Sunny beautiful day hiking to Artist Point with views of Mount Baker, Table Top and Shuksan Mountain. A lot of powdery snow and packed down. Snowshoeing was great and can be challenging but not extremely difficult. I was given the options of using a hiking stick/pole for this hike and I declined. I would suggest it is best to rent them to use for stability walking up and coming back down hill. Otherwise it was a pleasant hike especially for families. Go up early to take advantage of the day since it gets dark quickly. It's nice to take your time hanging out on top with the views.

We got to the trail-head around 11:30. It is the final large parking lot (off the Picture Lake loop, but next to ski lefts). The parking lot was full (of skiers, snowboarders, and snowshoers!), but you know you're in the right spot when you pass by the two outhouses on your right. The trail goes up at a gradual rate, right next to the Ski-Boundary fence. The bowl of Heather Meadows is on your right. You'll leave the fence and officially exist the ski area. Table Mountain is right in front of you. You shouldn't have any problems crossing a relatively flat area with Shuksan beautifully in sight. From here, you have the option to follow the road on a switch-back, or proceed straight up the hill to Artist Point. Definitely recommend taking the ridge SE to Huntoon Point. It's not too difficult, well traveled, and you see Baker and Shuksan the whole time. Had lunch here, and descended at twice the rate. Worth stopping off at Picture Lake or Nooksack Falls for a photo on the way back.

Wow. Just WOW. I've been wanting to get up here for the past couple of years and finally saw my chance with this awesome combo of lots of snowfall and a bluebird day (never mind that I was supposed to go to work). We left Seattle around 8:45 and were at the trailhead and strapping on our snowshoes three hours later. We accidentally went down to the right of the toilets at the outset and went about 1/4 mile before I realized we weren't on the right track, but that was a beautiful excursion in that side valley so totally worth it. We aimed up to our left and straight up the hill to meet up with the last cabin and then join the trail as it heads up the ridge and follows the ski area boundary. There were quite a number of people out, as expected. Lots of snowshoers and cross-country skiers. There have been a lot of visitors since the last snowfall so the trail was pretty well packed down in a number of places. Avalanche danger was moderate but a lot of folks heading up via the road. Once we got up to Artist Point we saw a group putting up their tent and immediately regretted our decision to make this a day hike instead of an overnight. We continued on to Huntoon Point and found a packed down spot in the sun to spend several hours basking in. We snacked, we had tea and whiskey, we sunbathed, and there may even have been some napping. Just a stunningly sunny and quiet day up top. Once the sun got lower towards Baker we layered up in preparation for the drop that would come when it dipped behind the mountain, packed our things together and got situated for sunset. We saw two other groups set up their tents for the night at the end of the point and were again insanely jealous. Great group of folks and happy to have spent some time chatting with them (wish we could have stayed for the fondue!). The color on Shuksan was ever-changing and the light was just glorious. Once the colors started to die down and the light began to fade, we knew we had to pull ourselves away. We got about half-way down before we needed to pull out our headlamps for the descent. Beautiful night, beautiful stars. If you have time over the next few days while this weather holds, GO! One of the most amazing vistas in WA, for sure. And don't be dummies like us and forget the tent. Happy New Year, WTA!! *Also note that 542 is down to one lane due to what looks like a wash out of the other lane... Be prepared to add about 20 minutes to your drive for this construction. Over all the roads were clear and not snowy or icy.

What a beautiful day for snowshoeing! Perfect with blue sky and powder snow. Artist Point is one of my favorite hikes through all seasons....either for summer/fall hike or winter/spring snowshoeing. It was after noon when I arrived at the upper parking lot of Baker Ski located at the end of HWY 542, and the spacious lot was completely full. Considering it's a holiday season, I recommend arriving earlier for convenience as even overflow parking along the road tends to get pretty full when it gets crowded. Also, the route to Artist Point from traihead gets in the shade by early afternoon, so that's another good reason to start early if you prefer to snowshoe in sunlight. The road was clear of snow and well plowed all the way yesterday, but some icy spots on road surface. It was a smooth drive except that there was a section of one way lane traffic control due to road work on 542. It takes extra time to get through the wait line, particularly when everyone is on the road after leaving about the same time between 4pm - 5 pm. It took me extra 20 min. to get through the west bound traffic. The snowshoeing route to Artist Point is obvious and easy to follow since there are well established snowshoe tracks en route....basically you trek up southeast parallel to the ski run from TH/parking lot toward Artist Point. Also, there is an option to snowshoe down to Chain Lakes....I noticed quite a few hikers with/without snowshoes exploring down to the snow covered lakes yesterday. There are a few steep slopes you have to ascend to get to Artist Point, but they are not that long and doable for average hikers....just pace yourself. There is a lot of snow up there and it was a powder condition, not icy at all yesterday. I had gaiters in my pack, but they were not necessary to put on. Enjoy the views on the way to and at Artist Point in all directions....breathtaking vistas - Mt. Baker, Mt. Shuksan, Table Mountain, other Cascade ranges of US/Canada border and Baker Lake down below. It's a beauty of winter wonderland! From Artist Point, I trekked up to Huntoon Point....the high point at the southeast of Artist Point where you can overlook Artist Point and take a dramatic closeup view of Mt. Shuksan just for yourself. All the way back to the parking lot from Artist Point, Mt. Shuksan was magically entertaining through expressing a change of colors from snow white to yellow, orange, red and purple reflecting the sunset light. By the way, it is always a good protocol to check avalanche forecast in advance when you hike into a snow country.

Started out at the upper parking lot around 10:30am in cloudy weather. Clouds broke enough that we had amazing views at the Point. I hadn't been here in the winter before but it was lovely! Trail splits in various locations along the way but not really an issue so long as you head to the pass and then uphill from there. I brought lots of warm clothes, chairs, a z-rest and a stove/camp cook gear for a nice hot lunch and hot chocolate with whiskey on the top. People all thought I must be camping to have so much gear :) However, the relaxed enjoyment at the top without being freezing cold was worth carrying 35+ lbs up the mountain and back. Clearly the birds at Artist Point are used to people, they watched carefully for us to drop any morse and were tame enough to rest on my snowshoes while I was wearing theml--- please don't feed them! I was sad to see them so tame :( The snow was light and fluffy and smoothed down along the snowshoe tracks by hoards of skinning-up skiiers, so this posed some challenge on the descent for my novice snow-shoeing mother because she had trouble getting traction on the smooth skinned snow. Snow was very fluffy and light so avoiding the track and walking in fresh snow got her knee deep. Perhaps fresh snow from last night? Descended as the clouds grew thick and the sky overcast with snow flurries. The road had compact snow and ice in the morning but was more slushy on the way back down.