Hike to Chain Lakes

Travel east on Mt. Baker Highway 542 to the road's end and the Mount Baker Ski area. Follow the signs to the upper parking lot and the Bagley Lakes/Chain Lakes trailhead. The trail can also be accessed from Austin Pass and Artist Point.

From the Bagley Lakes trailhead, follow the trail to the Bagley Lakes and admire the crystal clear water with Table Mountain in the background. Continue right across a small stone bridge to ascend up to the Chain Lakes viewpoint, eventually climbing to Herman Saddle. The views here are spectacular, with a perfect panorama of both Mt. Shuksan and Mt. Baker.

Now drop into the Chain Lakes. The first is Iceberg Lake, with actual icebergs lingering in the lake well into summer. You may also encounter snowfields in this section well into late summer, but I did not in early September. At Iceberg Lake, you can take a small side trail to Arbuthnet and Hayes Lakes, or you can continue on to little Mazama Lake.

Climbing out of the Chain Lakes Basin, you reach a pass between Table Mountain and Ptarmigan Ridge. Go to the left for about a mile until you reach the Artist Point parking lot (this is also a good place to start your hike if you can find parking).