Introduction
Eloping in Mt. Baker, Washington, particularly at Artist Point, offers a unique and unforgettable experience. The location provides stunning panoramic views of Mt. Baker, Mt. Shuksan, and the North Cascades, ensuring breathtaking wedding photos. The seasonal beauty, from snowy winters to summer wildflowers, adds to the picturesque backdrop. The secluded setting allows for an intimate, private ceremony free from distractions. Couples can combine their elopement with adventure, enjoying activities like hiking, skiing, and snowboarding. Despite its remote feel, Artist Point is accessible by car and involves only a short hike, with the nearby town of Glacier offering accommodations and dining. The dramatic landscapes and lighting conditions make it a dream location for photographers. Sunrises and sunsets at Artist Point are particularly magical, enhancing the romance and beauty of the moment. This combination of natural beauty, privacy, adventure, and convenience makes it an ideal elopement destination.
Table of Contents
- Where is Mt Baker
- Why you should Elope at Mt Baker
- FAQ’s about Eloping at Mt Baker
- Mt Baker Wedding Permits
- The Best Micro Wedding Locations in North Cascades
- Best time of year to get married in North Cascades
- Where to stay near Mt Baker
- North Cascades Elopement Photographer
- North Cascades Elopement Packages
- Final Tips!
Topic 1: Where is Mt Baker?
Mount Baker is at the very top of Washington state and is on the outskirts of North Cascades National Park. Just past Bellingham and super close to Canada! This location is pretty cold year round, but absolutely gorgeous from July-September
Closest Major Cities:
The closest major cities are in Washington. Most people drive from Seattle or Portland!
- Driving Time From Seattle, WA: 2.5 Hours
- Driving Time From Portland, OR: 5.5 Hours
How to Get to Mt Baker
Closest Major Airports:
If you’re looking to fly into the Tetons, these are the airports I recommend!
- Airport #1: SeaTac: 3 hours
- Airport #2: Portland International: 5.5 hours
How to Drive to Mt Baker
Mt Baker is pretty straightforward to get to! Take I5 all the way North and then exit off Burlington. There are a few curvy backroads to get to the main towns, Maple Falls or Glacier. This is typically where people stay when visiting Mt Baker!
Topic 2: Why Should You Elope around Mt Baker?
If you love stunning mountain views with PNW vibes, this is for you! Mt Baker has many locations that have amazing overlooks, lakes, rivers, forests, and mountains! It’s a bit out of the way, but easy to get to and one of the least visited National Parks! There are plenty of easily accessible locations that have stunning views with a very short or no hike!
Topic 3: FAQ’s About Eloping around Mt Baker
1: How long does it take to get to Artist Point, Washington?
At the top of the parking lot, there’s a small trail to Artist Point that is about a mile and only takes about 20 mins. It’s an easy hike with minimal elevation gain.
2: Do I need a permit to get married at Artist Point?
Permits are only required for commercial use. You can get married without a permit from the forest service if there are less than 75 people.
3: Can I get married at Mt Baker?
Yes! It’s an easy process without permits and a ton of beautiful locations to choose with groups of 75 people or less.
4: When is the best time of year to go to Artist Point?
Late August or Early September to make sure the road is open and there are not as many tourists.
5: How do I get legally married in Washington State?
You will need to apply for your wedding license in Washington at least 3 days before your day and use it within 60 days. You also need two witnesses and an officiant!
Topic 4: Mt Baker Wedding & Elopement Permits
Since Mt Baker is outside of North Cascades National Park, you won’t need a permit from the park. It is however in Mt Baker National Forest, and if you have large parties, plan on bringing props or music, or doing something larger than a simple ceremony, reach out to the forest service to talk about what permit you may need.
Artist Point Wedding Permit
Permits are not required for intimate weddings or elopements at Artist Point or the surrounding areas. Permits are required when:
- There are over 75 people
- You’re filming or doing commercial photography
- Your disrupting the area by closing off roads
Here is a link to Mt Baker’s current permit regulations.
Mt Baker Entry Fees & Passes
You will need a forest pass in some areas to park, but these are really easy to buy online or at a local store!
Topic 5: Best Locations for Your North Cascades Elopement
1. Artist Point
The most popular location in the Mt Baker Area is Artist Point. At the top of the mountain is a large parking lot with a pit toilet to start the short hike to Artist Point! It’s about a mile long with a little bit of incline, but is overall an easy hike with really pretty views! This is an iconic location with a mountain behind you and a reflection of the lake in front! Sunrise is so pretty here since the sun comes up right behind the mountain and there’s usually less people. Sunset is also popular with the alpine glow, but there are typically more couples there. It’s a pretty wide open area after you get to the end of the trail with plenty of room for an intimate experience. Taking the iconic photo is a bit more of a taking turn scenario, but overall it’s an amazing location!
2. Heather Meadows
Heather Meadows is just a walk with paved paths. There’s a cute visitor center on the hill, durable rock surfaces to take photos on, and beautiful views of lakes, mountains, and greenery! It’s a super versatile location and is great at all times of day!
Photo by Hunter Reilly on Unsplash
3. Picture Lake
Picture lake is another easy spot to get to that has paved walkways. There’s stunning views of the lake with the mountain’s reflection in it! It’s not a hike, but you can complete a paved loop around the lake with next to no elevation gain! This spot is harder to spread out in and can get a little overrun with tourists depending on the time of day and year!
Topic 6: The Best Time of Year to Get Married in North Cascades
Summer
The mountains tend to clear up a bit more snow wise in July. There may be access in mid June depending on how much it snowed, but your safest bet for a summer month would be July or August! Summer months are warmer with more predictable weather. There may be more tourists during summer, but starting earlier is also helpful to beat crowds. The Pacific Northwest can also get wildfires that make certain areas smokey. This happens around August most of the time.
Fall
I love Mt Baker in the fall! It’s cooler in September and the colors are out as well! There are less tourists around because kids are back in school. The weather can be more hit and miss in September with clear days, cold morning/evenings, and sometimes lots of rain, but it’s usually a more intimate experience and more colorful! By October, snow may be coming in that could make accessing higher elevation locations difficult or impossible.
Topic 7: Where to Stay Near Mt Baker
There are a few small towns on the way up to Mt Baker! Glacier and Maple Falls. Both have a very small town feel with a couple of general stores, coffee shops, and mom and pop restaurants. Most of the North Cascades area is full of little towns like this. If you’re looking for a larger city to spend time in, Bellingham is nearby and beautiful!
Airbnbs near Mt Baker
Topic 8: North Cascades Elopement Photographer
If you’re looking for an elopement photographer for Mt Baker or anywhere else in the North Cascades, I’m your girl! I’ve spent many summers and falls exploring this amazing park, its locations, and things to do. I’m familiar with the permit process, where you can have your ceremony, and where we can do portraits around the park.
I’ve been in the elopement industry for years and love showing couples amazing locations and capturing some of their most favorite memories. I take pride in serving my clients and helping them in any way I can!
Topic 9: North Cascades National Park Elopement Packages
My elopement packages include everything! From hours we shoot, photos you get, and travel. There are no surprise fees. My most popular package for the Mt Baker includes:
- Intro call to get to know me
- A welcome box which includes a 60+ page elopement guide to spark ideas and help you plan
- My custom location guide with ceremony locations, things to do, places to stay, vendor recommendations, and more!
- Permit assistance
- A collaborative Pinterest board
- 6 hours of photo coverage
- 1400 photos including color and black and white
- A polaroid album that you get to take home immediately after our time together
- 48 hour sneak gallery of all the highlights
- Travel included
My most popular package includes all this and more! Reach out for pricing here!
Topic 10: Final Tips for Eloping in North Cascades National Park
I hope you enjoy your time in one of my favorite national parks! Make sure you’re bringing some bear spray, and lock all food items in a bear box while you’re out exploring. While they are cute, they can also be scary. Think about what time of year is best for your elopement, and reach out if you need any more help, or if you’re interested in booking an elopement!
