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    Washington, Usa

    Mt Baker

    1,000 acres, 38 runs near the Canadian border. World-record snowfall, legendary backcountry access.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    28 Nov 2025
    Closes
    19 Apr 2026
    Days open
    142
    Annual snow
    58ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Mt Baker's summit reaches 5,000 feet, dropping 1,500 vertical feet to a base at 3,500 feet across 38 runs spread over 1,000 acres in Whatcom County, Washington. Terrain splits 45 per cent intermediate, 24 per cent beginner, 16 per cent expert and 15 per cent advanced, with average annual snowfall of roughly 702 inches, among the highest totals of any ski area in the world. The resort operates independently without major multi-resort pass affiliation.

    Mt Baker holds the world record for the most snowfall recorded at a ski area in a single season: 1,140 inches during the 1998-99 winter, verified by NOAA, breaking the previous record of 1,122.5 inches set at Paradise on Mount Rainier in 1971-72. This extraordinary snowfall, combined with extensive backcountry access, has made Mt Baker legendary among powder skiers despite its comparatively modest 1,000-acre footprint. The resort's remote setting near the Canadian border adds to its authentic, unpolished character.

    Skiing on the mountain traces to 1921-1926, when the Mt Baker Highway was constructed to Heather Meadows, opening the area to winter recreation. Mount Baker Lodge opened in 1927, and the Mt Baker Ski Club was organised that same year, establishing the foundations of organised skiing on the mountain nearly a century ago.

    The resort's location at the end of State Route 542, roughly ten miles south of the 49th parallel and the Canadian border, keeps it relatively remote even by Washington ski area standards. Adult daily tickets run from 69 to 89 US dollars, with a season pass from 899 dollars, reflecting a resort that has deliberately avoided major destination-resort development in favour of preserving its authentic, powder-focused identity.

    1,499ft
    Vertical
    38
    Runs
    1,000 acres
    Skiable
    58ft
    Annual snow
    The Terrain

    38 runs across 1,000 acres skiable

    Mt Baker spreads 38 runs across 1,000 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 45%, with 9 beginner runs to find your feet and 12 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    38
    runs
    38 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner9 runs · 24%
    Intermediate17 runs · 45%
    Advanced6 runs · 15%
    Expert6 runs · 16%
    Time it right

    When to visit Mt Baker

    The 2025-26 season at Mt Baker ran from 28 November 2025 to 19 April 2026, a roughly twenty-one-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 702 inches, among the highest totals of any ski area anywhere in the world. This extraordinary snowfall underpins the resort's legendary reputation among powder skiers and supports a long, reliable natural season without significant reliance on snowmaking.

    Midwinter, from December through February, typically delivers the deepest and most frequent snowfall, with Mt Baker's 1998-99 world-record season of 1,140 inches standing as the benchmark against which extreme winters are still measured. The resort's remote location near the Canadian border keeps crowds lighter than more accessible Cascade resorts even during peak conditions, drawing dedicated powder skiers willing to make the drive.

    As an independently operated resort without major pass affiliation, Mt Baker's visitor base skews heavily toward experienced Pacific Northwest skiers and backcountry enthusiasts rather than destination-pass traffic. School holiday periods bring some increase in visitation, though the resort's terrain and remote setting generally favour more experienced skiers over casual family outings.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. The resort's world-record snowfall history remains central to its identity and continues to draw powder skiers from across the country specifically hoping to experience conditions approaching those of the legendary 1998-99 season. Mt Baker's extensive backcountry access further distinguishes its seasonal character from more conventional Cascade resorts.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    28 Nov 2025
    Opens
    19 Apr 2026
    Closes
    142
    Days open
    58 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Mt Baker, and where to stay

    Mt Baker sits in Whatcom County in northwestern Washington, at the end of State Route 542, roughly ten miles south of the 49th parallel and the Canadian border, with a base elevation of 3,500 feet and a summit at 5,000 feet across a 1,500-foot vertical drop over 1,000 acres. This remote setting places the resort well north of Washington's other major ski areas.

    The town of Glacier, Washington, offers the nearest lodging and services along the Mt Baker Highway, while Bellingham, a larger regional city, lies further west and provides more extensive amenities. The broader North Cascades landscape surrounding the resort offers additional recreation beyond skiing, with the area's proximity to the Canadian border adding an international dimension to the region's tourism.

    State Route 542, the Mt Baker Highway, provides the sole route to the resort from Bellingham and the broader Puget Sound region. Winter driving conditions on this route can be severe given the area's extraordinary snowfall, and chains or traction tyres are frequently required during storms. There is no direct public transport service to the resort.

    Bellingham International Airport is the nearest airport with commercial service, though most visitors fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and make the roughly two-and-a-half-hour drive north. This distance from major air travel hubs reinforces Mt Baker's identity as a destination reached deliberately by committed powder skiers rather than a convenient day-trip resort.

    Where to stay

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    Hotels and lodges near Mt Baker, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

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    23 Aug 2026

    Mt Baker Snow Report

    Snow Report
    Updated 30 Aug 2026
    5,000ft
    summit
    +0in
    new snow · last 24 hours
    Overcast39°F / 59°F · SW 15mph
    Snowfall
    24 hours
    0in
    48 hours
    0in
    7 days
    0in
    Base depth
    0in
    Season total
    0in
    Total lifts10

    Live open status isn’t available right now.

    28 Nov 2025 - 19 Apr 2026

    Hour by Hour

    Next 48 hours· Updated Aug 31, 2026 at 6:02 AM
    MonNow7a8a9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p6p7p8p9p10p11pTue12a1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a12p1p2p3p4p5p6p7p8p9p10p11pWed12a1a2a3a4a5a
    Conditions
    Temp°F · feels
    4135
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    4238
    4137
    4239
    Snowfallin
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
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    Precip chance%
    2%
    1%
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    2%
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    3%
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    6%
    5%
    2%
    39%
    39%
    39%
    39%
    39%
    39%
    56%
    56%
    56%
    56%
    56%
    56%
    Precipin0000000000000000000000000000000000000000.00.00.000.00.00.000
    Wind / gustmph
    6G6
    8G9
    8G12
    10G16
    12G20
    15G23
    15G23
    15G23
    15G22
    14G21
    13G19
    10G17
    8G14
    6G11
    6G9
    7G9
    7G9
    7G8
    8G12
    9G14
    9G14
    9G15
    10G17
    12G19
    13G21
    15G22
    15G24
    15G23
    15G24
    16G25
    16G25
    15G25
    15G24
    16G24
    16G23
    15G21
    14G21
    14G22
    16G25
    14G21
    11G15
    7G9
    3G3
    3G3
    3G2
    3G2
    3G1
    3G2

    Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo

    7-Day Outlook

    5,000 ftUpdated Aug 31, 2026 at 6:02 AMOpen-Meteo

    Days 1–7

    0.1"

    Days 8–14

    0.0"

    Unlock days 8–14

    Free account required

    Mon, Aug 31

    Overcast
    Temp59° / 39°°F
    Snow0.0"(3%)
    Wind15 mph SW

    Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.

    Understanding the Mt Baker snow report

    Get the latest Mt Baker snow report — real-time snowfall, snow depth, and mountain weather for this Washington resort, spanning 1067m to 1524m in elevation.

    Snow measurements

    Base depth, summit depth, and recent snowfall are the core numbers to watch. At Mt Baker, summit conditions (1524m) can differ noticeably from the base, so we break both out separately rather than showing a single average.

    Weather conditions

    Wind and temperature swings matter as much as fresh snowfall. Cold, calm conditions hold snow quality well, while wind-loading or a warm-up can change things quickly — especially given the elevation spread between Mt Baker's base and summit.

    Data sources

    Mt Baker snow data is collected through a combination of on-mountain reports and weather forecasting services, giving you both official resort updates and independent forecast data in one place. The mountain is served by 10 lifts, including 8 quad chairlifts.

    When to check

    Conditions can change overnight, so mornings and late afternoons are the best times to check back on Mt Baker.