I have resided in Washington State for almost a year and I've always wanted to check out Picture Lake along the Mt. Baker Highway. But, for some reason or another, I've never ended up making the 3-hour trip there from Seattle. When I did make the plan to have a trip the weather would become sour.
Picture Lake and Mount Shuksan at the peak of at this day's sunset
Finally, on one weekend the forecast looked decent enough for Picture Lake with a slight chance of showers later in the evening. The weather in the Pacific Northwest is conducive to creating the most colorful sunsets in the world. It also is one of the most unpredictable in the world. It was early in the fall and I figured, bad weather or not permitting, it was as good a time as any to finally make my way to the lake.
As you can imagine, the lake gets its moniker from the serendipitous way it reflects Mount Shuksan. Mt. Baker Highway also happens to be one of the most picturesque mountainous landscapes in North America.
Lucky the Corgi in Picture Lake
The lake's location, relative to Mt. Shuksan, is probably more ideal for sunrise if you wanted a more dramatic composition. To be honest, I rarely get up that early unless I was car or tent camping. Maybe another day, I'll do an overnighter and shoot the Milky Way and a sunrise over Picture Lake.
For this day, however, I will be shooting strictly for fall foliage and sunset.
Heading out towards the lake from Seattle, you will eventually see the majestic glacier-covered peak, Mt. Shuksan. Right under it is the world-renowned Mt. Baker Ski resort. I hope to snowboard here on the upcoming winter season and get a feel for the famed powder for myself. The highway climbs and then winds itself slowly around the bend and eventually loops around a parking lot with across a chalet.
Mount Baker Ski Area
Once you find a parking spot, you can meander over towards an ADA-accessible loop trail that has various platforms for viewing Mt. Shuksan and Picture Lake. At the time I was there, you couldn't wander off the trail because the fragile meadows are currently under repair.
Mt. Shuksan and Mt. Baker Ski Resort
While on this loop, keep an eye out for wild mountain blueberries, it was all over the place when I was there and still ripe (October). It's quite tasty - A caveat, Washington State Law requires that you have a permit when harvesting wild fruits.
Once you are done with the loop trail you can continue across the road and end up on another lake, called Highwood Lake. It's a much smaller lake, more like a pond than Picture Lake but equally, photo worthy. This lake also reflects Mt. Shuskan like a mirror. If Picture Lake is crowded with photographers, head down to this spot. You can probably get better and more unique photos than the more popular Picture Lake.
Mirror mirror on the wall. Who's the prettiest of them all? It's you Highwood Lake!
It took me about 3 hours to get to Picture Lake from Bellevue, Washington so I didn't have an entire day to devote to the area. However, Picture Lake and Highwood Lake are very small and the interpretive trail looping the two is barely even half a mile. I had a little over an hour before sunset so I took drove a little further up to see where the Mount Baker highway would go.
I got far up to a roadside stop and took several more photos along the ridge. If I followed this road all the way up, it would eventually take me to the Artist Point trail which would have been a cool adventure. But, I decided I'll save this hike for another day so I went back down the Picture Lake parking lot and decided to wait for the sunset.
You can get an awesome view of Heather Meadows if you continue to drive up the Mt. Bake
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This location is immaculate! I love shooting in nature, when I am in washington I will surely visit this spot for a shoot! Was it a long hike to get the shot?
ps: how did you add the inline images like that??
Align the image "left or right" next to text.
I love the candid appearances of the corgi in your recent photos.
Well, he's going to be appearing on my future adventures ;)
the nature :)
What a very beautiful place, your photographs
are breathtaking @adonisabril!! This is one of
my favorite mountains 🌄 I have a old jigsaw
puzzle with this mtn on it, your photos would
rock on a large puzzle! :-)
Lucky the pup sure looks good there next
to that awesome reflection!
Would love to see this place in person, next
best thing is looking at your work!
Yeah check it out, it's easy access by car too.
Wow! excellent and beautiful figure. I loved it, really, yes, how beautiful. Congratulations
Stunning view! Thanks for sharing another beautiful place to add up on my bucketlist :)
What a beautiful shot! I've never heard of that mountain. Very cool.
Ironically enough it's Mt Shuksan that's the most popular in the Mt Baker highway because of this lake :)
Great photography, great article, thank you!
what made your shots great were the natural lighting and angle. perfect timing, too. my mom made a cross-stitch embroidery with a similar view. nature really never ceases to awe me.
The lighting makes for very stunning colours!
Again, awesome Post. But the real star of your Posts are your Dog!! I love Corgis. They look funny. 😁
You have some beautiful shots. Thanks so much for sharing them with us. Your article makes me wish we were in that area already. I am anxious to head out to the Pacific coast to see the counties there. But not yet, we are still land locked here. Just gives us more time to plan.
Ren
Hope you make it :) I've lived in California for many years and now in the Pacific Northwest. There's plenty to see!
There really is. We love finding interesting places to visit.
Excellent beauty! You capture this place perfectly my friend! This beautiful creation capture it's viewer magically! Thanks for sharing, looking forward for more magnificent photograph from you.
I enjoyed your clear writing style and the pictures showing reflections are exquisite.
In South Africa the Drakensberg mountains are inspiring in a different way.
Have you climbed your mountains?
Climbed a few of them, though not a pastime of mine. I prefer to slide down mountains with a snowboard than climb them :)
Breathtaking photography. Following & resteeming you. I'm brand new to steemit this month and would love for you to return the favor.
I'm also brand new so I'm going to follow you ! Good luck with this journey that is full of surprises!
I'm a retired English teacher and also a Christian. .....some things in common!
Another set of breathtaking photos! I wish I could be as good as you when taking and editing photographs. It's so lively and vibrant. My fave would probably be the sunset view at the peak of Mount Shuksan.
what a place to visit
Thanks for adding another place I need to visit to my bucket list of places. :)
Always good to have that bucket full :)
Yeah, I love those water reflections of the mountains, it really makes all the pictures look great!
These pictures are incredible! Excellent job! I love the pic of Lucky the Corgi! Thanks for sharing! <3
lovely place looking nice go ahead dear
Picturesque view! I'd love to visit this place someday and have some nature trippin'. Nice photos by the way!
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Very nice photos and post. We are fortunate
Good
Very Impressive Pictures!!!!!
I upvoted your post.
Keep steeming for a better tomorrow.
@Acknowledgement - God Bless
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Such amazing photos!
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vary nice this is a beautiful place and very thought out post thank you i will have to consider visiting myself
amazing place
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Impressive shots my friend. Check out my picture of the himalayas. I'm sure you'll like it.
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these images is worth a thousand words.
mind blowing photos! nice shot man.
Wow! So beautiful.
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There isn't a word in the dictionary to describe how beautiful these are.
The beauty has no boundaries in these pictures. absolutely stunning!
Nature is really beautiful and great.
Your picture is so nice.
우리 대한민국도 무척이나 아름답다..!!!
Congratulations @adonisabril!
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these images fall in love ♥
Very nice place.I am fascinated by this beautiful scene.Thanks to sharing this kind of scenes with us.
Wow, stunning pictures👌
Anyone know how do you send money to people with great content? I'm still figuring it all out
Upvote them or just send the steem directly if you're feeling extra generous.
waw.!! amazing. looked like painting
Well Written and nice post
very beautiful place
i am very happy to see these images sometime we are to much bore and this type beauty which is the natural beauty warm your body giving relax your eyes i am thankful to GOD who created these types weather for us.
Hi @adonisabril,
It is just amazing to see no wavelet at all and such a beautiful and perfect reflection. It's a risky bet to go there only for a photo session, a small wind can ruin the trip (it won't take off the place's beauty anyway).
Nice shots !
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Wow! how beautiful!!