Mountain Info FAQ
View our Operations Schedule page for hours, Base Area schedule & more.
HEATHER MEADOWS LESSON DESK
Located next to the Heather Meadows Day Lodge in the Mountain Shop building.
Opens at 8:00 AM
Questions? Contact Mt Baker Lesson Desk
[email protected]
Check Daily Lesson Page For Daily Operations Info
WHITE SALMON RENTAL SHOP
Located inside the main doors of the White Salmon Day Lodge.
Opens at 8:00 AM
HEATHER MEADOWS RENTAL SHOP
Located next to the Heather Meadows Day Lodge in the Mountain Shop building.
Opens at 8:00 AM
All rentals must be returned by 3:30PM
Visit our Rental FAQ for answers on frequently asked rental questions.
Check Daily Rentals Page For Daily Operations Info
WHITE SALMON MOUNTAIN SHOP
Located inside the main doors of the White Salmon Day Lodge.
OPEN DAILY 8:00am – 3:30pm
HEATHER MEADOWS MOUNTAIN SHOP
Located on the first floor of the Heather Meadows Day Lodge.
8:00am – 3:15pm
Shop hours may vary depending on that day’s operations.
Can’t make it to the mountain? Select Custom Baker Items Available Online at shop.mtbaker.us
Mt. Baker Ski Area is located 52 miles east of Bellingham on State Highway 542. See Directions page for more info.
For direction to our Bellingham Business Office see our Contact Info page
For current highway conditions visit WSDOT website or tune into WSDOT Highway Advisory Radio at 530AM or 1610AM
WINTER DRIVING TIPS
Carry Snow Chains (and know how to use them)
Drive Slowly
Allow More Space Between Vehicles
Carry Appropriate Clothing and Supplies
More Information Available at WSDOT’s Winter Driving Tips page.
No, lodging is not available at the Ski Area. The Mt. Baker foothills offer a variety of accommodation options. Visit our Accommodations page for lodging options and info.
Self-contained RVs and campers are permitted overnight in designated areas at the Ski Area. See Overnight Parking page for more info.
Yes. Overnight parking for self-contained RVs and campers is permitted in designated areas that the Ski Area. Visit Overnight Parking page for full details.
No. The closest ATM is 30 minutes away at Graham’s Store in Glacier, on the way to Mt Baker.
We do not have any electric vehicle charging stations.
Skiing and snowboarding are active sports. Make sure to eat a good breakfast and follow it up with a hearty lunch and snacks to ensure that you have fuel for the entire day. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are available for purchase at the Heather Meadows and White Salmon day lodges. You are welcome to bring your own sack lunch, but please consume it in the designated areas. Make sure to get adequate sleep the night before. You’ll have more fun if you’re well-rested! Remember to drink water throughout the day. It can be easy to forget to stay hydrated in the winter weather. Dehydration can have serious effects on your ability to perform physically.
Even before your day on the mountain, familiarize yourself with the Mt. Baker Trail Map. This handy map folds up to fit into your pocket for easy access and contains a wealth of helpful information. The trail map shows the named ski and snowboard trails and their difficulty rating. Green circle trails are the easiest, blue squares are more difficult, black diamonds are most difficult and double black diamonds are experts only. The trail map also shows the ski area boundaries, extreme danger zones and slow zones. You will find points of interest such as the day lodges, first aid, restrooms, ticket office, rental shop and others. Additionally, the trail map is where you can find Mt. Baker’s Mountain Policies and Guidelines which provide policies, risks, responsibilities and more safety information. For example, sledding and tubing is prohibited within the Mt. Baker Ski Area Boundaries. Outside of the ski area is Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest land where snow play is at your own risk.
Base Layer & Socks
Synthetic, wool and wool blend base layers and socks will help you retain heat in the cold. AVOID cotton. Cotton actually can pull heat away from you, especially when wet. This can make you even colder. Wearing a SINGLE pair of over the calf synthetic or wool socks will help keep your feet warm and be most comfortable in ski and snowboard boots.
Mid Layers
Bring a fleece, down or wool layer to wear over your base layer and under your waterproof shell. Sometimes people choose multiple mid layers to adjust as conditions change. If you get too warm you can always take them off, and if too cold, you can add additional layers.
Outer Layer
Waterproof jackets and pants are extremely important in the northwest. The conditions at Mt. Baker can be variable and staying dry is key to having fun in a mountain environment.
Helmet/Hat
Helmets are an effective choice for helping to keep your head warm, dry and protected. Make sure to look for one that is designed for winter sports. If you choose to wear a hat, under your helmet or on its own, it’s best if it is made of synthetic material or wool.
Gloves
Waterproof gloves are just as important as your waterproof outerwear layer. If your hands tend to get cold, waterproof mittens are a warmer choice than gloves. Having an extra pair with you on snowy or wet days is useful.
Neck Gaiters
Neck gaiters keep the cold wind from your face and neck. A simple neck gaiter goes a long way to help keep you warm on windy and snowy days. We especially recommend them for kids.
Goggles & Sunglasses
Snow goggles shield your eyes from the wind and snow elements. It is very difficult (and not much fun) to try to see on a snowy day without goggles. The sun (when it shines on occasion here at Mt. Baker) reflects off the snow and is hard on your eyes. Sunglasses are very important in the mountain environment.
Extras
It is a good idea to bring extra layers and outerwear, including extra hats, gloves and goggles. That way if anything gets wet or cold, you can change into a dry set. It’s also a good idea to have an extra set of clothes to change into after your day on the mountain to make the ride home more comfortable.
Daily Lift Tickets are available for purchase day-of at the ski area only. Pre-purchased, digital, or multi-day lift tickets are NOT available.
Gift cards can be purchased online and redeemed at ticket window for that day’s lift ticket. Mt. Baker Gift Cards can be used in all departments on the mountain.
Yes. You can purchase Gift Cards online, at our Bellingham Business office, or at the ski area admin offices during hours of operation. Mt. Baker Gift Cards can be used in all departments on the mountain.
Yes, we offer discounts for veterans and active duty military members and their dependents with a military ID.
No, we currently do not offer group benefits.
The average annual snowfall at Mt. Baker Ski Area is 663″ (Based on 15 year average)
See Snowfall Statistics page for full details.
The elevation at Heather Meadows Base Area is 4,300 ft.
The elevation at White Salmon Base Area is 3,500 ft.
There are 3 lodges at Mt. Baker Ski Area.
White Salmon Day Lodge is located at mile marker 52.0 at the White Salmon Base Area.
The Raven Hut is located mid mountain at the bases of Chairs 5, 6, and 4.
Heather Meadows Day Lodge is located at mile market 55.0 at the Heather Meadows Base Area.
There are 8 quad chairs at the ski area along with 2 handle tows.
Yes. If you lost an item during your visit to Mt. Baker Ski Area, please submit our lost and found form. Submissions will be checked daily during winter ski area operation.
Unclaimed items will be donated and/or disposed of after 14 days unless unclaimed items are matched and pick-up arrangements are made. All lost and found items remaining after closing day of the Winter Operating Season will be donated and/or disposed of.
If you have found an item, please turn it into one of the on-mountain Administration Offices located within either the White Salmon or Heather Meadows Ticket Office.
No. Sledding is prohibited with Mt. Baker Ski Area boundaries. Outside of the ski area boundaries is Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest land. Winter snow play in the National Forest is at your own risk. Always check weather and avalanche forecasts before heading out into National Forest land.
No. There are no cross-country trails with Mt. Baker Ski Area boundaries. Outside of the ski area boundaries is Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest land. Winter snow play in the National Forest is at your own risk. Always check weather and avalanche forecasts before heading out into National Forest land.
No. Ski area hours of operation are 9:00AM – 3:30PM. Check SNOW REPORT for current days operation info.
We do not have snowshoe trails within the ski area boundaries and do not rent snowshoes. Outside of the ski area boundaries is Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest land. Winter snow play in the National Forest is at your own risk. Always check weather and avalanche forecasts before heading out into National Forest land.