Ptarmigan Ridge is lauded as one of the hikes in the Mt. Baker area with some of the finest views. Whether it has the finest views or not I couldn’t say, as both last year when I did it for the first time, and this year when my wife and I visited again, we were in the fog. I can’t really complain too much though, as I think the fog gives the place a very ethereal quality. Plus, the hike is really exposed, and the clouds and fog keep away some of the heat!

The hike starts at the Artist Point parking lot. We thought we were being smart by going on a weekday and arriving mid-morning, but we found the place was absolutely packed and we had to park in the gravel overflow lot just below the summit. The parking lot was a complete madhouse, so we made a beeline out of there and blasted down the first mile of the Chain Lakes trail below Table Mountain. At the junction with the rest of the Chain Lakes loop, we turned left for Ptarmigan Ridge, which left most of the crowds behind, but there were still a decent number of people exploring Ptarmigan Ridge.

From the junction, the trail drops a few hundred feet as it bypasses a few creeks, and then regains the elevation as the scenery changes from high alpine meadows to a barren landscape of rocks. I think this section is pretty interesting, as it reminds me of climbing on some of the volcanoes, and in the fog it is really sublime. Just above that section is a long stretch of blueberry patches (bring a ziplock bag!) and a few good spots for lunch. Past that point, the trail skirts around the ridgeline and eventually ends up in a boulder field; we turned around here due to a patch of snow but also we had to get back home to pick up our kids!

One of the most redeeming qualities of this trail is its accessibility. Despite the altitude, it never gets very steep or too rocky, so it’s an option for people that might otherwise not be able to enjoy this type of terrain. The people we saw on the trail prove that point too - we saw all ages, from 2 to 82! Truly something for everyone.

I hope you enjoy the pictures!