Table of Contents:

• Where is Mt. Baker?
• Why Elope at Mt. Baker?
• Mt. Baker Elopement FAQ’s
• Best Places to Elope on Mt. Baker
• When to Elope at Mt. Baker
• Mt. Baker Wedding & Elopement Permits
• Where to Stay Near Mt. Baker
• Mt. Baker Elopement Packages + Pricing
• Mt. Baker Elopement Photographer

Baker? I hardly know her! 😉 Ok enough of that, I think I’m funny sometimes. Today I’m gonna give ya all the deets that you need to know about eloping at one of Washington’s most epic landscapes, Mt. Baker & the surrounding Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest!! You should leave this blog post with all the info + knowledge you need on how to elope at Mt. Baker, from the best Mt. Baker elopement locations to how to get your Mt. Baker wedding permits in 2025.

Ready to see why I love this part of Washington soooo much, and to get some photo inspiration for your own Mt. Baker adventure elopement?

Where is Mt. Baker?

If you’re not familiar with northern Washington, you might not know much about Mt. Baker—no prob! Mt. Baker is the third-highest mountain in the state, located on the west side of the iconic North Cascades range. It takes about 2.5-3 hours to drive to the most popular parts of Mt. Baker from Seattle, so it’s definitely a doable day trip if you’re coming from the city. If you’re flying into Washington for your elopement, you’ll want to fly to SeaTac and rent a car to head into the mountains!

Why Elope at Mt. Baker?

Do I even need to explain this one? I feel like the photos say it all! Mt. Baker is known for its incredible skiing (it’s actually one of the snowiest places in the US, alongside Mt. Rainier) and for its picturesque alpine scenery. Literally to die for. I’ve been so many times yet my jaw STILL drops when I see the snow-covered mountain peaks, the rolling hills, the lush trees, the colorful wildflowers. . . it’s paradise. 

The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest gets over 2.5 million visitors each year who want to come experience the dreamy landscapes + incredible outdoor rec, which there’s such a HUGE variety of options to choose from: easy walks, adventurous hikes, skiing/snowmobiling/snowboarding/snowshoeing, horseback riding, mountain climbing, backpacking, camping, you get the picture. Who wouldn’t want to spend their summer (or winter) days exploring this vast alpine heaven?!

Mt. Baker is also SUPER driveable in the summertime; you can drive along the Mount Baker Scenic Byway (SR 542) all the way up to Artist Point, park your car, and then decide where you want to go from there. The best part is that you’ll get gorgeous views whether you walk around for 10 minutes or hike for 3 hours! This makes it a great place to elope with guests who may not be able to (or want to) hike, but still want to experience all the epic mountain scenery. 

Mt. Baker Elopement FAQ’s

Can I get married at Mt. Baker?

Yes, yes, 1000x yes you can get married at Mt. Baker! I’ve photographed sooo many couples at Mt. Baker, so I’ve seen just how amazing of an elopement location it really is. It also makes for a great place for engagement photos, anniversary photos, you name it!

Where can I get married at Mt. Baker?

Anywhere you want, as long as you’re respectful of the land and of other visitors around you! Mt. Baker doesn’t have a specific list of permitted ceremony locations like many national and state parks do, so it’s important that you do your part to protect the environment with your ceremony and that you don’t take advantage of the lack of wedding regulations. I recommend keeping your group small if you want the MOST options for your ceremony, since large groups can’t really fit on most of the pathways at Mt. Baker—unless you have your ceremony at a more spacious viewpoint or overlook. I’ll help you choose a location that’s perfect for your size of group + the kind of backdrop you’re envisioning!

Do I need a pass to visit Mt. Baker?

You may need a Northwest Forest Pass to access certain trailheads & parking areas at Mt. Baker, which you can purchase for either day-use or annual use.

How many guests can we have for our Mt. Baker wedding ceremony?

Well technically, the limit before you need to get a Special Use Permit through the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is 75 people, but in my experience, a group of 10 people or less is ideal for a Mt. Baker wedding. Again, most of the trails are fairly narrow and can’t fit many people, so if you want a slightly larger group, you’ll probably want to choose a bigger overlook closer to the parking lot.

Are dogs allowed at Mt. Baker?

Hell yea! Most trails in the Mt. Baker area allow dogs on leashes to tag along, so def bring your 4-legged BFF along with you. Just double check the details for whatever hike you’re planning to take, to make sure that specific trail allows pets!

Are you cat parents?? Here are 8 Adorable Ways to Include Your Cat(s) In Your Elopement!

Best Places to Elope at Mt. Baker

Now, let’s explore 6 of the best places to elope at Mt. Baker in 2025. Below is a map of all the locations so you can see where they’re at in relation to each other, and then I’ll dive a little deeper into each one!

1. Picture Lake

The name pretty much says it all. Picture Lake is a, well, picturesque lake that you access via a quick & easy 0.6 mile round trip trail. You only gain 45 feet of elevation and this “hike” will literally take you 10 minutes each way (if not less), and gives you some of the most beautiful views of Mt. Shuksan out there!! Picture Lake is pretty hard to beat for its ease of access + stunning scenery with barely any effort required. It’s a great one to visit with any guests you have at your elopement who may not be able to do a major hike, and is extraaa beautiful in the fall thanks to the foliage surrounding the lake.

Wanna see what your Mt. Baker elopement at Picture Lake could actually look like?? Check out Marissa & Stanley’s elopement – they said their vows at Picture Lake after getting ready in a super cozy A-frame cabin in the woods. Talk about a dreamyyyy mountain elopement for the books.

2. Artist Point

Artist Point is probably the first location you’ll come across when you search “where to go at Mt. Baker.” And for good reason. Artist Point is located at the end of the Mt. Baker Highway and boasts absolutely epic views of Mt. Shuksan, Mt. Baker, and even the jagged peaks of the North Cascades. You’ll want to elope at Artist Point during the summer, as the last 1.8 miles of the highway to Artist Point closes off for the winter, often staying closed through the first part of the summer & closing down as early as the beginning of fall. There are a few trails nearby that you can take, but the most popular is the 2.9-mile Heather Meadows & Artist Point Trail loop. Make sure you bring snowshoes if you’re unsure of whether there’ll be snow on the trail or not!

I love Artist Point so much that I put together a whole separate guide dedicated to it!

3. Chain Lakes Loop

If you’re avid hikers and are looking for more of a challenging adventure to get to your ceremony spot, Chain Lakes Loop is an epic option!! The trail is 6.5 miles total with 1,900 feet of elevation gain, making it moderately difficult & typically completed in around 4 hours. You’ll get great views of the Chain Lakes, Mt Baker, & Iceberg Lake, as well as Mt. Shuksan & the North Cascades. It’s also an amazing trail for wildflower viewing in the spring/early summer! There are two loop options: one starting at Artist Point, and one starting from the Austin Pass/Heather Meadows area. Take whichever one you want!

4. Winchester Mountain Lookout

The hike up to Winchester Mountain Lookout is phenomenallll from start to finish. It’s less than 2 miles to get up to the lookout, a total of 3.4 miles round trip, with a moderately-challenging 1,300 feet of elevation gain. The panoramic views at the top are so worth the journey, where you can see manyyy different mountain peaks + the Twin Lakes. If you want to take this hike, make sure you have a high clearance vehicle (four wheel drive is even better) so you can access the road to the trailhead – or be ready to park a ways away from the trailhead + walk an extra 2.5 miles along the road each way.

Jared & Cameron chose Winchester Mountain Lookout for their elopement ceremony and hot damn was it a good choice. You can see their full Washington Mountain Elopement here to get a feel for what Winchester Mountain Lookout looks like as an elopement ceremony location!

5. Fire & Ice Trail at Heather Meadows

The Fire & Ice Trail at Heather Meadows is one of the more popular trails in the area, since it’s super short & easy to access and complete. You can park at the Heather Meadows parking area (where there’s bathrooms, picnic tables, & pretty views right away), and then take the 0.5 mile round trip trail through the alpine meadows and lush greenery. It’s an interpretive trail, so it’s great for learning more about the Mt. Baker landscape and how everything around you was formed!

6. Skyline Divide

Finally, the Skyline Divide Trail is another awesome hike option if you’re down for a longer (& steeper) adventure. It’s considered a challenging route, so be prepared to get a bit of a workout in – I definitely recommend changing into your elopement attire once you get to the top because you will notttt want to do this hike in a tight-fitting dress or suit. It’s 7.2 miles long out & back with a nearly 2,500-foot elevation gain, so it’s def not a trail for the faint of heart. The journey is SO worth it though for the incredible mountain views you get at the top – trust me, you won’t want to go back down!

When to Elope at Mt. Baker

Generally speaking, the best time to elope at Mt. Baker is between June-August. This is because the mid-late summer is when you’ll have the best chance of sunny, clear skies to get those mountain views you’re dreaming of, and wildflower season will be upon us! Trust me, nothing beats the wildflower meadows of Washington in the summertime. 

Summer is the only time that the entire road up to Artist Point is open, unless there’s some crazy early snowfall that closes the road off before mid-late September, or snow that stays on the ground into late spring. You can monitor the status of the Mt. Baker Highway here!

Now if you’re dreaming about a certain type of scenery, here are the best times of year to elope at Mt. Baker if you want. . .

• Clear skies (for those mountain views): June-August
• Wildflowers: July-August
• Fall colors: Late September – early October (before the road to Artist Point closes for the winter)
• Fog (because misty skies can be magical, too!): Early mornings between August-October

As far as the best time of DAY goes to elope at Mt. Baker, I’m always biased toward sunrise and sunset. You just cannot beat the golden colors and alpenglow you get these times of day, they provide the most epic mountain views you will ever see! Sunrise is also great if you’re eloping on a warm summer day when Baker is likely to get a lot of visitors—you’ll be able to get a bit more privacy in those first morning hours if you’re up for the early wake-up call. To learn more about what time of day to plan your ceremony, check out my guide to the Best Time of Day for An Adventure Elopement.

When NOT to Elope at Mt. Baker:

In the winter! Unless you want to go skiing, snowshoeing, or incorporate other winter activities into your elopement, I’d suggest avoiding winter due to all the snow Mt. Baker gets. You won’t be able to access higher elevations and most of the trails will be covered + not walkable. The last 1.8 mile stretch of the Mt. Baker Highway up to Artist Point will also be closed, so you’ll have to either stay down in the Heather Meadows area or hike the rest of the way up!

Mt. Baker Wedding & Elopement Permits

I’ve got some good news for you: you don’t need a permit to get married at Mt. Baker UNLESS you’re having a wedding that involves 75 people or more (which, let’s be honest, is way too big of a realistic group size for a hiking elopement). If you are having that many people then you need to get a Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Special Use Permit. Otherwise, you’re good to go on the permit side of things, and just need to be aware of any trailheads where you might need a day-use pass—or if you’re planning to camp and need a backcountry/camping permit!

Where to Stay for Your Mt. Baker Elopement

Airbnb’s + Cabins Near Mt. Baker

No matter which of the rad cabins you choose from the list below, you’ll end up with a cozy place to stay in the middle of a luscious green forest, listening to birds chirping all around ya. Highly recommend choosing one that has an outdoor hot tub for some nighttime R&R + stargazing, which will make for the cutest pics 😉

• 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

Where to Camp Near Mt. Baker

Wanna literally sleep under the stars instead of having a warm cabin with a bed & blankets to crawl under? Check out some of the best campgrounds near Mt. Baker below and get ready to pack up that tent + sleeping bag for a cozy night in the great outdoors!

• Panorama Point Campground
• Silver Fir Campground
• Horseshoe Cove Campground
• Douglas Fir Campground

Mt. Baker Elopement Photography Packages

I’m Bree, your Mt. Baker adventure elopement photographer, hiking buddy, friendly neighborhood cat lady. . . whatever you wanna call me! If you want to find out how I can help you take the stress out of your elopement, guide you through the process of planning your dream day, and what it looks like to invest in me as your elopement photographer, check out my Mt. Baker elopement packages + pricing! I can’t wait to hear all about what your dream elopement looks like and to help you make it happen. Reach out here to get started!

More Epic Washington Elopement Locations

Because there are sooo many incredible places in WA to elope, it can be really hard to narrow it down and figure out where the hell to go. I’ve been doing this for a while now, so I can confidently say I’m somewhat of an expert in Washington elopement locations 😉 Take a look at more of my fave locations + elopement guides below!

Ultimate Mt. Rainier Elopement Guide for 2025

How to Plan an Adventure Elopement in Olympic National Park

5 Best Fire Lookout Elopement Locations in Washington