If you’ve ever had to leave your pet behind on a trip, you know it can ruin the whole thing. The constant worrying, the check-ins with your pet sitter, the thought that they miss you, it’s all enough to make you give up and never go anywhere. But at Mount Baker, you don’t have to think about any of that. This part of Washington welcomes your pets like they’re locals, and it’s easy to find rentals, trails, and spots that don’t just allow pets, but encourage them!
The area around Mount Baker feels like it’s made for dogs. The trails are shaded, the rivers run cold, and most of the hikes don’t involve hot pavement or long dry stretches. Even the weather helps. It rarely gets too hot, even in summer. If you’re coming from the city, it’s a noticeable shift: clean air, wide open space, and actual quiet.
One of the main reasons people choose Mount Baker for a pet-friendly trip is access. The mountain is close to Bellingham and right in the backyard of Glacier, but once you’re out here, it feels like real wilderness. You don’t have to drive hours down sketchy forest roads to find a quiet trail. You can hike straight out of the town of Glacier or from your cabin’s back door, and find a world of wilderness for you to explore with your pet. That makes a huge difference if you’re traveling with a dog that doesn’t love the car, or a person who doesn’t love planning.
Popular dog-friendly hikes include the Horseshoe Bend Trail which is easy, shortish at 3.1 miles, and runs right along the river. Heliotrope Ridge which is a little longer at 5.2 miles, with stunning glacier views. And the Glacier Creek Road area, which offers access to miles of quiet logging roads perfect for walking.
Mount Baker works because it’s not trying too hard. It’s not covered in chic fenced-off dog parks. It just happens to be a place where dogs and people can relax in the same way. Walk. Swim. Sit in the sun. And when you head home, you won’t feel like you’ve been on a trip with your dog. You’ll feel like you took a trip for your dog, and that’s a better kind of vacation.