Chain Lakes Loop from Artist Point

The walk starts at the Artist Point parking lot, at the end of the Mount Baker Highway. Our line goes round counterclockwise. It drops steeply down the Wild Goose Trail to Heather Meadows and the Bagley Lakes, then takes the Chain Lakes Trail up to Herman Saddle, with wide views of Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan. Beyond the saddle the trail passes Iceberg Lake, Hayes Lake and the Mazama Lakes, then climbs to the junction with the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail and returns to Artist Point.

It is a 6.2-mile (9.9 km) loop with 1,620 feet (494 m) of climbing; allow about 4 hours. The grade is Moderate: two real climbs, up to Herman Saddle and back up to Artist Point at the end.

The lakes are good for a swim, and there are blueberries in late summer. Camping is allowed only at the sites marked by posts with a tent symbol. Dogs must be kept on a leash.

A Northwest Forest Pass or an America the Beautiful pass is needed to park. The road to Artist Point can be driven for less than three months a year, and snow can lie in the parking lot even in late summer. The loop also passes the parking areas at Heather Meadows and the Bagley Lakes, lower down the highway, so it can be started from either of those.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.