North Cascades National Park provides an epic display of jagged mountains and turquoise alpine lakes. While we only had a short time in this park, we believe we truly optimized it by driving the entirety of the North Cascades Highway from the park entrance to the Washington Pass overlook. This scenic highway offers visitors the chance to see numerous gorgeous lakes, waterfalls, and glaciers and stop to hike both short and long trails. Certainly underrepresented on the visitor leaderboards, North Cascades National Park offers treats for both mild adventurers and those of the most extreme type.
✅ Glaciers
✅ Turquoise Lakes
✅ Waterfalls
✅ Wildlife
The Juicy Facts
At ~2 million yrs old, Washington’s Cascades are among the youngest mountains on the continent. The peaks are ridged and tall, not yet worn down by the destruction of time.
The North Cascades National Park is a vertical world containing more than 300 glaciers, by the far the greatest concentration in the lower 48. The sprawling wilderness encompasses the National Park as well as the Ross Lake National Recreation Area and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. These three units make up communities of life adapted to moisture in the west and recurring fire in the east.
Apart from the Park’s glaciated mountains, it is most known for the milky green waters of the Diablo Lake. These turquoise waters are dumped with large amounts of minerals carried into the lake by glacier-fed rivers. The slowly moving glaciers churn up a fine powdery silt that fills the rivers, creating what’s known as “glacier milk”. When introduced into the deep lakes, this mineral-rich water reflects blue and greens, giving off a rich emerald hue.
The breathtaking North Cascades, otherwise known as the “American Alps”, were known mostly to mountaineers, and before that by a relative handful of explorers, miners, loggers, settlers, dam builders, and, of course, the Skagit peoples. The mood of the early explorers who traveled these mountains is evident in the names they gave: Mount Terror, Mount Despair, Mount Fury, Desolation Peak, Mount Challenger, and Damnation Peak, among others. Though not many peaks are above 9,000 feet, they rise above valley floors that are mostly an elevation of 2,000 feet.
Park Zones
North Cascades National Park
At more than 500,000 acres, it is the largest of the three NPS units that comprise the North Cascades National Park Complex. North Cascades NP consists of a northern & southern section, bisected by the Skagit River that flows through the reservoirs of Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Lake Chelan National Recreation Area lies on the southern border of the south unit of the park. In addition to the two national recreation areas, other protected lands include national forests & wilderness areas.
North Cascades National Park features the rugged mountain peaks of the North Cascades Range, the most expansive glacial system in the contiguous USa, the headwaters of numerous waterways, & vast forests with the highest degree of flora biodiversity of any American national park.
Hikes:
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- Cascades Pass and Sahale Arm: Begin in a forest of switchbacks leading to views of peaks and glaciers. This 12 mile one or two day hike is strenuous but worth the views.
- Thunder Knob Trail: This is one of the most popular trails in the park, with great views of Diablo Lake from the top. This 3.3 out-and-back hike includes switchbacks leading to viewpoints all throughout displaying the turquoise color of the alpine lake as well as the Cascades mountains.
- Blue Lake Trail: This 5.3 mile less strenuous, scenic trail through the subalpine forests has views of surrounding mountains peaking through the trees. At the end of the trail, you’ll reach the beautiful Blue Lake
Viewpoints:
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- Diablo Lake Overlook
- Ross Lake Overlook
- Gorge Lake Overlook
- Washington Pass Overlook
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
Stehekin serves as a hub to explore the 61,949-acre Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.
The name “Stehekin” is based on a Salishan word meaning “the way through” or “turning around place” .
The Stehekin valley has long served as a passageway for travelers, linking Washington’s interior wilderness to the rugged Cascade Mountains. Nestled at the headwaters of Lake Chelan, the third deepest lake in the United States, the Stehekin community lives life a little slower.
There are no roads into Stehekin. Connected to the outside world only by foot, boat or plane, the voyage to Stehekin is part of the experience & once you’ve arrived, a variety of historical, cultural, & outdoor activities will connect you with the majestic surroundings.
Hikes
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- Rainy Lake Trail: This 2 mile flat, paved trail exhibits gorgeous views of the lake.
- Maple Loop Pass: Hike this 7.1 mile loop through scenic meadows with wildflowers and sweeping views of the surrounding mountains until you get up to Maple Pass.
Lake Ross National Recreation Area
Amidst the sweeping alpine landscape one can find breathtaking turquoise waters. The national recreation area includes three reservoirs: Ross Lake, Diablo Lake, and Gorge Lake—water gateways to more remote areas. Ringed by mountains, it offers many outdoor recreation opportunities along the upper reaches of the Skagit River from numerous hiking trails to kayaking, fishing, boating, & more. Lake Ross is the most accessible part of the North Cascades National Park Complex.
*Check out the Diablo Lake Vista Point for jaw dropping views of the Cascades*
Hikes
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- Trail of the Cedars Nature walk: This easy 1.7 mile out-and-back hike is a dog friendly , forested hike along the Skagit River.
Where to Stay
The best practice for preparing for a trip to the North Cascades National Park is stopping at the nearest town of Marblemount, Washington to load up on firewood, ice, gas, and food/beverages as there are no services available within the park.
There are three park units within North Cascades National Park all offering a unique variety of camping experiences with access to trails. All drive-in campgrounds along State Route 20 are on a reservation system through recreation.gov. Campgrounds may be open before or after the reservation season on a first-come, first-served basis.
Campsite occupancy is limited to eight people, three tents, and two vehicles per site.
North Cascades National Park
- Newhalem Creek: Situated along the Skagit River, this campground is the closest to the Park’s Visitor Center and has access to several popular trails (107 sites, RA)
- Gorge Lake: Located on the banks of Gorge Lake, this popular tent only primitive campground is a great spot for fishing and trail access (8 sites, RA)
Goodell Creek: Positioned in a lush, old growth forest on the banks of the Skagit River (19 sites, RA) - Lower Goodell Group Creek: Also on the banks of the Gorge Lake, this campground offers 2 group sites. Maximum capacity is 50 people (20 vehicles) per site (RA)
- Colonial Creek North: Remote, yet bustling campground located on Diablo Lake nestled in old growth forest. Perfect location with fishing pier, boat launch, kayaking, and access to popular hikes (41 sites, RA)
- Colonial Creek South: Located on the Diablo Lake with access to tent only and walk in/boat in only campsites (96, RA)
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
No roads lead into Stehekin or Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. All campgrounds require at least minimal walking to reach campsites from the public ferry docks, airstrip, and trails. Stehekin offers camping in a range of settings, from lakeside sites to quiet roadside camps to backpacking sites. Popular backcountry camps in and near Stehekin Valley include High Bridge, Tumwater, Bridge Creek, and Rainbow Bridge. (RA)
Lake Ross National Recreation Area
- Hozomeen: Located on the North end of Ross Lake, there are sites available via car, boat, or foot. (75 sites, RA)
Additional Lodging Information
Dispersed Camping
*There is no dispersed camping inside of the park complex*
Overnight camping and park is only allowed within designated campgrounds.
If Camping isn’t Your Thing, there are four nearby hotels to lodge at within the three units of North Cascades NP, including:
- North Cascades Inn
- North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin
- North Cascades Mountain Hostel
- Ross Lake Resort
