Artist Point is where the Mount Baker Highway ends, at about 1,550 metres, on a high ridge between two volcanoes. To the west, Mount Baker rises to 3,286 metres, its massive dome of glaciers and snowfields filling the sky. To the east, Mount Shuksan stands sharp and jagged, its glaciers hanging off its steep faces. And all around you are meadows, lakes and rocky ridges, with views stretching in every direction. It is one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the Cascades, and arriving there on a motorcycle feels like a triumph.
The road to Artist Point is only open for a short time each year, usually from mid-July to late September or early October, depending on the snow. In some years it does not open at all. The snow here is legendary, and even in late summer there are often patches of snow along the road and around the parking area. When the road is open, it is very popular, and the parking area can fill up quickly on weekends.
From Artist Point, several hiking trails lead into the surrounding wilderness. The Chain Lakes Loop is a popular hike, about ten kilometres long, passing a series of small alpine lakes. Table Mountain, a flat-topped peak of volcanic rock right beside the parking area, can be climbed on a short, steep trail with fantastic views from the top. Ptarmigan Ridge, a longer trail, leads toward the flanks of Mount Baker.
The final stretch of road up to Artist Point is narrow and winding, with switchbacks cut into the mountainside and dramatic drop-offs. The surface can be rough in places, and there are no guardrails on some sections. The views are spectacular, but you need to keep your eyes on the road. The weather can change quickly, and fog can roll in, reducing visibility to almost nothing.
The road end has a parking area and restrooms, nothing more. The nearest fuel is far down the valley. Bring warm layers, because it can be cold and windy at the top even on a sunny day. And if the road is closed, the viewpoints at Heather Meadows, just below, still offer a taste of the scenery.