The Mt Baker Hill Climb is a timed event with three divisions designed for different riding styles. The Social and Recreational Divisions are intended for riders who want to take on the climb without competing for awards, while the Competitive Division is for riders who want to race for overall and age group awards.
E-bike participants are welcome in the Social Division but are not timed.

Choose the division that best fits your riding style and goals. Please note that the Competitive Division is the only division eligible for overall and age group awards:

Social Division – 7 am start: Best for riders who anticipate taking approximately 3 hours to complete the climb or who want a more relaxed pace with time to take breaks and enjoy the experience.

Recreational Division – 8 am start: Best for riders who anticipate completing the climb in approximately 2 hours and want to challenge themselves without competing for awards.

Competitive Division – 8:30 am start: For riders racing for their fastest time and competing for overall and age group awards.

All three divisions complete the same 22-mile climb from Glacier to Artist Point.

E-bikes are allowed in the Social Division of the ride and are untimed.

Yes, riders must be at least 13 years old by the day of the race. Riders between the ages of 13-15 years old on race day must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in order to participate.

Online registration closes the Thursday before race day at 11:59pm if the event doesn’t sell out sooner. Please be aware that the ride is non-refundable. There will not be any walk-up registration on race day.

Race day check-in is at Chair 9 Pizza, located at 10459 Mt Baker Hwy on the east side of Glacier. The official start line is approximately a quarter mile east near Snowater Road. The finish line is at Artist Point, about 22 miles from the start with roughly 4,500 feet of climbing.

Parking in Glacier is very limited, so we strongly encourage riders to carpool whenever possible. Parking attendants will direct riders to designated parking areas on race morning. Specific parking locations and access times will be shared in the rider newsletter the week of the event. These areas are generously provided by local community members and businesses and are only available during designated times, so please follow the instructions provided and directions from parking attendants.

Please do not park in the Chair 9 lot. This area is reserved for rider drop-off, the shuttle and event volunteers. We also ask that riders do not park in front of businesses or residences in Glacier unless actively visiting that business.

If a support person plans to park at Artist Point, please review our Transportation and Bag Drop Details for important information about road closure access and parking. A NW Forest Pass ($5) is required to park at Artist Point.

Looking for someone to carpool with? Our message board is a great resource for connecting with other riders and coordinating carpools.

Aid stations will be located at:

Silver Fir – approximately mile 12
White Salmon – approximately mile 17.5
Artist Point Finish Line – mile 22

Snacks and beverages will be available at each location. All riders should carry water with them and come prepared with any additional nutrition they may need during the climb.

Medical support and course personnel will also be patrolling the route for emergencies.

Bike mechanic support will be available at Chair 9 on race morning, provided by Lenny’s Bike Shop. Riders should arrive with their bikes in good working condition and are encouraged to carry a basic repair kit for minor issues during the climb. A SAG wagon will also patrol the course with limited repair supplies to assist riders when possible.

Weather on Mt. Baker can change quickly and conditions at Artist Point are often much cooler than in Glacier. Riders should be prepared for a wide range of conditions, including cool temperatures, wind and rain.

We recommend dressing in layers. If you’d prefer not to carry extra clothing during the ride, you’re welcome to send a bag with warm clothing, food or other personal items to the finish line on our complimentary bag shuttle. In the week leading up to the event, we send a newsletter to participants with updated recommendations based on the latest forecast.

Riding your bike back down is the quickest way to leave Artist Point after you finish. Highway 542 will be closed to general traffic in both directions from 7 am – 12 pm. Cyclists may begin descending from Artist Point once race staff arrive, typically by 9:30 am. Please do not begin your descent until the flagger at Artist Point lets you know it is safe to do so.

Keep in mind that the race consists solely of the eastbound ascent along Highway 542 from Glacier to Artist Point. Any travel westbound after finishing the race is not part of the event and is at the rider’s own risk. While the highway is closed to general traffic, authorized vehicles, race support vehicles and shuttles may still be traveling on the course. After 12 pm, the highway reopens to general traffic.

If you do not plan to ride back down, we strongly recommend arranging for a support person to stage a vehicle at Artist Point. A return shuttle is also available on a first come, first served basis, but capacity is extremely limited. Riders should not rely on the shuttle as their primary transportation plan.

Please see our Transportation and Bag Drop Details for information about support vehicle access, Artist Point parking, shuttle times and bike transportation.

Heather Meadows Café will be open on race day with food and beverages available for purchase. Additional dining options are available in Glacier, but hours and seasonal availability vary, so we recommend checking with individual businesses before race day.

There are several lodging and camping options near Glacier, as well as hotels in Bellingham. Visit our Lodging Page for nearby accommodations, campgrounds and current event lodging partners.