Mountain views; lake views; panoramic views; geologic features; wildflowers; berries
Round-trip Distance:
≅ 6.60 miles / 10.60 km (Chain Lakes Loop - distance may vary by route) 1.60 / 2.60 km (Bagley Lakes Loop only) 2.20 miles / 3.50 km (Table Mountain Trail)
From Bellingham, Washington, drive east on State Route 542 up to 59.00 miles/95.00 km to the highway's end and choose one of three parking lots in the last 4.00 miles/6.40 km, depending on the desired trailhead
The Bagley Lakes lot at 55.00 miles/88.50 km accesses the the Bagley Lakes Trail
The Austin Pass lot at 56.00 miles/90.00 km accesses the lower Wild Goose trailhead
The Artist Point lot at 59.00 miles/95.00 accesses the upper Wild Goose trailhead and Chain Lakes Loop
The loop trail rings Table Mountain, shown here reflected on Hayes Lake, one of several linked along its northwest corner and collectively known as the “Chain Lakes.” Chain Lakes Loop, Washington.
A 360-degree panorama radiates from Table Mountain, encompassing Mt. Baker, Mount Shuksan, Mount Herman, and the crinkled landscape of surrounding ridges and valleys. In contrast to its rugged neighboring peaks, Table Mountain is a flat-topped, roughly L-shaped massif thought to be the remains of a lava lake. Curious patterns in its stone attest to its formation from a molten state. The Chain Lakes Loop trail circles the mountain, with a short side trail up to its prominent eastern pinnacle. The short loop trail around Bagley Lakes may be hiked separately or as part of the overall loop, extending its round-trip distance to approximately 8.00 miles/12.90 km. Consistent with its name, the loop trail links a series of lakes (sometimes called the Galena Chain Lakes) strung around the foundations of Table Mountain’s imposing walls, with either Mt. Baker or Mount Shuksan — or both — nearly always in sight.
The loop trail can be hiked from either Austin Pass or Artist Point, both of which provide ample parking and are linked by the steep, Wild Goose portion of the trail. (The Wild Goose Trail can be difficult to discern in places, especially where it is intersected by Highway 542 and many crisscrossing footpaths. When uncertain, look for mortared stone cairns marked with blue and white badges depicting a goose in flight to guide the way.) This profile begins at Austin Pass and proceeds clockwise up the Wild Goose Trail, taking a side jaunt to Table Mountain’s topside. The easily accessed loop trail is not as heavily trafficked as one might expect from the crowded parking lot and footpaths around Artist Point, which afford stunning views in their own right; nevertheless, one will periodically encounter other hikers and campers along the way. The steep and potentially vertigo-inducing side trail to the top of Table Mountain is even less travelled. However you choose to enjoy this unique mosaic of trails, peaks, and lakes, there will be no shortage of views.
The Bagley Lakes anchor the Chain Lakes Loop, lying near both its beginning and end. Rounding Upper and Lower Bagley lakes, seen here on the left in the view from Table Mountain, the short Bagley Lakes Loop shares a portion of the Chain Lakes Loop and offers a sampling of its features and up close views of waters and wildflowers. Table Mountain Trail, Washington.From the Bagley Lakes, the Chain Lakes Trail rises to either end of Table Mountain, pictured here on the left. Hiked in either direction, its northern section climbs up and over Herman Pass, the saddle between Table Mountain and Mount Herman, seen here on the right. Wild Goose Trail/Chain Lakes Loop, Washington.Mt. Baker’s snow-clad cone figures prominently in the view from Table Mountain and along the southern and western portions of the loop trail. Here, it tops the horizon above Iceberg Lake in the vista from Herman Pass. Chain Lakes Loop, Washington.Outcrops of stone fractured into slabs, benches, and columns, neatly stacked as if by human hand, are characteristic features of Table Mountain. Wild Goose Trail/Chain Lakes Loop, Washington.The Table Mountain Trail, in some sections very narrow and presenting some exposure, winds up and around the mountain to its eastern prominence, affording grand views of Mount Shuksan reclining majestically on the horizon. Here, the parking lot at Artist Point is visible far below. Table Mountain Trail, Washington.Although it appears flat from a distance, the surface of Table Mountain is a vast wasteland of heaped boulders and loose, tile-like scree, punctuated by sandy tarns that often dry up in the summer months. Beyond the mountain’s eastern peak, trails disappear into the shifting stone, rendering further progress difficult. Table Mountain Trail, Washington.Table Mountain’s beetling ledges loom like gargoyles jutting above the Chain Lakes Loop on its southern flanks. Chain Lakes Loop, Washington.In late summer and early autumn, tasty blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) are abundant along most of the loop. Chain Lakes Loop, Washington.Vast, empty slopes sprawl southward from Table Mountain and eventually drop into wooded creek valleys riven from deeper, even older volcanic deposits. Chain Lakes Loop, Washington.Moisture and greenery return to the landscape near Mazama Lakes, first in the series of lakes encountered in a clockwise circuit of Table Mountain. Chain Lakes Loop, Washington.Iceberg Lake’s placid waters mirror Mazama Dome and Table Mountain. The cleft between Mazama Dome and Table Mountain (and Mount Herman beyond) is Herman Pass, where the loop trail begins its descent into the Bagley Lakes Basin. Chain Lakes Loop, Washington.The loop trail crosses a narrow strip of land between lakes. Here, the Mazama Dome peers over its reflection upon Hayes Lake. Chain Lakes Loop, Washington.From the Herman Saddle, the great columnar joints in the hardened lava that forms Table Mountain are visible in the vertical striations along its northern tip. Chain Lakes Loop, Washington.Despite the trailside’s harsh, alpine environment, hosts of summer wildflowers brighten its stones, including, top row, left to right, yellow willowherbs (Epilobium luteum), western pasqueflowers (Anemone occidentalis) (here, their distinctive seedheads), subalpine fleabanes, or, wandering daisies (Erigeron glacialis), sickletop louseworts (Pedicularis racemosa), western pearly everlastings (Anaphalis margaritacea), and edible thistles (Cirsium edule); second row, left to right, small-flowered, or, pincushion penstemons (Penstemon procerus var. tolmiei), Sitka valerians (Valeriana sitchensis), subalpine spiraeas (Spiraea splendens), alpine, or, American bistorts (Bistorta bistortoides), buttercups (Ranunculus spp.), broadleaf lupines (Lupinus latifolius var. subalpinus), hooded ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana), and sharptooth angelicas (Angelica arguta); third row, left to right, alpine saxifrages (Micranthes tolmiei), scarlet paintbrushes (Castilleja miniata), mountain paintbrushes (Castilleja parviflora var. albida), slender bog orchids (Platanthera stricta), large mountain, or, Olympic monkeyflowers (Erythranthe tilingii), fringed grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia fimbriata), and purple monkeyflowers (Erythranthe lewisii); and bottom row, left to right, white mountain heather, or, western moss heather (Cassiope mertensiana), alpine leafybract asters (Symphyotrichum foliaceum), spear-leaf arnicas (Arnica longifolia), partridgefoots (Luetkea pectinata), fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium syn. Chamerion angustifolium), pink mountain-heaths (Phyllodoce empetriformis), western Canada goldenrods (Solidago lepida), and green corn-lilies (Veratrum viride). Chain Lakes Loop, Washington.Where the trail descends the opposite side of Herman Pass and into the Bagley Lakes Basin, vast talus slopes fan down from Table Mountain’s eastern ridge as Mount Shuksan returns to view. Chain Lakes Loop, Washington.Near the trail’s end, eventide settles on the Bagley Lakes and softly illuminates Goat Mountain and Point 6891 beyond. Chain Lakes Loop, Washington.
