Bagley & Chain Lakes
Equally good as a hike in the summer or a snowshoe trip in winter, trips are 4-8 miles round trip or loop and 400-1,700 feet of elevation gain. Enjoy relaxing time by beautiful lakes and views of Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan.
getting there
Travel east on the Mt. Baker Highway (SR 542) to the road's end and the Mount Baker Ski area. Follow the signs to the upper parking lot and the Bagley Lakes Trailhead (4,200 ft).
On the trail
Bagley Lakes Loop
an easy 4-mile round trip hike with 400 feet of elevation gain
Two sparkling alpine lakes, an abundance of wildflowers, an impressive mountainous backdrop and a year-round snowfield make this a hike that will please everybody. What's more, this trail gets a fraction of the foot traffic that the trails at Artist Point get in late summer.
Chain Lakes Loop
A moderate 8-mile hike with 1,600 feet of elevation gain
Starting with Bagley lakes the trail climbs to Herman Saddle then drops to Chain Lakes Basin before climbing to Artist Point, where you pick up the Wild Goose Trail to return to the trailhead.
Snowshoe Route
A 4-mile round trip moderate snowshoe to Bagley Lakes off the Mount Baker Highway with 400 feet of elevation gain. For a more challenging day continue to Hermans saddle and drop down into Iceberg and the other Chain Lakes for 1,700 feet of elevation gain and 8 miles round trip.
INFORMATION for leaders
Scheduling & Permits
- This route allows multiple bookings. Please check scheduled trips listed below in the "Activities" tab to see if there is another group already booked on the same day. Leaders are expected to contact the leader(s) of existing trips to ensure there are no concerns or conflicts, according to The Mountaineers Outdoor Ethics Policy. Please review our Group Size & Multiple Bookings page for guidance.
- If you are scheduling this as a non-course related activity, please limit your group size to the default party size. The maximum party size is for use by course field trips only, and includes both students and instructors. Group size maximums do not reflect how course field trips are run (in smaller groups of students and instructors), but allow for course leaders to register the course in our system.
- If you are scheduling a course field trip, please contact our Member Services Team to confirm the field trip and any permitting regulations.
- Suitable Activities: Day Hiking, Snowshoeing
- Snowshoeing Category: Intermediate
- Seasons: Year-round
- Weather: View weather forecast
- View avalanche forecast.
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Length: 8.0 mi
- Elevation Gain: 1,600 ft
- 5,200 ft
-
Land Manager:
Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Mount Baker Wilderness, Mount Baker Ranger District (MBSNF)
- Parking Permit Required: Northwest Forest Pass
- Recommended Party Size: 12
- Maximum Party Size: 12
- Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 24
- Green Trails Mount Baker Wilderness Climbing No. 13SX
This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips you can take at this route/place. This includes side trips, extensions and peak combinations. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.
- Bagley Lakes
- Bagley Lakes Loop
- Chain Lakes
- Chain Lakes Loop
There are no resources for this route/place. Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.