Bagley Lakes
Bagley Lakes are a pair of small alpine lakes in the Heather Meadows area of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The lakes are beautiful in their own right, but what makes this location special is everything surrounding them. In summer the meadows fill with wildflowers, lupines, paintbrush, mountain heather, and glacier lilies among them, and the colour against the alpine backdrop is incredible. Waterfalls from snowmelt off Table Mountain feed through the lakes and are a nice shooting bonus in the early summer. A year round snowfield on Table Mountain stays visible above the tree line and adds a unique contrast to wider compositions. The loop trail around both lakes is about 4 km making it easy to take your time and explore the whole area. The nearby Fire and Ice Trail gives you an elevated lookout over the lakes with the surrounding peaks behind them. Fall is equally photogenic. The bushes start to turn red and orange in late September and on a calm morning the colour reflects in the water. While you are in the area Picture Lake is a short drive down the road and is a perfect Mount Shuksan reflection spot, The road to Heather Meadows (SR 542) typically opens in late June or early July and closes with the first heavy snow, usually by November. Since this area is within a protected area you will need a Northwest Forest Pass in order to park. (Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington, USA)
