Mount Baker Ski Area Dining: On and Off the Mountain

For food, Mt. Baker visitors can explore both base lodges and nearby town of Glacier.

Below the Canadian border just outside the North Cascades National Park exists Washington State’s Mount Baker Ski Area. Renowned for backcountry routes, extreme terrain and incredible snowfall, this is a very remote resort. There is no on-site lodging, and the only access route is via a narrow, winding mountain pass.

Due to Mount Baker’s low-key nature, the dining and apres scene is limited to its two base area lodges. However, both have great food and friendly atmospheres, and there are a number of excellent spots on your way down from Mount Baker. This article will cover both base lodges, as well as where to go if you are looking for more variety once you leave the mountain.

Base Lodges

Heather Meadows Lodge (Upper)
Via: Mt. Baker

Mount Baker has two base area lodges: White Salmon and Heather Meadows. White Salmon is the lower lodge, located at mile marker 52 on the Mount Baker Highway. Heather Meadows is the upper lodge at mile 55, and only open on the weekends and holidays. Both base lodges have parking and lift access, and both spots have just what you need to refresh and satisfy your appetite.

White Salmon Day Lodge (Lower)
Via: Mt. Baker

On the second floor of Heather Meadows, you can find the bright, windowed Heather Meadows Cafe. They serve healthy, fresh food made with ingredients from local farms and companies. Options include daily soups and sandwiches (the “Simple Snacker” pretzel roll sandwich is a stand out), a “Farm to Mountain Salad,” and baked goods such as cinnamon rolls, muffins and cookies. Coffee and hot chocolate, as well as beer, cider, and wine, are served. If you are there on the weekends and wanting a unique aprés-ski drink, try the Heather Meadows Mimosa made with their homemade blueberry lemonade.

The White Salmon Day Lodge is Mount Baker’s classic ski lodge. Tall concrete pillars, wooden post-and-beams and carpeted floors make up the interior. In it’s cozy, busy atmosphere, people grab and order food from a cafeteria-style banquet, eating from long tables. The food is simple; burgers, salads, soups, sandwiches, hot drinks and baked goods. The surrounding views of the vast Cascade Mountains are thrilling and unbeatable.

Raven Hut at Mt. Baker.
Via: Mt. Baker

On Mountain

Tucked up against the mountainside is the Raven Hut, located at the base of Chairs 4, 5 and 6, This cozy, gingerbread lodge is the perfect spot to rest between your long, snowy runs and, by their large fireplace, dry your likely wet gear. Inside, there are two floors of eating, and outside below the many windows are several chairs and tables. Similar standard lunch fare is served (burgers, chili, sandwiches, and a top notch brownie).

Aprés-ski can be found at all of the aforementioned locations. But, for adults-only spots, go to the Martini Tree Bar, which has reopened after a few years shuttered. This area serves craft cocktails and local spirits with direct views of the slopes.

Off Mountain

Graham’s Bar and Restaurant
Via: Yelp 

Once your ski day is over, right down the Mount Baker Highway is a town called Glacier.

Here, you can satisfy both your appetite and aprés-ski needs. The most popular spot is Chair 9 Bar & Grill, a 27 minute drive from the ski resort. Chair 9 has live music, a game room, family dining, live sports and an extensive, hearty menu. Pick from appetizers like the Chair 9 Chili, Spinach Salad, or the Spinach Artichoke dip, and entrees like the Lonejack buffalo burger or Alaskan salmon baked on a cedar wood plank. They also serve wood-fired specialty pizzas, and you have the option to build your own.

Two minutes down the road are Gunner’s Tex-Mex BBQ and Graham’s Bar & Restaurant. Gunner’s pulled pork and chipotle chicken sandwiches stand out, as well as their smoked brisket or roasted butternut squash taco. Graham’s has been open since 1972, serving apps like smoked chicken wings, cheese curds, venison beer chili, and offering a uniquely named list of sandwiches: A Dinosaur Walks into a Bar, Elastic Wood Bird, Robin’s Midnight Tokyo Drift. Their Chocolate Malt Pot de Creme with crushed toffee for dessert looks incredible.

A final option is the Wake and Bakery, open from 7 am - 5 pm — you can stop here on the way to and from your ski day. They are perfect for both morning and afternoon bites. Among their choices are excellent coffees, teas, fresh berry muffins and breakfast burritos.

Final Thoughts

To quickly refuel before hitting the slopes—or to slowly enjoy a locally sourced meal—the Mount Baker Ski Area and the nearby town of Glacier have everything you could need. Classic ski food at the upper, lower, and on-mountain lodges only require you to know which base your trail will pop out at, and Glacier’s restaurant variety is designed to satisfy any appetite or interest. For the Glacier restaurants, don’t forget to check if reservations are available, so your car ride winding down from a long day at Baker has the promise of delicious food ahead.