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Mt Baker

Mt. Baker Ski Area

Mt Baker Lodging Map M
Mt Baker Snow Totals
Upcoming Snow Potential
3-Day
0"
5-Day
7"
10-Day
13"
This is Less Than Average for Mt Baker
THE
LOW
DOWN
Mt Baker Key Knowledge: There is no ski mountain in North America—and perhaps even the world—that receives more snow that Mt. Baker. An average season of snowfall at Mt. Baker would best the biggest year on record at most resorts across the West. Cascade storms can bring warmer precipitation than what usually falls in the Rockies, and Baker's elevation is lower, so it can get rain. But with 640" of snow in an average year, there's more than enough good stuff to go around.
Mt Baker skiing by month:
Mt Baker
By Month

Core Strengths

Mt Baker
Snow Volume
100.0
Snow Quality
84.5
Overall
75.4
Overall
Overall PAF Score

Overall
Rank

37

Rank in
Region

4

Rank in
State

3

This resort is often compared with:

Crystal Mountain
Stevens Pass
Snoqualmie
Mt Baker Snow Quality Across Full Winter
Click ON/OFF:
Mt Baker Snowfall Last 10 Days (inches)

Powder
Forecast

Powder Forecast
ZRANKINGS EXCLUSIVE
Monday
Day
0"
Night
0"
Tuesday
Day
0"
Night
0"
Wednesday
Day
0"
Night
1"
Thursday
Day
2"
Night
2"
Friday
Day
1"
Night
2"
True Snow: 651" per year
Snow Quality Rank

8

Accounts for resorts' snow quantity, moisture content, latitude, elevation, and slope aspects.

Dump Potential Rank

1

Mt. Baker Ski Area is ranked No. 1 in North America for its total snowfall during an average season.

Historical Powder Odds
Daily Lottery

% of days with more than 6" of snow

26.8%

Extended Stay

% of months with more than 90" of snow

63.6%

Drought Threat

% of months with less than 30" of snow

4.9%

*Special thanks to Tony Crocker and Bestsnow.net.

Dump Potential Rank

1

Mt. Baker Ski Area is ranked No. 1 in North America for its total snowfall during an average season.

Snow
Quality
Rank

8

Accounts for resorts' snow quantity, moisture content, latitude, elevation, and slope aspects.

Total Snow Score

This score accounts for total snow quantity, its moisture content, the resort's latitude, elevation, and its slope aspects, which affect total snow preservation.

Comparables

Mt. Baker Ski Area

Trail Breakdown

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Vertical Drop

1500 ft

5089 ft
Base Elevation: 3589 ft

Slope Aspects

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A few words on the Snow at Mt. Baker Ski Area

Mt. Baker has the highest lift-served snowfall in the world, so it should come as no surprise that it leads North America with 28.4% of winter days with 6 inches or more of snow and 65% of winter months with 90 inches or more. The 5% of months with than 30 inches are also an elite level of drought resistance. The key risk to snow conditions is not drought but rain. This is a minor issue for the locals, who can sit out the wet weather and wait to ski the next week’s dump. It does, however, make planning a big trip involving air travel here more of a gamble. In terms of quality, storms at Mt. Baker can bring the cold stuff that makes for beautiful turns, or just as often, they can douse you with warmer snow that you weigh by the pound instead of measuring by the inch. Be prepared with the fattest, most rockered skis you can get for the latter conditions.

Accumulation and Preservation

With its massive snowfalls, Mt. Baker has as good a shot at Thanksgiving skiing as anyone. But rain incidence is higher in November than the winter months, so mid-December is a more typical time frame for most terrain to be open. Mt. Baker is adequately covered at Christmas more than 90% of the time. While Mt. Baker is about half north exposed, its altitude is a modest 3,600-5,100 feet. Thus overall snow preservation is mediocre. Mt. Baker is a place you want to be when the snow is fresh, which as noted above is more often than anywhere else in North America.