Table of Contents:
- Where is Artist Point?
- Artist Point Elopement FAQ’s
- Why Elope at Artist Point?
- When to Elope at Artist Point
- Artist Point Elopement Permits
- Where to Stay Near Artist Point
- Artist Point Elopement Photographer
- Full Mt. Baker Elopement Guide
Wanna tie the knot in front of some of the most picturesque alpine vistas in the entire Pacific Northwest? Artist Point is where it’s at, baby!! It’ll forever be one of my faaavorite elopement destinations in Washington due to how easy it is to elope at + how INSANE the views are. I promise you, your mind will be blown the moment you drive up to this breathtaking location (yes, you can DRIVE up, you don’t even have to hike if you don’t want to!!). So what’re you waiting for? Ready to learn how to plan your epic Artist Point elopement?!
Where is Artist Point?
You may not have heard of Artist Point, but you’ve probably heard of Mt. Baker! But if you’re unfamiliar with Baker (also known as Kulshan), it’s a glacier-covered volcano on the west side of the Cascades. It’s the third-highest peak in the state, located only 30 miles from the city of Bellingham, but the mountain shows off its views to many other regions such as Victoria, Vancouver, and Seattle.
Artist Point is a trailhead at the end of Mt. Baker Highway (SR 542), about 24 miles from the Glacier Public Service Center. It takes about 3-3.5 hours to drive from Seattle to Artist Point and only 1.5 hours from Bellingham, so it’s a great day trip to take from Bellingham if you want to stay in that area for your elopement! The drive in itself is absolutely incredible, you literally get otherworldly mountain views EVERYWHERE you look. Even if you never got out of your car, it would be worth the trip (though obviously you should get out of your car and take advantage of the landscapes haha).
Artist Point Elopement FAQ’s
Can you get married at Artist Point?
Abso-freakin-lutely you can get married at Artist Point! As long as you + your guests are comfortable doing whatever hike you’ve chosen (if any), and you follow the rules, then you can tie the knot anywhere you’d like among these jaw-dropping alpine landscapes.
Do you need a permit to get married at Artist Point?
Nope! No need to get a Special Use Permit through Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in order to get married at Artist Point (or anywhere at Mt. Baker, for that matter) unless you have over 75 people attending your elopement. My guess is that if you’re reading this blog post, and you like my vibe, then you probablyyyy aren’t planning a massive elopement in the mountains with 75+ people. But hey, even if you are having a big group, you can still make it happen as long as you get the proper permit and ensure you find a location that fits everyone!
Make sure to also get your Washington marriage license so that everything is legal and official!
How much does it cost to get married at Artist Point?
Since you don’t need a Special Use Permit for your elopement at Artist Point, the only direct cost involved would be the cost of a Northwest Forest Pass to access certain trailheads and parking areas. You can get a $5 day pass or a $30 annual pass if you’re an avid forest-goer (it covers sites in both WA and OR).
Are dogs allowed at Artist Point?
As long as they’re on a six-foot leash when you’re exploring any developed recreation areas, you can def bring your fur babies along to your Artist Point elopement. Bonus points if you give ‘em a cute bow or something to match your outfits 🐶
Is Artist Point part of the North Cascades?
So Mt. Baker is a part of the North Cascades, but it’s not technically part of North Cascades National Park. When North Cascades NP was created back in the 1960’s, it excluded Baker—so while it’s not a part of the national park itself, it is now designated as the Mt. Baker Wilderness and is protected by the National Forest Service. So yes, Artist Point is part of the Cascades, but you don’t actually have to follow the North Cascades NP permitting guidelines (such as getting a National Park Special Use Permit for an elopement).
Why Elope at Artist Point?
Why should you elope at Artist Point? The list of reasons is ENDLESS.
1. It’s easily accessible
One of the biggest draws of Artist Point to me is how easy it is to access, especially when compared to a lot of other amazing mountain locations in Washington! Many other places require intense hikes to get such breathtaking scenery, but you can literally just drive up to Artist Point + get all the stunning scenery just steps from your car. Of course there ARE a bunch of incredible hikes that I recommend taking if you want more of an adventure + want to see a more diverse variety of views, but the point is that you don’t have to hike if you don’t want to, or if you have anybody in your group that isn’t able to. What’s even more amazing is that one of my fave spots up at Artist Point, Picture Lake, is actually paved and ADA-accessible!
Now it’s important to note that the road up to Artist Point isn’t accessible all year-round—only during the summer season. The last 2.7 miles of the road (Mt. Baker Highway or SR 542) closes down for the winter, typically between the end of September – beginning of November, then opens back up by the beginning of July. So you can still def elope at Artist Point during the months it’s closed off, but be prepared to hike that final 2.7-mile stretch.
2. The views—duh
I probably don’t even need to explain this one, all you need to do is drool over all the pics in this blog post to see the INSANE views Artist Point has to offer!! Whether you enjoy the views from the parking lot or head out on one of the trails I’ve included in the next section, you’ll get to enjoy breathtaking vistas of Mt. Baker and all its glorious alpine lakes, glaciers, wildflower meadows, and green hills—PLUS views of Mt. Shuksan and even the North Cascades out in the distance.
3. It’s an entry point to sooo many amazing hikes
Once you arrive at Artist Point, it’s not just one viewpoint and that’s it—you immediately have easy access to so many more incredible hiking trails of ALL levels. Below are four of the best trails you can access from Artist Point (my favorite being Picture Lake, sooo iconic and so easy to get to)!
Chain Lakes Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6.2 mi
Elevation Gain: 1,794 ft
Average Time: 3h 40m
Route Type: Loop
Fire & Ice Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.6 mi
Elevation Gain: 62 ft
Average Time: 14m
Route Type: Loop
Picture Lake
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 0.4 mi
Elevation Gain: 6 ft
Average Time: 7m
Route Type: Loop
Table Mountain Trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 2.8 mi
Elevation Gain: 692 ft
Average Time: 1h 32m
Route Type: Out & back
4. You don’t need a permit
Finally, like I said before, you don’t need a permit to get married at Artist Point—which makes it one of the easier places in the PNW to elope! Most of the time when you elope at a national park or a super popular wilderness area like this, you always need a Special Use Permit no matter how many guests are attending. But at Mt. Baker, you don’t need one unless you have over 75 people. That takes one big thing off of your to-do list!
When to Elope at Artist Point
What is the best time of year to elope at Artist Point?
Remember how earlier, I said that the final 2.7 miles of road up to Artist Point closes for the winter? Well that’s definitely something you’ll want to keep in mind when picking a season for your elopement! Because of the insane amount of snow Mt. Baker gets (it actually holds the North American record for the most snowfall in the winter!), it’s best to elope at Artist Point in the summer, between July and August.
This is when you’ll have the BEST weather, hopefully with sunshine, blue skies, wildflowers, and longer days. Ya never know in the PNW, though—you might elope on what’s supposed to be the warmest day in July and end up with a chilly breeze, clouds, or rain. Luckily, Artist Point looks freaking magical in any type of weather, so you can be confident that your adventure elopement will be amazing rain or shine!
No matter what time of year you elope at Artist Point, make sure you pack the right clothes + shoes that are appropriate for your adventure. If you’re planning to venture out on a trail and it ends up being rainy, you don’t want to be left with boots that don’t do well in the mud—so always plan + pack with rain/the worst case scenario in mind, just to be safe. Layers are going to be your best friend in the mountains!!
What is the best time of day to elope at Artist Point?
Tbh Artist Point looks phenomenal any time of day, but ESPECIALLY at sunrise + sunset, when the lighting is all soft and glowy. If you head up to Artist Point at sunrise, you’re likely to avoid the busiest times of day and will hopefully get to experience the gorgeous alpenglow over Mt. Shuksan from Picture Lake. So if you’re down for an early wake up call, it’s SO worth it in my opinion.
Sunset is just as dreamy, though, painting the sky in so many stunning colors—both golden hour and blue hour are magical in the mountains. Just keep in mind that sunset will likely be a lot busier and more crowded, so you may have to work harder to find a private spot (and a parking spot, too).
Artist Point Elopement Permits
Northwest Forest Pass
Like I mentioned earlier, you will need a Northwest Forest Pass to park at the Artist Point Trailhead. Warning: it may break the bank. . . jk, it’s only $5/day! Luckily it’s super cheap, but it’s something you definitely don’t want to forget. Or, if you visit multiple Forest Service operated rec sites in Washington or Oregon throughout the year, then you can save some $$ and get the $30 annual pass instead.
Mount Baker National Forest Special Use Permit
Remember, there’s no need to get a Special Use Permit unless your Artist Point elopement has a group of over 75 people!
Where to Stay Near Artist Point
10/10 recommend extending your trip as longgg as possible and finding an amazing, cozy, intimate Airbnb to stay in during your time there. Trust me—there are some gorgeous places near Mt. Baker that would be incredible and sooo romantic for your celebration!
Airbnbs & VRBOs
- Rustic 70’s A-Frame in Deming
- Mt. Baker Twin Treehouse in Deming
- The Greybird Retreat in Deming
- Mt. Baker Forest Cabin in Deming
- Mountainview Lodge in Glacier
Campsites
Camping is actually prohibited at Artist Point from May 15-November 15, but here are some campsites around Mt. Baker that you can check out!
Artist Point Elopement Photographer
Sooo what do you say? Wanna pack your bags and head into the mountains with me to commit the rest of your lives to each other? I can’t wait to just capture you guys in your element, exploring these picturesque alpine landscapes and having the time of your lives celebrating your big day! Reach out now and let’s make it happen!
Full Mt. Baker Elopement Guide
Wanna learn more about Mt. Baker as a whole and get more info about the different hikes you can take? Check out my full Mt. Baker Elopement Guide next!
LEAVE A COMMENT
Comments