The Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest: The Complete Guide
The Chain Lakes Loop in Washington is a popular and easily accessible hike in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest that features mountain views and the chance to take a dip in several beautiful alpine lakes. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know to hike the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker, including the different trailheads, how to camp at the Chain Lakes, what to expect along the trail, and more!
The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is an underrated treasure trove of amazing hiking trails. Located in the far north of Washington State near the Canadian border, the hikes in Mount Baker tend to rival those of the nearby National Parks, but without the same crowds. It’s a win-win!
One of the most popular and easily accessible trails in Mount Baker is the Chain Lakes Loop. This classic Mount Baker hike is a moderate loop trail that goes past a handful of alpine lakes for swimming and relaxing and has some pretty good views of both Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan along the way. Plus, you can even spend the night camping along the trail for a peaceful evening along the lakes and an epic sunrise in the morning.
Now, we always want to be perfectly honest with you. Of all the hikes we did in Mount Baker, the Chain Lakes Loop was our least favorite, despite its often glowing reviews. There could be several reasons for that. For one, it was the last hike we did in the area, and we just felt that after seeing views of Mount Baker from other trails like Ptarmigan Ridge and Skyline Divide, the views from the Chain Lakes Loop were just kind of…underwhelming. The other trails seemed to have more in-your-face and up-close views of the mountain and by the time we hit the Chain Lakes Trail, we were just a bit underwhelmed. To be fair, I think the true star of this hike, and why many people are drawn to it, is the lakes. Again, we didn’t find the lakes to be unusually breathtaking compared to some hikes we’ve been on, but they are still very pretty, and they are popular for a reason! We also made the mistake of making the impromptu decision to tack the Chain Lakes Loop hike onto the end of completing the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail (another hike we recommend in Mount Baker!). I say it was a mistake because by the time we got to the Chain Lakes Loop portion of our hike, we were quickly running out of water on an incredibly hot summer day (it was the start of a Washington heat wave!), so the hike as a whole probably felt a little more difficult than it should have been. So, we feel like we might not be the best judges on how great the Chain Lakes Loop really is. But, just because it wasn’t our favorite doesn’t mean we still didn’t enjoy it or that it’s not a good trail with some really cool views…just that we think there are better ones out there.
With that in mind, we still really wanted to share our experience and tips with you for hiking the Chain Lakes Loop! Just because we didn’t totally love it doesn’t mean you won’t, and maybe this Chain lakes guide will help you decide if this is one of the Mount Baker hikes you’d like to check out. We’ll cover how to get there, what to expect along the Chain Lakes Trail, how to backcountry camp, what to bring, and more!
In this Chain Lakes Loop hiking guide:
Where is the Chain Lakes Loop trailhead?
The Chain Lakes Loop trail is found in the Mount Baker Wilderness, part of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The Mount Baker Wilderness is about 3 hours north of Seattle, and just shy of the Canadian border. This wilderness makes up part of the western edge of the Cascade Mountain range, and is just adjacent to North Cascades National Park (making it a great add-on if you are up here visiting this epic National Park!).
The main region that has many of the best hikes in Mount Baker is the Mount Baker Highway, or Hwy 542, which follows the North Fork of the Noosack River along the North side of the mountain. Several campgrounds, trailheads, and points of interest can be found along this scenic drive.
Mount Baker Highway weaving its way up to the Chain Lakes trailheads
There are three possible trailheads for the Chain Lakes Loop Trail, all located at or towards the end of the Mount Baker Highway. Because of this, parking shouldn’t be an issue and you should find space in one of the three lots, however, arrive earlier in the day if you want to guarantee a spot in a particular lot. For reference, we got to Heather Meadows around 8:30 in the morning and there was still plenty of parking available.
The first Chain Lakes trailhead option is the Artist Point lot found at the very end of the Mount Baker Highway. Artist Point is an extremely popular area in Mount Baker as it has gorgeous views of Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan just from the lot alone, but it also has some of the park’s more well-traveled trails. If you want to hike the Chain Lakes Loop trail in a clockwise direction, the trailhead for the Chain Lakes Loop is found at the far Northwest corner of the lot. If hiking in a counterclockwise direction on the loop, then head to the southern end of the lot near the vault toilets where you’ll find a herd path leading down to a road crossing. After this crossing, you’ll find the Wild Goose Trail, which is what you’ll start hiking along for the Chain Lakes Loop.
The second possible Chain Lakes Loop trailhead is the Heather Meadows Visitor Center parking lot located just before the Artist Point lot, between miles 55 and 56 on the Mount Baker Highway. You can start the Chain Lakes Loop clockwise here by finding the Wild Goose trailhead on the southern end of the lot. Or, you can start counterclockwise by taking the trailhead by the stonewall overlooking the Bagley Lakes and hiking down to the lakes to begin your hike.
The Heather Meadows Visitor Center lot- one of the trailheads for the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker
The third possible trailhead is just a bit before the Heather Meadows lot along the Mount Baker Highway, at the Bagley Lakes lot. Starting here will add a little bit more to your hike (about a mile or so) as you must start and end along a detour off the actual Chain Lakes Loop. However, it takes you by some more pretty alpine lakes and is pretty easy-going and flat.
Chain Lakes Loop map
Here is a map of the area around the Chain Lakes Loop to give you an idea about the locations of the various trailheads.
This is a picture taken of a sign at the start of the Chain Lakes Loop hike showing the three different trailheads. This shows the Wild Goose Trail connecting all three parking lots.
This is from a trail map showing the Chain Lakes Loop which we’ve highlighted in yellow. The small loop highlighted in blue shows the Bagley Lakes trail detour to the Bagley Lakes lot.
Which direction should I hike the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker?
So, what is the best trailhead for the Chain Lakes Loop and which direction should you hike- clockwise or counterclockwise? Here are some things to take into consideration…
Either way you go, you’re going to face one significant uphill section…the Wild Goose Trail if going in the clockwise direction, or the hike up to Herman Saddle if going in the counterclockwise direction. The latter of the two (the climb up Herman Saddle) is the longer and more significant of these two climbs. If you want to get most of the climbing out of the way at the beginning when your legs are fresh, and then have a pretty easy hike the rest of the way, then hiking the Chain Lakes Loop counterclockwise is your best bet. Start at the Heather Meadows or Bagley Lakes Loop to do this climb first, and then end by down climbing back to the start down the Wild Goose Trail. If you start at Artist Point, you’ll have to hike down the Wild Goose Trail first and then start the climb up to the saddle. Another benefit of hiking the Chain Lakes Loop counterclockwise is that the views are mostly in front of you instead of behind you. Once you crest over Herman Saddle and Mount Baker comes into view, Mount Baker stays ahead of you for most of the rest of the hike around the lakes.
If you want more of a gradual uphill to Herman Saddle where the climb is broken up into 2 or 3 smaller sections, then hike the Chain Lakes Loop clockwise. For this direction, I’d recommend starting at either Heather Meadows or Bagley Lakes trailheads to get the hike up the Wild Goose Trail done with first. It would be a brutal way to end the hike if starting from Artist Point! Another pro to hiking the Chain Lakes Loop clockwise is that you’ll end the hike on Herman Saddle. For us, the saddle had the best views of the entire hike, so you’ll definitely be saving the best for last hiking the loop this way.
How Long is the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker?
The Chain Lakes Loop is a reasonable day hiking distance- about 6.5 miles with about 1800 feet of elevation gain. We would say to plan about 3 hours for hiking the loop, but you’ll want to pad in some extra time to hang out at the lakes and enjoy the views!
We do have a trail profile of the Chain Lake Loop, through it’s a bit broken up because we did the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail in the middle of it. In the profile below, we’ve shaded out the Ptarmigan Ridge portion, so you can just pretend it’s not there to get the true profile of the Chain Lakes Loop hike!
Our elevation profile of the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker
How Hard is the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker?
Rewarding views from the Chain Lakes Loop!
The Chain Lakes Loop Trail is a moderate hike. There are a few areas of extended climbing, especially to get up to the saddle, but there is nothing technical about the trail, the terrain is easy, and it’s very straightforward to follow.
Camping on the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker
People often wonder, “Can I camp along the Chain Lakes Loop?”. And the answer is, yes you can! And it’s a great way to enjoy the lakes and views to yourself along this popular trail once the day hikers have left. Just be sure to stay at designated sites only- there are about 8 of them. Half are around Mazama Lakes and the other half are around Hayes Lake.
Also know that there are black bears in Mount Baker, so be bear aware. Store your food properly when not in use and do not cook or eat food near your tent. We recommend packing bear spray with you in case of an emergency.
Do I need a permit to backpack the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker?
No permits are necessary for backpacking the Chain Lakes Loop and all campsites are first come first served! We recommend getting an early start to claim your site. We heard that the campsites around Hayes Lake are more popular due to better views.
Hiking the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker: Our Experience
Here’s our experience hiking the Chain Lakes Loop in Washington to help you know what to expect along the trail! We hiked the Chain Lakes Loop in a clockwise direction starting from Heather Meadows, so that’s how we’ll describe the trail here. We did this because we did this hike as an impromptu add-on to the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail (and we were forced to park down at Heather Meadows due to a closure of the Artist Point lot).
From the Heather Meadows lot, we started the Chain Lakes Loop by hiking up the Wild Goose Trail to Artist Point. Have your legs ready and warmed up, because this trail pretty much starts climbing right off the bat, and it gets steep. It climbs about 600 feet of elevation in about a mile as it follows the Mount Baker Highway up to Artist Point.
A steep section involving log stairs on the Wild Goose Trail along the Chain Lakes Loop
Beautiful views from the Wild Goose Trail
A lot of people say there’s nothing special about this part of the Chain Lakes Loop, but we thought the views from the trail were pretty good! And they were certainly a welcome distraction from the climbing. To the right, you’ll get great views over the Bagley Lakes, and you can see the other side of the Chain Lakes Loop weave its way around them and up to Herman Saddle, where you’ll be finishing the hike. To your left are awesome views of the Mount Baker Highway backdropped by the epic Mount Shuksan.
Looking down over the Bagley Lakes from the Wild Goose Trail. Herman Saddle is the dip in the cliff line just left of center.
The Wild Goose Trail follows the Mount Baker Highway and has some great views over to Mount Shuksan
Luckily, this is the worst of the climbing for a while, and once you’re done with this small section, the rest of the Chain Lakes Loop trail is pretty easy until you get to Herman Saddle.
Towards the top of the Wild Goose Trail, you’ll cross the highway before arriving at the Artist Point parking lot. Cross to the opposite end of the lot to find the Chain Lakes Loop trail, which is well-signed.
For the next mile, the Chain Lakes Loop trail is pretty easy and quite flat as you hike a ridge along the slopes beneath Table Mountain, and the views here are really great. Ahead, Mount Baker sticks out from behind the hills, and behind you is Mount Shuksan. The further you hike, the more each mountain comes into view. Also, keep your eyes out for marmots here! We saw one chomping away on the side of the trail.
As you hike along the Chain Lakes Loop, Mount Baker comes into view!
Don’t forget to look behind you for views of Mount Shuksan!
Can you spot the marmot?
Once you come to the end of this ridge, you’ll hit a trail junction. To the left is the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail (another trail we highly recommend for insanely close views of Mount Baker!), so stick to the right here to continue on the Chain Lakes Loop.
Bear right here to continue on the Chain Lakes Loop
A view of the Chain Lakes Loop trail from the junction as it makes its way down to the first of the Chain Lakes
From here, you’ll continue to follow under the slopes of Table Mountain, but now you will be gently descending into the basin towards the first of the Chain Lakes, Mazama Lakes. Just before the lakes, you’ll hit a tiny set of switchbacks where there are great head- on views of Mount Baker.
Mazama Lakes from the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker
The gorgeous view of Mount Baker along the Chain Lakes Loop trail just before Mazama Lakes
The trail stays on the rocky path along the right of the lakes, but you’ll see herd paths going around the other side towards the campsites here.
Enjoy the views here of the lake with Mount Baker as a beautiful backdrop.
Mount Baker providing a beautiful backdrop to the Mazama Lakes on the Chain Lake Loops trail
From here, the Chain Lakes Loop turns away from Mount Baker and gently climbs just a little. In less than ten minutes, you’ll be at the next lake…Iceberg Lake, and you’ll probably immediately realize where its name comes from. Sitting under the cliffs of Table Mountain, snow is often found around its banks, causing icebergs to float across the lake. This is the most picturesque of all the Chain Lakes, and you’ll start to see why soon once you begin the climb up to Herman Saddle. For now, enjoy the views, and if you’re brave enough to endure the cold, take a dip!
The beautifully blue Iceberg Lake along the Chain Lakes Loop trail
The Chain Lakes Loop continues to wrap around the left side of Iceberg Lake, and soon you’ll be walking between both Iceberg and Hayes Lakes. Here, you might see various herd paths leading to campsites around Hayes Lake, and to the lake shores for swimming and hanging out.
A view over Hayes Lake along the Chain Lakes Loop
We hope you enjoyed the easy hiking around the lakes up to this point, because just past Hayes Lake is when the climb up to Herman Saddle begins! It’s about 600 feet of elevation gain in just under a mile that took us about a half hour to climb. But the views from the beginning part of this climb were our favorite from the entire Chain Lakes Loop. As you climb higher, you get great views back at Iceberg Lake, with Mount Baker rising up behind it- these are the views that the Chain Lakes Loop is known for!
The hike up to Herman Saddle has the best views along the Chain Lakes Loop!
As you make your way up little switchbacks up to the saddle, the lake will come and go out of view, but Mount Baker stay in sight the whole time. You can see here why hiking the loop in the opposite direction would be better- going clockwise means you have to keep turning around to see everything!
The climb up to Herman Saddle along the Chain Lakes Loop
Beautiful views on the way up to Herman Saddle- a welcome distraction from the climbing!
Hitting the top of Herman Saddle is definitely the highlight of the Chain Lakes Loop. Here, you’re standing at the highest point of the trail at about 5,400 feet. From here, you get views back down over Iceberg Lake and Mount Baker, and then out over Bagley Lakes, Heather Meadows and Mount Shuksan on the other side. We stayed up here for quite a bit enjoying the view.
The view out to Mount Shuksan and the Mount Baker Highway from Herman Saddle- the highest point along the Chain Lakes Loop trail
Admiring the view of Mount Baker and Iceberg Lake from the saddle!
From the saddle, you can see the end of the Chain Lakes Loop trail as it drops down the other side, wraps around the Bagley Lakes, and heads back up to the distant Heather Meadows parking lot. As we made our way down the trail, we passed a few groups huffing and puffing their way up to the saddle from the opposite direction. It’s about 1,100 feet of climbing up to the saddle from Bagley Lakes, so it’s quite a climb! But it’s good to get it out of the way at the beginning, get your summit reward, and then have a pretty easy-going hike for the entire rest of the way (again, we’re really advocating for the counterclockwise direction here!).
The trail coming down the other side of Herman Saddle toward the Bagley Lakes
Down in the basin, you’ll wrap around the left side of one of the Bagley Lakes and then come to a stone bridge. If you’re done hiking, cross here and then hike up about 100 feet or so back to Heather Meadows (these last-minute bursts of climbing at the end of hikes are the worst!) or stay straight to take a detour that loops around more of the Bagley Lakes and back to Heather Meadows. This will add about another mile of hiking, but it’s relatively flat.
Walking around Bagley Lakes. The Heather Meadow Visitor Center is up ahead.
Looking back at the Bagley Lakes, with Herman Saddle on the right
And there you have it! You’ve just completed the Chain Lakes Loop, one of the most popular hikes in Mount Baker. Overall, it’s definitely a good option if you want a moderate hike with good views and the option of lake swimming or scenic backcountry camping.
Best Time to Hike the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker
Our favorite view along the Chain Lakes Loop! This is from the hike up to Herman Saddle.
We would say the best time to hike the Chain Lakes Loop, or any hike in Mount Baker, is the end of summer to early fall (so, about mid-August to mid/late September).
First of all, the Mount Baker Highway closes each year from around November to late June (check dates and road conditions here). So there is already a pretty small window for accessing the Artist Point area.
Often, snow can remain on the trails well into July, and possibly even into August. But by mid-August, most of the snow should be cleared, making trails in this area safer and more accessible. Towards the end of summer, the worst of the bugs should be gone (but still plan to have to deal with them somewhat!).
By late September, fall colors will start to emerge, the bugs will be gone, and the trail will be as snow-free as it can get. Pushing it too late into fall, though, may mean the new winter’s snow can begin, so keep an eye on forecasts and trail conditions before heading out.
Where to Stay Near the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker
If you’re looking to camp near the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker, you’ll have a few different options. The two main campgrounds along the Mount Baker Highway are the Douglas Fir Campground and the Silver Fir Campground. Both can be reserved online. The Silver Fir Campground is the closest to Artist Point- about a half hour (10 miles) away, so you can get an early start from here.
What’s great about the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is that free dispersed camping is allowed along forest roads (dirt roads off the main highway) as long as you can safely park your vehicle completely off the road. We called the Mount Baker Ranger Station just to verify with them what was allowed and where they would recommend, and we suggest you do the same. We ended up camping at the Salmon Ridge Sno-Park, which is an empty parking lot (used only in winter) just across from the Silver Fir Campground and near the Shuksan Picnic Area. We also saw a bunch of people camping along the Noosack River off the road up to the Skyline Divide trailhead (Forest Road 37) at some established primitive sites.
Please remember when you are dispersed camping that there are no facilities or services offered, so be very careful to clean up after yourself and leave no trace to help preserve these places for everyone to use!
If you’re not looking to camp near Mount Baker, you can find limited lodging and cabin options in the town of Glacier, about 45 minutes away from the Chain Lakes Loop trailheads. Bellingham is a bit further out (about an hour and 45 minutes away). You can also do a day trip to Mount Baker from Seattle, but it will be about 3 hours of driving each way to get to Artist Point.
Tips for Hiking the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker
Check conditions. Before heading out on the Chain Lakes Loop, check conditions of both the trail and for any road closures. You can check the US Forest Service site, call either the Mount Baker District Ranger Station or the Glacier Public Service Center, and use AllTrails to get recent reports from fellow hikers. This will help you be prepared with proper gear and equipment. The small town of Glacier is a good place to stop in general en route to Artist Point so that you can visit the service center and speak with a ranger and use restrooms.
Bathrooms and amenities. Each Chain Lakes trailhead has a vault toilet to use, plus there are vault toilets along the hike at the backcountry campsites. However, once you pass through the small town of Glacier on the Mount Baker Highway, there really aren’t any services or facilities, so make sure you stock up on food and water before getting to the Chain Lakes trailhead!
Passes. Parking at any of the Chain Lakes Loop trailheads requires the Northwest Forest Pass which costs $30 annually. What’s great is that in lieu of this pass, you can use an Annual National Parks Pass! So, if you have already purchased one of these to visit the three Washington National Parks, then you’re all set!
Come prepared. For the Chain Lakes Loop hike, we recommend wearing good hiking shoes/boots for the often times rocky terrain, having plenty of sun protection (sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses) as this is a mostly exposed trail, bringing layers, having plenty of water, and bringing bug spray for the pesky flies and mosquitoes. If you plan on swimming, bring a towel and a pair of water shoes for walking along the rocky shores of the lakes.
Check the smoke forecast. Unfortunately, smoky skies are the norm for hiking in the west, and Mount Baker is no exception. Thick wildfire smoke can not only affect views, but also just be very unhealthy to hike in. We like this website to check for the smoke forecast in Washington. You can also google “AQI in Washington” to get forecasts of how healthy the air is. This site is a good one to check out.
Bears. The Mount Baker Wilderness is bear territory, so make sure you are bear aware. When backcountry camping, make sure to store all food properly when not in use (and don’t leave anything out unattended), and don’t cook or eat directly in or near your campsite.
Download any maps ahead of time. Service can be spotty in Mount Baker. Make sure to download any passes, directions, and maps to your phone before driving down the Mount Baker Highway.
Consider an early start. We don’t think you’ll have to worry too much about finding parking for the Chain lakes Loop with three available trailheads, but summer weekends can get busy. Plus, it can get quite hot midsummer. Starting early will help you avoid the worst of the heat…but you can always jump in the cold lakes to cool down!
More Hikes in Mount Baker Near the Chain Lakes Loop
Looking for more hikes near the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker? Luckily, Mount Baker is a serious treasure trove of scenic hiking trails. Some of our favorites include:
The Ptarmigan Ridge Trail- A great add-on to the Chain Lakes Loop if you’re up for a longer day hike, or you can do it on its own! This hike gets you about as close to Mount Baker as you can get without climbing it!
The Skyline Divide Trail- An incredibly picturesque hike with amazing views of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, and the Cascades.
Park Butte- This hike is on the other side of Mount Baker from Artist Point and gives a different perspective of the mountain from a picturesque fire tower.
Are you planning on hiking the Chain Lakes Loop in Mount Baker? Let us know if you have any questions, or what you thought about the trail! As always, happy hiking!