Chain Lakes Loop: A Summer-First Experience Brief

Chain Lakes Loop in summer is everything a summer alpine hike in Washington should be.

If you put Mount Baker next to Mount Rainier or the North Cascades and asked which offers the best alpine scenery in the state, Baker would be in that conversation every time. And unlike Mount Rainier National Park, Mount Baker allows dogs and doesn’t require a national park pass.

Despite that, it never feels as overwhelmed as Rainier’s most popular hikes.

Chain Lakes Loop is the best example of that balance. It has variety, payoff, and scale — without the Disneyland atmosphere.

I also rank Chain Lakes Loop as my Best Overall Summer Hike in my broader guide:
Best Hikes in Washington by Season — a judgment-first overview of when hikes actually make sense
https://dangenda.com/2026/01/05/best-hikes-in-washington-by-season/

Why Chain Lakes Loop Works So Well

Chain Lakes Loop has something many Washington hikes don’t: constant engagement.

On a lot of hikes near Seattle, you “earn” the views by grinding through two or three miles of forested switchbacks before anything opens up. Chain Lakes Loop flips that script.

Because you start at a high elevation near Artist Point, you get wide, open scenery almost immediately. The views aren’t a distant reward — they’re part of the hike from the beginning.

There’s rarely a dull moment:

sweeping alpine vistas
wildflower-filled meadows
lingering snow patches
multiple lakes you can swim in
varied terrain instead of a single sustained climb

The hike feels dynamic the entire way through.

Loop Direction & Flow (Clockwise Matters)

There are multiple ways to approach the loop depending on parking, but I strongly recommend doing Chain Lakes Loop clockwise, starting from the lower parking area rather than the highest Artist Point lot.

Going clockwise lets you:

knock out more of the climbing earlier
ease into the hike instead of being dropped immediately into exposure
finish with a more forgiving descent

The elevation gain is spread out nicely throughout the loop and almost never feels grueling. It’s a solid workout, but not a sufferfest.

The Best Timing: Late Summer, Not Early

Late summer is decisively better than early summer here.

At this elevation, snow lingers well into June and often into July. Early-season conditions can be patchy and inconsistent, and wildflowers haven’t fully arrived yet.

Late July through early August is the sweet spot:

peak wildflowers
stable weather
warm temperatures
excellent swimming conditions

That combination is what makes Chain Lakes Loop feel like a complete alpine experience rather than a compromise.

Crowds (Or Lack Thereof)

Even at peak summer, Chain Lakes Loop rarely feels crowded in the way people expect.

Yes, parking lots can fill up — but once you’re on the trail, the space absorbs people. The loop is large, the scenery is spread out, and there are enough adjacent trails in the Mount Baker area that crowds disperse naturally.

This is nothing like:

Snow Lake
Rattlesnake Ledge
Paradise at Mount Rainier

Mount Baker never quite takes on that “everyone is here today” energy.

Weekdays are quieter, as you’d expect, but even on a sunny weekend, the hike feels expansive rather than congested.

Exposure, Weather & Bugs

This is a mostly exposed hike, with very little shade. Bring sunscreen. On hot days, the exposure is real — but the payoff is that you get uninterrupted views almost the entire time.

The lakes help balance this out. From about midway through the hike onward, you can dip in periodically and stay cool, which makes long summer days feel manageable rather than oppressive.

Bugs are possible, but they tend to be localized, not pervasive. In my experience — including early August — bugs showed up near a few lakes but were never a dominant factor throughout the hike.

Visibility matters here. This is a hike you want to do on a clear, sunny day, when you can fully appreciate views of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, and the surrounding peaks from Artist Point and beyond.

Difficulty & Who This Hike Is For

By Pacific Northwest standards, this is a moderate hike — but it’s not an easy one.

The mileage and elevation gain mean it won’t be right for everyone, especially if you’re looking for something short or casual. That said, the effort is well distributed, and the terrain keeps things interesting enough that it rarely feels like a grind.

This hike works equally well:

solo
with a small group
as a long Seattle day trip (about 2:40–3 hours each way)

It also shines as part of a weekend trip. Mount Baker is absolutely worth an overnight — or two — if you want to stack multiple alpine hikes in one area.

Fall & Shoulder Season Context

I haven’t personally done Chain Lakes Loop in the fall yet, but it’s high on my list.

In theory, September to early October could be spectacular during peak fall foliage, provided:

weather holds
snow hasn’t returned
and the road to Artist Point is still open

That road typically closes sometime in the second half of October, which puts a firm cap on late-season access.

When the timing lines up, I expect fall here would be exceptional — but I’ll revisit that judgment once I’ve experienced it firsthand.

Final Judgment

Chain Lakes Loop earns its reputation quietly.

It doesn’t rely on a single dramatic moment or iconic viewpoint. Instead, it delivers consistent alpine quality from start to finish — scenery, variety, effort, and flow all working together.

If Snow Lake is about timing and crowd management, Chain Lakes Loop is about taste.

For summer hiking in Washington, it’s hard to do better.

Author: Dan
Default lens: Summer
Last reviewed: January 2026