Ptarmigan Ridge

Ptarmigan Ridge

Length: 19 km

Elevation Gain: 700 m

Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Ptarmigan Ridge Trailhead starts right from the Artist Point parking lot, at the very end of Mount Baker Highway. The drive itself is stunning — winding up past alpine meadows — and by the time you reach the parking lot, you already feel like you’re on top of the world. Several very popular trails start from this same spot, so parking can get busy on weekends. Come as early as possible. If you can’t find a spot in the main lot, you can usually park along both sides of the road.

As mentioned earlier, there are a few different trails that start at Artist Point, so make sure you know which one you’re taking. The start of Ptarmigan Ridge can be a bit confusing, especially since there aren’t many signs and there are a few junctions along the way. An offline map really helps. Once you’re on the ridge trail, though, it’s pretty straightforward — just keep Mount Baker ahead of you and Mount Shuksan behind you.

The trail itself isn’t technical — no ropes, ladders, or scrambling needed. There’s a short and steep climb toward the end, but that’s about it. The challenge is more about distance and exposure. There’s almost no shade along the way, so bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water. There’s an outhouse only at the trailhead, and that’s it for the rest of the hike. You might find some small streams or trickles of water in the second half, but they can dry up later in the season.

What really makes Ptarmigan Ridge special is the scenery — it’s nonstop jaw-dropping. You’re surrounded by dramatic alpine views the whole way: Mount Shuksan looks majestic behind you, and Mount Baker gets bigger and bigger as you go. On a clear day, you can even see Mount Rainier far in the distance. Depending on the season, you might walk past lingering snowfields, patches of wildflowers, and mountain goats hanging out on the ridges.

After the final steep push, you reach a rocky, narrow ridge where you feel so close to Mount Baker that you could almost touch it — but a deep gully separates the ridge from the mountain. It’s an incredible spot to take a break, have lunch, and just soak it all in. The 360-degree view is unreal. When you’re ready, just follow the same trail back to the parking lot.

It’s a long day hike, but it’s one of those trails that keeps rewarding you the entire way.