Mt Baker ride August 2008

This is from a ride last August from Seattle to Mt Baker on my BMW R1150RT. The Mt Baker Scenic Highway is one of the best motorcyle rides in Western Washington in my opinion.

The goal for the day
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/2744722475_9e35ff4b07.jpg">


The Mt. Baker Highway (WA-542) starts in Bellingham, WA and ends at Artist Point in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. A great description of this ride with pictures is at <a href="http://www.ericsroads.com/roads/hwy542.html">http://www.ericsroads.com/roads/hwy542.html</a>

The route I took was Seattle to WA-522, then north on WA-9 until it joins up with WA-542 (Mt Baker Scenic Highway). On the way back, I detoured on Mosquito Lake Rd South from WA-542 until it rejoined with WA-9. Then South on WA-9 to Park Rd/Cains Lake Rd around Lake Watcom and slab it back to Seattle on I-5. Rolled out of the driveway at 06:00 and returned at 14:30. 305 miles round trip.

The Route
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/2744723041_0f35b7445d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="629">

It was cold and foggy on WA-9 in the morning. I had my jacket liner in and my heated handgrips on full blast. I was worried that the rain forecast for Saturday was rolling in a day early, but it was just lowland fog. Once I started to climb in elevation, the weather cleared up and it was a beautiful day.

Big Lake on WA-9. I don't know what its name is.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3254/2745558316_9a3c48508c.jpg">

I decided to park my bike in the middle of the road...
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/2745558246_0c0a197e83.jpg">

Beginning of the Mt Baker Scenic Highway. The views just kept getting better and better.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2745557944_702197b24c.jpg">

Once the road got above the treeline it became very tight with many 180 degree switchbacks
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3046/2744722423_bf83718bcf.jpg">

Mt Baker gets a lot of snow. This picture taken first week of August, 2008!
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2744722343_c2d39749f8.jpg">

Great Pics! I have family in Port Angeles and have been visiting (via Northwest Airlines and rental cars) many times. I have traveled the Mt. Baker Scenic Highway via cage and recall thinking to myself that I need to ride here someday!

I used to work at the ski area at the end of the road - I can ride that road with my eyes closed - and it's just as fun - maybe even more fun - with eyes closed

Most don't know it, but Mt. Shuksan, portrayed in the first photo, is the most photographed mountain in the United States. You'd be amazed at how many places I've found Mt. Shuksan substituting for other mountains in brochures and online.

Mt. Baker ride

That's just a few miles north of the North Cascades road. I'll keep that in mind for the next time we're in the area.

Thanks for posting.

rinty said:

That's just a few miles north of the North Cascades road. I'll keep that in mind for the next time we're in the area.

Thanks for posting.

Click to expand...

It's "just a few miles" as the crow flies. As the wheels turn, it's about a three hour ride from the ski area at Mt. Baker to the start of the North Cascades Hwy. in Marblemount.

But it's a breathtakingly beautiful three hour ride