-leading education in the North Cascades. They are dedicated to being stewards of our area's landscapes.
Take guided trips or courses on backcountry skiing, glacier mountaineering, avalanche hazard management, and more!
