Are you dreaming about eloping in a place that makes you feel like you’re on the top of the world? Completely surrounded by majestic peaks….wildflowers sprinkled throughout the rocky landscape…crystal clear reflective pools of water…and a night sky so clear that you see more stars than you ever have in your life?
If you’ve been dreaming about a place like that for your elopement, then Artist Point in Washington State is the elopement location for you!
Artist Point is an extremely scenic area in the Mount Baker Wilderness in the northern part of Washington State, near the border with Canada. It’s covered by snow for much of the year. However, from July – late September, the snow melts and welcomes visitors to enjoy one of the most beautiful and accessible mountain vistas in all of Washington State.
Where is Artist Point?
Artist Point is in the Mount Baker Wilderness and just outside of the North Cascades National Park.
Artist Point is located a little over 3 hours north of Seattle. You drive north on I-5 North and then East on Highway 542 until the road ends at the Artist Point Trailhead parking area.
How Accessible is it to Elope at Artist Point?
Artist Point is one of the most accessible places to elope in Washington State during the summer months.
From July until early October, you can drive to the parking lot. The parking lot is paved and there is a short and mostly flat, paved trail from the parking area. So, if you have guests with ADA accessibility needs, it’s a great place to hold your elopement ceremony.
There are also vault toilets that are open during the summer months.
You will need to purchase an America The Beautiful Pass or National Forest Pass to park there for the day.
During the winter months, you can only access Artist Point via a 6-mile roundtrip fairly steep snowshoe hike from the Mount Baker Ski Area. You must watch the weather closely so that you don’t get caught in a snowstorm or when avalanche danger is at a moderate or high level. You can monitor the conditions using the Northwest Avalanche Center website.
It’s always important to check weather conditions when eloping in any mountain location. I have a blog about eloping during wildfire season and how to best be prepared.
There are a few times during the summer months when the road closes to Artist Point for special events. Those events are the Baker Hill Climb, which is typically in September and for winter preparation of the road, typically in early October.
How do you Legally Elope at Artist Point?
Another reason that Arist Point is a wonderful place to elope is that you do not need a Special Use Permit to elope there, unless your guest count is over 75 people.
To legally get married there and in any location within Washington State, you must obtain a Washington State Marriage License.
How Many Guests can you invite to your Artist Point elopement?
I highly encourage anyone choosing to elope at Artist Point to keep your total guest count to 20 people or less. There aren’t any durable surfaces there where you can have more than 20 people safely stand and watch your ceremony. You also want to keep your guest count small so that you minimize the impact to other people visiting the area.
Always remember to follow the National Forest’s Leave No Trace principles. If you plan to bring chairs or other setups that impact the land, you must check with the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest for additional requirements and/or permits.
Can You Include Your Dog(s) in your Artist Point Elopement?
Yes – you can have dogs at Artist Point and as part of your elopement! They must always be on a leash and under your control.
Best Day of the Week to Elope at Artist Point?
Since Artist Point is so accessible, I recommend that couples elope at Arist Point on a weekday. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are typically the least busy days of the week.
Which time of day is prettier at Artist Point – Sunrise or Sunset?
That is a very hard question to answer. Sunrise and sunset are both so beautiful and peaceful at Artist Point.
If you elope at Artist Point around sunrise, then you’ll get to watch the sun rays peak above the mountains and light up the mountains.
If you elope at Arist Point around sunset, then you can experience alpenglow on the surrounding mountains and watch the stars come out and illuminate the sky.
Stargazing and Milky Way and Aurora Viewing at Artist Point
As someone who loves astrophotography, I often travel to Arist Point to photograph the milky way over Mount Baker or Mount Shuksan. Since you also have a clear view to the north, if there is a strong solar storm and the conditions are good, you can see northern lights.
Other Trails to enjoy around Artist Point?
The Artist Point Ridge Trail itself is 1.2 miles roundtrip and ends at Huntoon Point. It is rated as an easy trail and has a little over 200 feet of elevation gain.
There are other amazing trails that start from the Arist Point trailhead parking area. Some of those include: Chain Lakes Trail, Ptarmigan Ridge Trail, Wild Goose Trail and Table Mountain Trail. They are each wonderful trails that you can also explore on your elopement.
Where to Stay if Eloping at Artist Point?
The town closest to Artist Point is Glacier, Washington. There are several lovely cabins and homes for rent in that area where you can enjoy a relaxing stay before and after your elopement.
What can an Artist Point Elopement Timeline look like?
An elopement experience at Artist Point is typically 6 hours. However, to fully immerse yourself in the landscape, you should consider hiking one of the other trails in the area on your elopement to have the most memorable experience.
Since the days are long during the summer months in Washington State, you can split up your elopement at Artist Point with a nap or big meal in the middle of the day so that you get to enjoy both sunrise and sunset!
Sample Artist Point Elopement Timeline:
4:00am – Get Ready in your cabin
5:15am – Drive up to Artist Point
6:00am – Private First Look with each other
6:30am – Hold your Elopement Ceremony as you watch the sun rise
7:00am – Hike around Artist Point and take in the morning golden hour
8:00am – Find a quiet place for a breakfast picnic
10:00am – Return to your cabin for a mid-day break
7:00pm – Meet back up at Artist Point with your photographer
8:00pm – Explore Artist Point more and enjoy a beautiful sunset
9:00pm – Stay for some stargazing
Artist Point Elopement Packages
I have multiple packages that are great offerings for elopements at Arist Point and I can also tailor a package for exactly what you want.
You can see the most current elopement packages on my website here.
Additional Elopement Resources
If you aren’t sold yet on Artist Point, but love the idea of eloping in the Mount Baker Wilderness or North Cascades, check out these other resources from Outshined Photography –
Best Places to Elope in the North Cascades
Hikes to Enjoy On Your Elopement Day in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest Elopement Guide
Meet Stacy, Your Artist Point Elopement Photographer
Stacy is the owner and photographer for Outshined Photography. She has been an elopement photographer in Washington State since 2020. She has hiked all over the Mount Baker Wilderness and knows Artist Point very well. Stacy visits the area in both the winter and summer months and is Wilderness First Aid trained.
When selecting your elopement photographer, look for someone who knows the Artist Point area well, so that you can have the best elopement experience possible.
“Artist Point is one of my most favorite places in all the Pacific Northwest. I am giddy every time I am there, and I am excited to help you have an amazing Artist Point elopement!” ~ Stacy
