The Heather Meadows area, near the Mt. Baker ski area was one of our favorite late summer destinations. The blueberries are ripe,the colors are vibrant and the view of the mountains is spectacular. A hint of fall is often in the air as the icy glacier winds compete with the warm breezes of summer. There are accessible trails at Picture Lake, Austin Pass and in the area around the Fire and Ice Interpretative Center.  We usually visited all three trails during our visit.The area is often snow free in late July.

      The paved trail around Picture Lake at Heather Meadows provides an excellent sites for reflection photographs of rugged Mt.Shuksan.  The flat half mile loop  trail winds through the heather and blueberry bushes beside the lake. It takes about 30 minutes to complete the loop if you don,t stop too many times to eat the berries. It is easy to lose track of time as you immerse yourself in the stunning beauty of the area. Our dog thought it was a great place to find relief from the warm summer sun. Parking is available alongside the road at the north end of the lake.

      The Fire and Ice Interpretative trail is located about half a mile up the road from Heather Meadows. The paved path traverses through a field of granite and heather to an overlook that has a spectacular view of the Frozen Lake basin. The path is mostly flat, with a few inclines and it usually takes about a half hour to complete. There is a gravel path that loops back to the parking area, but there are obstacles that make it to rugged for wheelchair use. The  rustic wood and stone interpretative center provides more dramatic views and is a good source of information about the geologic history of the area. There are several accessible picnic tables in the area where we usually enjoyed  lunch. Birds and chipmunks often joined us. There is an accessible outhouse located at the parking area.

     The last accessible path is located at the top of the winding Austin Pass road. It is often snowbound until late August. A paved path ascends Artists Ridge for about an eighth of a mile. It provides excellent views of Mt. Shuksan and Mt. Baker and provides a taste of the high country. A steeper, gravel, hiking trail continues further up the ridge to small tarns and more spectacular viewpoints.  There is an accessible outhouse in the parking lot.

Directions: Take Highway 542 from Bellingham approximately 58 miles. Continue past the entrance to the ski area and follow the road to Heather Meadows. A Northwest Forest Pass is required and can be purchased at the Forest Service office in Glacier.

Accommodations: Motels, bed and breakfasts,restaurants and groceries are available in Glacier, 18 miles west on Highway 542.