Artist Ridge - Huntoon Point
This spectacular, short trail gets lots of love - and abuse - during its short hiking season. Accessible for less than three months each year, hordes of hikers and tourists take to it as the snow finally begins to melt. This is a fragile ecosystem, marked by old and distorted trees, the first blooms from heather in August and numerous bare spots and extra "social" trails that snake off from the main trail.
The saying goes that alpine plants "grow by the inch and die by the foot." And that is obvious on the Artist's Ridge trail. If you hike to Huntoon Point, please stay on the graveled trail. The views don't get much better from elsewhere, and the hike is so short that there is no need to take a shortcut on the way back. In addition, dogs should be leashed. Even in late summer, it may be quite snowy at the Artist Point parking lot. But the trail often melts out before the area around the lot, so hike over to the ridge (to the right of the restrooms) to see if the trail is accessible and head off to the left toward Mt. Shuksan. There is never a dull view on this hike, with Mt. Shuksan and Mt. Baker dominating, but also providing panoramas of American Border Peak, Mt. Larrabee, Goat Mountain and more to the north, and even a peak of Mt. Stuart to the south. But don't forget to look at the little things. Cold, glacial tarns dot this landscape - a delight for photographers. Tenacious flowers poke their buds out for a brief glimpse of late summer. And gnarled trees and stumps provide testament to the vast amount of snow the ridge gets every year. The way is easy - even for toddlers and flip-flop wearers. There is little solitude on a sunny day here, but hikers arriving early in the morning or in the evening will find the fewest people and the best sunlight for photos. By noon, the place is a madhouse.
Driving Directions:
Travel east on Mt. Baker Highway 542 for 24 miles to the Artist Point parking lot at Heather Meadows. The trail begins at the southern end of the parking area near the restrooms. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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The snow is finally melting up here. The visitor center said that this popular trail to Huntoon Point was 70%...
The snow is finally melting up here. The visitor center said that this popular trail to Huntoon Point was 70% snow-covered, but clearly no one had been up there in the past few days. Once we crossed the big snow mounds near the parking lot, it was nearly snowfree.
Mt. Baker is open for business and clearly the secret is out - what a mob scene! If you want to hike this, or any of the trails from Artist Point, start early or go late. In between, you'll be jockeying for room between the Corvette Club, the motorcycle clubs, the barefoot hikers and everyone else. We arrived before 10am on Sunday and were fortunate to have this trail nearly to ourselves (but 90 minutes later it's a different story). This is one of the most rewarding super-short, super-easy hikes I've been on. My almost 5-year old kept saying, "This is gorgeous. This is a fabulous view. Thank you for taking me to this very cool destination!" He was beside himself with glee, and after much work on our part over the years, finally thinking that hiking was something he wants to do more. Our 1 1/2 year old daughter wanted to hike the trail as well - and we gave her time outside of the backpack too. The views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan are just wonderful. I would give anything to be up here at sunset. And the glacial tarns - especially as the snow melts - are really spectacular. No flowers to speak of yet - just a few heather blooms. What a short growing season the plants have here. Day hike
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We initially made another attempt to traverse Shuksan Arm; this time from the west end near the ski area. ...
We initially made another attempt to traverse Shuksan Arm; this time from the west end near the ski area. That failed again so we opted for plan B. Normally, the hike to Hontoon Point is less than 1 mile and 100' of gain but with the road to Artist Point closed, the distance is about 4 miles and 1000' of gain. The path passes several nice little tarns and ends at a high point with dramatic views of both Shuksan and Baker. The trail from the ski area parking lot was frozen in the morning and the lower sections were slushy or muddy in the after noon.
Multi-night backpack
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Wildflowers blooming
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A popping sensation in my calf on the 5th had me despairing that the golden backpacking month of September would...
A popping sensation in my calf on the 5th had me despairing that the golden backpacking month of September would slip away. Indeed, the hobbling retreat from Winchester summit gave me plenty of time to consider my sudden and unfamiliar infirmity. Some research at home confirmed a torn tendon. Other than rest, there was not much else that would speed the estimated 3-5 weeks recovery. Fine, the weather was lousy anyway. But then it got better, and I was feeling good; no pain as long as I did not use that particular muscle.
After consulting my list of destinations, I found one that had languished for years due to its proximity to a 200 car parking lot. That liability became its asset. No way could I sit home with grand September sunshine gracing our beautiful Cascades. My destination was less than a half-mile and 500’ descent; a secret tarn only seen from a distance some years ago. I arrived early at the departure point, a vast sea of asphalt crosshatched with paint stripes, so no one would witness my hobbling madness (it looked like it was painful, but not at all). I gimped the gravel path, tread more by white shoes and flip-flops than hiking boots, to the end of the tourist grade trail, and pointed my toes downhill. A faint track dropped steeply (for a disabled person) over rock and through brush. I felt good with each careful step; I was already in fabulous meadows with tiny tarns, but the smell of a golden destination kept me going. At one point I strayed into a fading track that ended in steep brush above a cliff; I retraced my steps and found the proper track, more to the north side of the ridge. It soon entered ridgeline hemlock forest; this was the most difficult stretch. The track became steeper with an accompanying layer of slippery needles. I was thus delivered into my private little nirvana: a perfectly sized tarn surrounded by tiny tarns; and cozy pocket meadows nested with curling yellow grasses. Easy views to the Celebrity Mountains of the area, Kulshan & Shuksan, completed the charm. I laid out our bags out in one of the higher meadows away from the tarn to keep the dew to a minimum; we had a couple of tiny tarns for water. My convalescent stay involved nothing more than shuffling about in sandals or slippers, picking blueberries (5 quarts), taking photos, drinking wine, skinny-dipping, and losing sleep under an inspiring star dome. A waning moon sharpened during our 2 night stay, and a horned owl called in the gloaming hours of the evening. Bodhran delighted in foraging for berries, and wading about in the large tarn during our warm azure days. Except for the occasional posse of HDs roaring harmlessly in the distance, it was a very quiet place. Gnats were another harmless pest, but only in the pre-dawn hour). My calf felt even better on the climb back to the car, although I am still careful not to test that muscle. I left feeling more healed, and certainly re-assured that perhaps with another 2 weeks of “rest” there is a chance to catch some Autumn Larch gold. (I know, I’m hooked! I have a problem! I’ll cut back in January! Promise!)
Artist Point
— Jul 03, 2009
— Andrew Engelson
Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail | Road to trailhead inaccessible
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Access road to Artist Point is currently closed about 2 miles short of the parking lot and trailhead. Most people...
Access road to Artist Point is currently closed about 2 miles short of the parking lot and trailhead. Most people are walking the road, which is pleasant and has great views. I would guess road should be clear in a week or two. It looked like Bagley Lakes Trail still has a fair amount of snow but could be done with hiking poles.
Snowshoe/XC Ski
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Snow on trail
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Hiked up from the Mt. Baker Ski Area (Heather Meadows) to Artist Point and then out along Kulshan Ridge to...
Hiked up from the Mt. Baker Ski Area (Heather Meadows) to Artist Point and then out along Kulshan Ridge to Huntoon Point. This was my first time snowshoeing, and it was a blast. Was so excited about going, I woke up several times in the middle of the night to see if it was time to go yet. When I finally did wake up, it took longer than I expected to get my gear together and eat breakfast, so I didn't get out of my city-of-residence until 8:30. Made it to the parking lot by 11:00. Road up to Baker was clear and dry. Strapped on the snowshoes and my bulging "ready-for-anything-because-I'm-heading-out-solo-in-winter-on-snowshoes-for-the-first-time-ever backpack, and started towards Artist Point. The sun was out, the snow was perfect (maybe a tad icy on the way up), and the views got better with each footstep. Gosh! I could not help but repeatedly making loud vocalizations, including "THIS IS AWESOME!" and "SNOWSHOEING ROCKS!!!!!!"
Following the directions in Dan Nelson's excellent "Snowshoe Routes: Washington", and clicking my camera all the way, I quickly reached Artist Point. Took a left and struck out along Kulshan Ridge, watching the skiers and snowboarders who had hiked up to the ridge play, and sucking in the views of Baker and Shuskan every step of the way. Made it out to Huntoon Point and ate lunch and drank hot chocolate there. Didn't particularly want to leave, but finally was able to pry myself away. Headed back towards the car at about 1:15. By this time I did notice some softening in the snow on the sun-beaten SW side of the ridge. A couple of notes: - If you haven't snowshoed before, do it. - Views are incredible...yes, the drive to Mt. Baker is worth it. - Next sunny day, go to Artist Point. |
A tarn along Artist Ridge. Photo by Jon Stier.
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