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Picture Lake

North Cascades > Mount Baker Area
48.8666, -121.6779 Map & Directions
Length
0.6 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
45 feet
Highest Point
4,157 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty
Easy

Road closed: The road to Artist Point is closed for the winter

Picture Lake looking great. Photo by jdiallo85. Full-size image
  • Wildflowers/Meadows
  • Mountain views
  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Fall foliage

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

Northwest Forest Pass
Saved to My Backpack

Follow a short, ADA-accessible path around Picture Lake, home to one of the most photographed vistas in America. Featuring a backdrop of craggy Mount Shuksan and a foreground of wilflowers ringing a sparkling lake in summer, Picture Lake is pretty as, well, a picture. Continue reading

Rating
3.11 out of 5

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Hiking Picture Lake

Follow a short, ADA-accessible path around Picture Lake, home to one of the most photographed vistas in America. Featuring a backdrop of craggy Mount Shuksan and a foreground of wilflowers ringing a sparkling lake in summer, Picture Lake is pretty as, well, a picture.

Interpretive signs ring the trail, so hikers can enjoy a little education along with their walk.

Wheelchair Accessibility

In winter this trail is under snow. Snow can stick around until quite late in the year here, so check trip reports to see if the trail is clear before going.

Picture Lake

Map & Directions

Trailhead
Co-ordinates: 48.8666, -121.6779 Open in Google Maps

Before You Go

Road closed: The road to Artist Point is closed for the winter

See weather forecast

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

Northwest Forest Pass

WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead.

Getting There

Drive Highway 542 east, through the town of Glacier and for another 21 miles to a fork in the road. Turn right, and Picture Lake will be on your left. The parking area is just past the Firs Lodge on the left side of the road. A vault toilet is located at the Austin Pass Picnic Area or the Heather Meadows Visitor Center Parking lot.

More Hike Details

Trailhead

North Cascades > Mount Baker Area

Picture Lake (#735)

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Mount Baker Ranger District

Guidebooks & Maps

USGS Shuksan Arm

USFS Mt. Baker Ranger District and Mt. Baker Wilderness

Buy the Green Trails Mt. Shuksan No. 14 map

You can improve or add to this guidebook entry!

Picture Lake

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