The Mount Baker Highway ends in a small paradise of lakes, ridges and tilted meadows, and Heather Meadows is the part where the road gives up and the walking begins. You are at about 1,300 metres, which does not sound high until you realise how much of the scene is made of snow: Mount Shuksan is a great jagged pyramid straight ahead, Mount Baker is a white whale to the side, and pocket lakes flash in the hollows between. Picture Lake, with Shuksan reflected in it on a still morning, is one of the most photographed views in the state.
The road up from Glacier is a lovely climb, especially in the last ten kilometres, where the trees give way to subalpine fir, the bends tighten, and the walls on the uphill side get taller. Expect cool, damp air and frequent changes of weather. The road is kept open for the ski area in winter, though ice and storms can shut it, and the final stretch to Artist Point only opens when the snow clears, usually in July. In August the meadows are full of heather and lupin and the berries ripen, and in autumn the huckleberries and blueberries redden the slopes.
The ski area here is where the 1998-99 snowfall record, 1,140 inches, was recorded, which tells you everything about the climate. The wet Pacific air hits the volcano and dumps in vast amounts of snow, so even in early summer you may find walls of old drift beside the road. Ancient volcanic and glacial activity shaped everything in sight, and Baker itself is an active volcano, though quiet for now. Marmots whistle among the rocks, and black bears feed on berries in late summer, so keep food secure and give them space.
Glacier is about 25 kilometres back and has little; Bellingham is the sensible refuelling stop, and Chilliwack in Canada is the other nearest sizeable town. The parking area has toilets and trailheads, a short easy walk gets you to viewpoints, and a Northwest Forest Pass may be needed for parking. Bring a warm layer even in August.