Mount Baker

Closed
Angie Horel
SnowPak Local Insider
Angie Horel
Pros
  • Record-setting snow!
  • Relatively long season
  • Back and side-country opportunities abound
Cons
  • Long drive from Seattle

Overall

3.8

It might be remote, but Mt Baker's extreme terrain and huge powder dumps make it a must visit for powderhounds. The local ski hill even holds the World Record for snowfall in a single season in 1998/99 with 1,140 in! 

Best month to go

February

February is the best time to visit Mount Baker! The snowpack has been established, it's still cold enough for lighter snow, and the weather can bring in some good dumps.

FLY TO

Vancouver International Airport

DRIVE TO

Mount Baker (2.5 hours)

Glacier (18-20 mi)

  • Best for groups
  • Accommodation is limited to condo and cabin rentals
  • Very limited restaurants and shops

Find accommodations around here

Bellingham (51-54 mi)

  • Wider range of accommodation for everyone
  • Close to the Baker Shuttle Bus stops to take you to the resort
  • Close to various restaurants and stores

Find accommodations around here

For beginners

Mt Baker isn't our best choice for beginners. There are only a few green runs available for beginners but most of them are off the super-slow loading Chair 2 around Heather Meadows Day Lodge. The low-angle slopes are perfect for never-evers while there are some banks and jumps for beginners looking to gain some confidence!

For intermediates

Intermediates have a lot of challenging options at Mt. Baker with plenty of groomed and ungroomed blue runs around Chair 8. Our favorite is the Oh Zone to Daytona run since it's one of the longer runs and you can find powder stashes along the sides and tree bands. To top it all off, you can even enjoy the amazing views of Mt. Shuksan and the White Salmon Glacier!

For experts

Cliffy terrain, barely-groomed runs and dumps of powder makes Mt. Baker an expert skier's dream. The epic double black diamond runs and various adventures through the cliff faces are all the hype here. Start off on Gabl's before checking out other must-try runs off Chair 1, but be sure to know where you're going or else you're in for a long hike out.

Find freshies

Small crowds and low grooming definitely means freshies are everywhere. After a day or two, you might have to get a little more creative and duck into trees and under Extreme Hazard rope lines, but finding snow is rarely a problem at Baker.

Ditch the crowds

Crowds? What crowds? The biggest crowds are the lines to buy your lift ticket in the morning or buying food at Heather Meadows Day Lodge around lunch time. On the mountain, grab a few extra turns on the shoulder above Pan Face.

Non skiers

As a local ski hill, Mt Baker lacks the activities that other ski resorts provide. Non-skiers won't have much to do here besides snowshoeing up to Artist Point, but they must keep in mind that when there is high snowfall, comes high avalanche danger!

Families

While Mt. Baker is a local ski hill and works hard to provide for its families, there is limited terrain for the little ones. Most of the old fixed-gripped lifts are without safety bars and the cliffed out terrain means it's definitely not the type of hill to let young ones take off on their own.

Save up to 35% when you book a Mount Baker package!

View Mount Baker packages

Mount Baker Reviews

Very Good 4 / 5
based on 18 reviews

How well the resort caters for beginner skiers / boarders

Beginners

How well the resort caters for intermediate skiers / boarders?

Intermediates

How well the resort caters for advanced skiers / boarders

Advanced

How accessible and convenient it is to get to this resort from a major destination

Accessibility

Quality of the off-piste terrain

Side/Backcountry

Overall value for money of the resort

Value for money

Quality of lifts, lift speed and lift layout in the resort

Lifts

Quantity and quality of the snow

Snow

How uncrowded is the resort

Uncrowded

Après ski and dining options

Town

Services and facilities e.g. child care, tubing, health care, equipment hire

Facilities

How family friendly is this resort?

Family Friendliness
Superb!4.9 / 5Nov 13, 2019
Mount Baker ReviewsAmber V.
advanced snowboarder
Mount Baker is my local mountain. It’s a lot of fun. Lots of Great riding in and out of bounds. people are great. lots of snow. several different lodges. Lift lines are usually not so bad. and a ticket won’t break the bank.... More
Good!3.7 / 5Nov 04, 2019
Mount Baker ReviewsT.D. W.
advanced snowboarder
Snow and terrain for days and a very friendly home town vibe. Mt. Baker receives some of the most and best snow in the PNW. Nothing is off limits to the experienced shredder while the quality and quantity of snow is great for beginners.... More
Average!3.4 / 5Sep 26, 2019
Mount Baker ReviewsNick N.
intermediate snowboarder
Nice wide open runs. Went during spring time in March and still plenty of snow and never waited longer than 10 minutes for the lift. The lifts themselves are a bit older and can be intimidating for beginners as they do not slow down for the most part and there are no cross bars. Last 15 minutes of the road towards the mountain are a bit windy and... More
Fabulous!4.3 / 5Aug 08, 2019
Mount Baker ReviewsBrent D.
intermediate snowboarder
If you like powder this is the resort for you!! Set world record annual snowfall, so if you like snow down your pants and foggy goggles look no further! If you are staying a night check out bellingham wa it has a great nightlife for the younger crowd.... More
Good!3.8 / 5Dec 27, 2018
Mount Baker ReviewsJahn S.
expert snowboarder
Best snowboard resort in America! No, seriously. Baker has the best inbound and out of bounds terrain in the US for snowboarders, and every day is a power day. Although it's a long drive from Seattle, the small crowds and good terrain make it so worth it!... More
Average!3.2 / 5May 11, 2018
Mount Baker ReviewsAidan O.
advanced skier
Awesome place to ski... huge amount of varied difficult terrain, cool forested areas down low and amazing long, fast and challenging runs. Really good lifts, minimal line ups. I feel like it makes you a better rider!!!... More
Fabulous!4.5 / 5Nov 30, 2017
MMMichael M.
advanced snowboarder
Mount Baker Is a diamond in the rough, if you consider the Pacific Northwest wilderness rough. The value is outstanding, the facility is phenomenal, and best of all, it's just far enough from the city to keep the Jerrys away. If you've got the weekend, save yourself some dough,forgo the tourist attractions, and head to the snowiest place in The... More
Fabulous!4.2 / 5Nov 28, 2017
BPBenjamin P.
advanced skier
Mount Baker is a beautiful mountain with great terrain and lots of snow. A hidden treasure just south of the border. The mountain road to reach the base can be a little treacherous ... More
Very Good!4.2 / 5Nov 21, 2017
KRKyle R.
advanced snowboarder
Baker is one of the best resorts that I've rode at in the last 16 years. Amazing terrain, snow, staff, and patrons. Such a laid back feeling to the hill that makes it the perfect skiing or boarding destination. ... More
Good!3.7 / 5Nov 12, 2017
SASteven A.
advanced snowboarder
Mount Baker is like a backyard playground. I used to do about 40 days a season before I had kids now don't get out as much. Is an amazing place to play in the snow and the views are spectacular.... More