A Road With A View!

Mt. Baker offers one photo op after another! Many people take photos of Mt. Shuksan from Picture Lake thinking it is Baker. Just remember that volcanoes are cone-shaped and head to Artist Point (only open from JulyOctober) for the Baker shot!

Mount Baker Scenic Byway winds along the banks of the Nooksack River, through small logging communities, past waterfalls and alongside an old-growth forest. This 58-mile trek ends at the base of a 10,781foot volcano. Mount Baker has some of the most photographed scenes in the Pacific Northwest, including Picture Lake with its Mount Shuksan backdrop. The end of the road at Artist Point is only open between July-October (due to excessive snowfall) and is a popular destination for summer hikes with panoramic views. You can enjoy a variety of hikes from easy to longer day or overnight trips.

In winter, deep powder and record snowfall delight skiers and snowboarders.

The Chuckanut Drive Scenic Byway is renowned for its gorgeous Salish sea and San Juan Island views. This 24-mile trip hugs the sheer sandstone cliffs of the Chuckanut Mountains—the only place where the Cascades meet the sea—and offers views of the San Juan Islands along the way. Start or end in the historic walkable district of Fairhaven, at the south end of Bellingham. Here you’ll find boutique shops, great eats, art galleries, waterfront hotels and more. A sunset walk or paddle along nearby Taylor Dock is a perfect ending to your day!

Soaring up to 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. It towers above Seattle and locals talk about “the mountain being out” on clear days, as if it were the sun. The gateway to Mt. Rainier is actually south of Seattle, past Tacoma. If you have time check out the Museum of Glass and the Le May-America's Car Museum in Tacoma. From Tacoma you can take the Nisqually entrance to the Park.

When it comes to activities, there is no shortage of fun from guided horseback rides to miles of hiking trails that start at the base and climb to the summit. Take a ride on the gondola to the top and enjoy a leisurely hike down the mountain as you pass through beautiful alpine lakes and acres of wildflowers.

There are few locations within the entire national park system as stunning as Paradise. It is nestled on the south slopes of Mount Rainier at an elevation of 5,400feet among wildflower meadows punctuated with glistening snowfields and groves of gnarled firs and hemlocks. In addition to its breathtaking scenery and role as a portal into the surrounding wilderness, park visitors will find an array of services, including the beautiful historic 1916 Lodge.

If it’s majesty you crave, this is your route! Sitting sentry on your drive are three volcanoes—Mt. Rainier, Mount St. Helens

On the White Pass summertime; there are plenty of lakes to take a dip in. A tent will serve you well as camping is plentiful along this route. The meadows, lakes and hills of this landscape are home to wildlife such as elk, bighorn sheep and black bears. Eagles and red-tailed hawks are your constant companions as you head east.

Scenic Byway, the best view of Mt. Rainier is at the Goat Rocks Viewpoint on the west side of White Pass. At Chinook Pass, the most frequently photographed area is Tipsoo Lake at the pass summit.

Chinook Pass Scenic Byway

Running from the rolling fields of Enumclaw west of the Cascades to the Naches Valley east of the range, the Chinook Pass Scenic Byway offers glimpses of majestic Mount Rainier—one of the tallest mountain peaks in the U.S. Lake Tipsoo at the summit is a great rest stop to take photos and stretch your legs. Be sure to load up on fresh-picked fruit and vegetables at the many roadside stands in the Naches Valley.

Mt. Rainier National Park and the surrounding area offer fantastic places for skiing (downhill and backcountry), snowboarding and snowshoeing.