Autumn in the Mountains: Picture-Perfect Colors Hover Around Heather Meadows

Seattle Magazine, October 2007
By Roddy Scheer

The breathtaking scenery of the Alps and the fall colors of Vermont combine at Washington’s Heather Meadows (at the end of State Route 542, aka the Mount Baker Highway, Glacier), located 5,000 feet above sea level on the flanks of Mount Baker. At the heart is Picture Lake, shrouded in the gold, orange and red hues of deciduous plants and trees and reflecting craggy Mount Shuksan in its peaceful waters. A half-mile wheelchair-accessible trail winds its way around the lake (parking is available near the trail) through stunted alpine hemlocks and huckleberry bushes full of just-ripened fruit. Photographers flock to the area from mid-September through mid-October to capture the wild mountain scenery and extravagant fall colors in their viewfinders.

Picture Lake, entrancing in its own right, represents just the beginning of the natural beauty offered by the surrounding Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest. Those willing to lace up their hiking boots and stray from the paved path have an embarrassment of riches at their feet, whether on the Fire and Ice, Ptarmigan Ridge, Wild Goose, Table Mountain or Chain Lakes trails.

When you head down from Picture Lake, leave time for at least a quick stop to take in Nooksack Falls, a raging waterfall located just off State Route 542 a dozen or so miles from Heather Meadows. The falls, which splits into two channels before plunging 100 feet and hooking a left down an imposing gorge, is one of the most popular attractions in all of the North Cascades, for good reason.

While it’s possible to visit this area as a day trip, overnight options are available. Backpackers steeled for cold fall weather can camp anywhere in the backcountry, but should be sure to have a Northwest Forest Pass visible in their parked car and a backcountry permit for overnight stays (available at the Forest Service ranger station 34 miles up State Route 542 in Glacier; 360.599.2714; fs.fed.us/r6/mbs).

Numerous rental cabins, cottages and condos are scattered along State Route 542, and available through Mt. Baker Lodging (mtbakerlodging.com), while the elegant Inn at Mt. Baker (8174 Mount Baker Highway, Deming; 360.599.1776; theinnatmtbaker.com), also located nearby, provides a full-service experience. While a few roadside restaurants and convenience stores located closer to Bellingham can quell your hunger, bringing your own provisions might be a better bet.

Location: 50 miles east of Bellingham via State Route 542, known to locals as Sunset Drive and to skiers as the Mount Baker Highway. Nooksack Falls is located at a signed turnout 10 miles shy of Heather Meadows
Travel time from Seattle by car: Just under three hours