Mount Baker Wilderness

Mount Baker Wilderness is a protected area in northern Washington featuring expansive alpine meadows, ancient forests, and extensive glacier fields. The terrain rises through steep valleys and ridges toward snow-capped peaks, with streams flowing throughout the landscape.

Congress designated this area as a protected wilderness in 1984, adding it to the National Wilderness Preservation System. This status prevented future development and ensured the landscape would remain in its natural state.

Native American tribes established paths and hunting grounds throughout the region before the arrival of European settlers in the Pacific Northwest.

The area is accessed through multiple marked trails, most of which require permits from the U.S. Forest Service. The best time to visit is summer and early fall when most routes are snow-free and weather is more predictable.

The area contains vast permanent glacier fields and rocky high plateaus that support specialized species such as mountain goats and hoary marmots. These creatures have adapted to the harsh alpine environment over generations.

Location: Washington

Location: Whatcom County

Location: Skagit County

Operator: US Forest Service

Website: http://wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&wname=Mount%20Baker%20Wilderness

GPS coordinates: 48.80810,-121.74300

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:06