Chain Lakes Loop

On the first day of autumn, Mike was able to get in one final Saturday of good weather for a day hike to give him over 50 miles of hiking in 2023.  This was his easiest effort all year at just 6.7 miles and 2066 feet of ascent, but probably the most "bang for the buck" hike of the season in terms of scenery.  The Chain Lakes Loop is a very popular hike in the Mount Baker Wilderness of Northern Washington.  Starting from Artist Point, he did a counter-clockwise loop which addressed the most serious elevation section early in the day while his legs (and knees) were still fresh.

While the hike started with clear skies, by the time Mike got to his first view of Mt. Baker along the trail, the peak was already covered in clouds, but the view was still majestic.  

Hayes Lake along the Chain Lakes Loop in the Mount Baker Wilderness

Mount Baker and Chains Lake Basin from Herman Saddle

GPS Info

Here is the data from the GPS unit:

Maps

This Leaflet Map is provided by GPS Visualizer

Elevation Profile

This profile is provided by GPS Visualizer

Coordinates and other details

Mileage:	6.7 Miles
Elevation	2066 Feet
Time:	5:08:09 (total), 3:14:21 (moving)
Average Speed:	1.31 MPH (total), 2.07 MPH (moving)
Trailhead Coordinates:	48°50'47.5"N 121°41'34.9"W

The GPX file can be downloaded here.

Photos and Videos

Photos are available at this album.  I have also uploaded YouTube video, but the audio isn't great (there is a lot of noise... I need to figure out how to reduce noise on my GoPro.)