Chain Lakes
Artist Point loop
The Route
The Chain Lakes loop connects alpine lake basins and saddles below Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan.
- Artist PointWild Goose start
- Heather MeadowsLower parking and privy
- Herman SaddleHigh basin crossing
- Hayes & Mazama LakesDesignated camping branches
- Ptarmigan JunctionTraverse back to Artist Point
Artist Point to Herman Saddle
From Artist Point, the loop descends the Wild Goose corridor toward Austin Pass and Heather Meadows, then reaches the Bagley Lakes area. The climb toward Herman Saddle opens views across the alpine basin. A separate small loop around Bagley Lakes adds distance and is not included automatically in the main Chain Lakes circuit.
Lakes Basin & Return
Beyond Herman Saddle, the trail descends toward Iceberg and Hayes lakes through meadows and heather. Hayes Lake has separate toilet and campsite branches; designated camps also lie around Mazama Lakes. The climb out reaches the Ptarmigan Ridge junction before the final traverse back to Artist Point. Trailhead toilets are identified at Artist Point and Heather Meadows, distinct from the backcountry facilities near Hayes Lake.
Terrain Along the Route
Rocky alpine trail and saddles connect lake basins; the Wild Goose section descends beside the upper highway.
Approximate guide figures for the named route and endpoint, not a current measured track. Reference Set: 2026-10-23.
Weather
Current forecasts open at the providers below. NWS forecasts describe a terrain grid cell, not an exact summit.
Access
Artist Point, Mount Baker · Artist Point, WA
Parking & Entry
The route guide lists Northwest Forest Pass or accepted federal pass. This is a reference listing, not a live parking or permit availability check.
Route Choice
The loop from Artist Point, not a summit ascent or a winter road approach.
Permits & Seasonal Rules
Camping is restricted to designated sites at Mazama and Hayes lakes.
Trailhead & Approach
The selected loop starts at Artist Point at the end of Mount Baker Highway. Starting at Heather Meadows or Austin Pass changes where the loop begins and where its final climb falls.
Facilities & Camps
WTA identifies privies at Artist Point and Heather Meadows. Camping is limited to designated sites: four at Mazama Lake and four at Hayes Lake. The upper road has its own seasonal operating status.
Source information checked 2026-10-23. Road snapshots are dated separately.
Reports
Recent Trip Reports
Open the route-specific WTA reports and compare the hiking date, endpoint and reported conditions.
Links open the publishers’ report pages. Reports are not automatically imported or filtered to a forecast date.