From Bellingham to the majestic peak of Mt. Baker, Mt. Baker Scenic Byway SR 542 offers visitors a step back in time. The highway winds through farmlands, rolling wooded hills, and small communities including Nugents Corner, Deming, Kendall, Maple Falls and Glacier. This byway provides access to stunning hiking, photo opportunities, and snow sports in the winter.

Mount Baker Highway (State route 542) stretches from Bellingham toward snow-capped Mt. Baker. The highway was built gradually in the late 1800s as an access road for the lucrative logging industry, and its rich history is well documented. At Glacier, the road passes into the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and is a designated National Forest Scenic Byway.

Towering evergreens and leaf maples line the route, with skirts of the Nooksack River peeking out at several points. In the summer months, the highway ends at milepost 58 in a parking lot, which gives visitors access to Artist Point and its spectacular views of Mt. Baker’s 10,781-foot peak. In the winter months, the road ends at milepost 55, which is the Mount Baker Ski Area – holder of the world record for snowfall in a single season and the birthplace of snowboarding.