The Washington State Department of Transportation announced Monday that the final 2.7 miles of state Route 542 (Mount Baker Highway), popularly known as the road to Artist Point, is now closed until spring.
After the first snowfall of the season blanketed Mount Baker and the highway leading up to the picturesque trailhead over the weekend, WSDOT crews were dispatched to begin preparing the road for winter.
After a long, dry summer that extended well past the fall equinox, local hikers were able to enjoy Artist Point and nearby trails longer than in recent years. In 2021, crews closed the road on Oct. 7, two weeks earlier than this year’s closure.
However, a mid-October closure is typical for the upper road, WSDOT said in its statement.
“Each year, crews remove snow and ice from the highway throughout the winter,” the statement read. “However, this final stretch is narrow with sharp curves and steep slopes and closes annually to vehicle traffic for safety.” WSDOT did not respond to a request for comment.
While access to backcountry routes for snowshoers and hikers is still open from the Heather Meadows area, officials urge recreationists to check conditions through the U.S. Forest Service or WSDOT websites.
In a Sept. 27 post on Facebook, the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, a branch of the U.S. Forest Service, announced Heather Meadows Visitor Center and the Glacier Public Service Center will be closed until spring. The popular visitor centers greet thousands of hikers every summer, but state crews say they ultimately have a duty to keep roads safe during snowy conditions.
Previous autumn road work on Highway 542 caused daytime closures of the road at Milepost 47. From Oct. 3–7 the lower highway closure prevented access to popular destinations such as Picture Lake, Bagley Lakes, Chain Lakes, Lake Ann, Table Mountain, Artist Ridge and the Ptarmigan Ridge Trail.
The Forest Service says to expect less service during winter months due to inclement weather.
This story was updated at 7:43 p.m. Oct. 24 to clarify when the lower portion of State Route 542 (from Milepost 47) was temporarily closed.
