Picture Lake Path

The Picture Lake Path at Mt. Baker National Forest near Glacier, Washington is an easy, universally-accessible trail that loops around Picture Lake and features views of the alpine mountains around Mt. Baker.

Explore Picture Lake

Starting on the northern shore of the lake, visitors will find a universally-accessible trail that runs alongside the water's edge. View of Picture Lake and the surrounding alpine landscape can be found at the trailhead and they last for the entire walk, making this one of the best short trails that the Heather Meadows section of Mt. Baker has to offer.

Along the western side of Picture Lake are views to the east with the water in the foreground and the ski hills of the Mt. Baker Ski Area in the background. As the trail circles the lake to the south, you'll find more hill and water views. On the eastern side of the lake, you'll find the best views of the towering alpine mountains, including Mt. Baker, on a clear day, as the path leads visitors back toward the Mt. Baker Highway.

At mile 0.3, the trail technically ends at the Mt. Baker Highway, but here you can follow the side of the road back to parking. Along the road are probably the best views of Picture Lake with the alpine slopes of Mount Herman overhead. The walk ends back at the parking turnout for a short and easy 0.4-mile jaunt around Picture Lake.

Universal Access

Note that this trail is comprised of crushed gravel, boardwalks, and sections of pavement. The trail is virtually flat throughout the entire walk with minimal elevation change, is flat, and has no tripping hazards. This trail should be considered universally accessible. Note that the parking turnout near the trailhead may or may not be universally-accessible. As of June 2025, there are no handicapped parking spots, but for eager visitors that need to use a wheelchair you may be able to hop on the trail without much issue.

Parking

Visitors will find a parking turnout near the trailhead, located on the south side of the Mt. Baker Highway. The turnout is large enough to fit about a dozen vehicles as of June 2025.

Pets

Dogs are allowed only if leashed and must be cleaned up after.

Seasonal Road Closures

The Mt. Baker Highway is subject to seasonal road closures. Before heading out, make sure you check current road statuses which can be found https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/mbs/alerts