The Chain Lakes Loop Hike is one of the most popular in the North Cascades. We found it in this PNW hiking book and ended up with a perfect September day. It mixes up views of volcanoes and glaciers with sparkling alpine lakes. The hike is moderately challenging and is perfect for a half-day adventure. Plus, you get to take the Mount Baker Scenic Byway to get there and we love that drive.
Chain Lakes Hike Loop Trail
Before I get too deep on the photos of our hike, I’ll share some of the important information so you’ll be prepped and ready for your adventure.
Basic Stats on the Chain Lakes Loop Hike
- Location: Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
- Time to complete: around four hours
- Length: about 7.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1800 feet
- Trail: Rocks and dirt
- Dogs allowed if leashed
- Parking is available at the trailhead
- Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful pass which is good for all federal lands) required
- Facilities are available at the trailhead with a few campsites along the way
How to Get to Chain Lake Loop Trailhead
Route 542 is the only road that gets to the Mount Baker Ski Area. It meets Interstate 5 in Bellingham, so it’s a great hike if you stay in town for the weekend. You can also do a day trip from Seattle or Vancouver. If you have the time, Bellingham is an incredible place to hang out, so spending a night there is highly recommended.
Best Time of Year to Hike Near Mount Baker
The area near the Mount Baker Ski Area is at a higher elevation and it takes a long time for the winter snow to melt. We went in mid-July last year and the road to Artist’s Point was still closed because there was at least 10 feet of snow.
I would recommend August-October to make sure that the paths are clear of snow. The wildflowers come out right after the snow melts and then the leaves start getting colorful at the end of September. It’s like a rapid summer season.
Items to Pack for the Chain Lakes Loop
When preparing for a hike, it’s good to understand a bit about the route. With lots of rocks and loose gravel, you’ll want to make sure that you have shoes that provide some support. Layers are good for this region as well.
There is very little shade along the route, so make sure you have a hat or sunglasses if you don’t have any cloud cover. Sunscreen is also good, even if there are clouds.
Bring plenty of water to stay hydrated and snacks to enjoy while you’re hanging out at the alpine lakes. There are plenty of spots there to sit and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. We each packed a giant water bottle for ourselves, a Gatorade, vegan jerky, and some lemon poppyseed bars. Plus, we packed Marty’s necessary items, including a water bowl, a full bottle of water, and a ½ cup of food to snack on halfway through the hike.
Remember to pack out anything you bring with you and leave no trace.
Three Ways to See the Lakes
Depending on how you like to approach elevation gains and losses, there are three different ways to enjoy this trail.
- Travel clockwise around the loop. This is the route we took (and the one pictured above). We made the mistake of parking at Artist’s Point, which meant that our final 0.5 miles was climbing a steep route back to the parking lot, and we were gassed. There is a long slow descent right before that final gain. If you want to do it this way, park in the Heather Meadows parking lot and take those stairs while your legs are fresh. You’ll have plenty of flat ground after you make that initial climb.
- Travel counterclockwise. This route seemed to be very popular, and we passed a lot of people going in this direction. You’ll start with a long climb to the Herman Saddle. The good news is that there are plenty of spots to stop and take in the views of Mount Shuksan and the surrounding peaks of North Cascades.
- If you want to avoid much climbing or descending, park at Artist’s Point and hike clockwise until you reach Iceberg Lake and then turn around and return along the same route. You’ll get about the same distance (depending on how far you walk), but there isn’t as much change in elevation in this section of the hike.
Our Experience on the Chain Lakes Loop
We did this hike on Saturday, September 24. We had clear blue skies and temperatures in the high 50s – low 60s. It was a perfect morning for a hike. Unlike our previous trips to this area, we could see all the peaks, and the sky was clear of clouds. We got to the parking lot and headed out on the trail around 8:30 and there were still plenty of parking spots.
Like I mentioned above, we weren’t going to do the full loop, but once we reached the lakes, we just kept going to experience the full loop. We first reached a few small ponds and had incredible views of Mount Baker and the surrounding peaks. We crossed a small creek with a waterfall near a few of the campsites. The larger lakes had the most incredible turquoise waters.
The descent was long heading back down to Heather Meadows, but it was worse knowing we’d immediately have to climb back up the stairs.
The trail was fairly busy, but not as bad as I was expecting for a gorgeous Saturday morning. It definitely got more busy as we neared the parking lots. By the time we got back to our car at about 12:15, there were tons of people circling and waiting for a spot.
We were ready to enjoy a pizza and cold root beer after the hike at North Fork Brewery. We brilliantly put an order in the second we had a cell signal, so the hot pizza was just minutes away from being ready when we pulled in. It’s not a dog-friendly spot, so we had a parking lot picnic. I would definitely recommend this spot for a post-hike meal.
Plan Your Hike on the Chain Lakes Hike!
Let us know if you decide to hit the trails! The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is packed with trails and mountain peaks to enjoy and we are so excited to keep checking them off our PNW Bucket List.
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