Mount Baker Mountain Guides
Guided skiing, splitboarding, mountaineering, climbing, and AIARE avalanche education on Mount Baker — led by local guides based right at the foot of the mountain in Glacier, Washington.
Rising 10,781 feet above the North Cascades, Mount Baker (Koma Kulshan) is one of the most glaciated and accessible big mountains in the Lower 48 — and one of the snowiest places on earth. The ski area above Heather Meadows holds the world record for snowfall in a single season (1,140 inches in 1998–99), and the peak itself carries a dozen glaciers that make it a year-round classroom for backcountry skiing, ski mountaineering, glacier climbing, and avalanche education.
That rare combination — world-class glaciated terrain a short drive from the trailhead — is exactly why we guide here. Whether you're clicking into your first pair of skins, chasing a spring summit ski descent, learning crevasse rescue, or climbing the North Ridge, Mount Baker has the right terrain to meet you where you are and move you forward.
What you can do on Mount Baker
Backcountry Skiing & Splitboard Touring
From the gentle, forgiving slopes off the ski area to deep tours in the Heather Meadows backcountry, Baker is where generations of Pacific Northwest riders have learned to tour. Start with the fundamentals or sharpen advanced skills with a guide who knows the zone.
Intro to Splitboard & Ski Touring Mount Bakerfrom $200
Mount Baker Group Guided Backcountry Skiing and Splitboardingfrom $225
Advanced Ski Touringfrom $600
Advanced Splitboarding: 2 Dayfrom $600
The Joy of Splitboarding - Women's Splitboarding Progression Seriesfrom $725
Mount Baker Backcountry 4 Packfrom $800
Ski & Splitboard Mountaineering
Link glacier travel, steep skinning, and big descents on the volcano itself. Our ski-mountaineering courses and camps build the full toolkit — then put it to work on summit ski descents and classic traverses.
Mount Baker Summit Ski Descentfrom $800
Ski Mountaineering Coursefrom $1,400
Splitboard Mountaineering Coursefrom $1,400
Summer Solstice Ski & Splitboard Mountaineering Campfrom $1,400
Women's Splitboard & Ski Mountaineering: 4 Dayfrom $1,400
Advanced Splitboard Mountaineeringfrom $1,500
Mount Baker Watson Ski & Splitboard Traversefrom $2,025
High Lunar Orbit Mount Bakerfrom $2,025
Alpine & Glacier Climbing
Mount Baker is the classic Cascade volcano to learn glacier mountaineering — and home to the North Ridge, one of the finest moderate alpine ice routes in the range. Build glacier and rescue skills, then put them to use on a guided summit.
AIARE Avalanche Education
Baker's deep, maritime snowpack and varied terrain make it an ideal place to learn to travel in avalanche country. We teach the full AIARE progression — in exactly the terrain you'll ski.
Routes & terrain
Coleman–Deming is the standard summit route — a glaciated, crevassed climb from the Heliotrope Ridge trailhead and the line most guided summit climbs and spring ski descents follow. The North Ridge is the mountain's classic moderate alpine ice route, with a steep ice headwall and a true summit finish. On the south side, the Easton Glacier offers broad, forgiving terrain that's excellent for ski mountaineering and glacier courses.
For touring, the backcountry around the Mount Baker Ski Area, Heather Meadows, the Shuksan Arm, and Mount Herman holds everything from mellow learning slopes to serious, consequential lines — all within minutes of the parking lots. Read our North Ridge route guide →
When to go
Winter
Primetime backcountry skiing and splitboard touring, and the heart of AIARE avalanche-course season.
Spring
Prime ski & splitboard mountaineering — corn snow, summit ski descents, and long glaciated lines. Don't forget those epic multi-day traverses.
Summer
Glaciated mountaineering the Coleman–Deming, Squak, and Easton Glacier summit climbs, and the North Ridge alpine ice route.
Fall
Ice climbing, glacier skills, and early-season touring as the snowpack rebuilds.
Why climb with us
We're based in Glacier, Washington, at the foot of the Mount Baker — not an out of town national outfitter dropping in for a season. Decades of local knowledge means better terrain choices, better timing, and small groups that feel personal and less canned ham. Our guides are trained to international professional standards, we keep ratios low, and we love teaching so you leave more capable than you arrived.
Mount Baker FAQ
Can a beginner climb or ski Mount Baker?
Yes — with a guide. The Coleman–Deming summit climb and spring ski descents are achievable for fit novices who are comfortable with moderately paced long days and eager to learn about glacier travel, which we teach on the trip. For touring, our Intro to Splitboard & Ski Touring and group backcountry days are built for those ready to explore winter mountains in style.
What is the best route to summit Mount Baker?
The Coleman–Deming route is the standard, most popular route and right in our backyard 8miles away and 10,000' above our office at 900' above sea level. The North Ridge is the classic step up for a technical climber wanting moderate alpine ice with a steeper, more committing finish.
When is ski season at Mount Baker?
Backcountry touring runs roughly November through April, spring ski mountaineering and summit ski descents are best April through June, and the glaciers hold snow for ski descents well into early summer. When conditions line up we ski 9 months straight October- June
Do I need avalanche training to ski the Baker backcountry?
Yes. Terrain just outside the ski area ropes is uncontrolled avalanche terrain with no mitigation or patrol. At minimum you want an AIARE 1, rescue gear you know how to use, and partners with the same — or go with a guide while you build those skills.
Where are your Mount Baker trips based?
We're based in Glacier, Washington, at the toe of Mount Baker. Most trips meet at our office Glacier or in Sedro Woolly.
Do I need a permit to climb Mount Baker?
There's no climbing permit for Mount Baker itself, but a Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful pass) is required to park at most trailheads, and standard Leave No Trace and human-waste pack-out practices apply. We handle all the details with you before your trip.
Tell us what you ski and climb
Send us your experience and goals and we'll point you at the right Mount Baker trip, course, or route for where you actually are.