At North Cascades National Park, visitors can explore unspoiled mountain wilderness areas, see glaciers and wildlife, go kayaking on turquoise lakes, and truly get away from the stress of the urban world.
One of the least visited national parks in the contiguous United States, North Cascades National Park is a majestic mountain wilderness in northern Washington State.
Here, wild rivers cut their ways through steep and narrow valleys, while countless glaciers flow down mountain peaks. Wildflowers carpet alpine meadows in the short summer season, while wildlife, such as marmots, wolverines, pikas, black bears and the occasional grizzly bear, roam the slopes.
The North Cascades National Park Complex consists of three adjacent National Park Service units: Ross Lake National Recreation Area, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and North Cascades National Park itself. No less than 94% of the complex is designated wilderness.
The two national recreation areas are the most popular and easiest-to-access parts of the complex. They are home to paved roads, campgrounds and visitor facilities.
The national park, on the other hand, is a truly wild place. Accessible via just one (partially) unpaved road, this is where you’ll find epic hiking trails, magnificent alpine landscapes and abundant wildlife.
In addition to the wilderness, the North Cascades also have several man-made features. The most visible are the hydropower dams on the Skagit River, which have created Gorge Lake, Ross Lake and spectacular Diablo Lake.
The remote lake town of Stehekin sits on the north shore of Lake Chelan and is only reachable via boat, floatplane or on foot.
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Highlights of North Cascades National Park
The North Cascades are a hiker’s, rock climber’s, backpacker’s, kayaker’s and wildlife viewer’s paradise. Its glorious alpine meadows, turquoise lakes and jagged peaks attract a wide variety of adventure-minded visitors.
There’s plenty to see and do in the North Cascades, but these are the places you shouldn’t miss on your first visit:
- Diablo Lake
- Ross Lake Dam
- Cascade Pass Trail
- Maple Pass Loop (just outside the complex on Route 20)
- Colonial Creek Campground
Accommodation Near North Cascades National Park
There are two lodges in the national park complex: Ross Lake Resort and the North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin. Besides those, there is no lodging within the complex boundaries.
There are four car-accessible campgrounds along route 20, as well as several wilderness campgrounds.
The surrounding communities, such as Marblemount, Winthrop and Chelan, offer several more accommodation options near the North Cascades complex.
Booking.com
Useful Info
Location: Northern Washington State
Nearest Towns: Marblemount, Winthrop and Chelan
Area: 788.7 square miles (505,000 acres)
Annual Visitors (2022): 30,154
Features: Jagged mountain peaks, numerous glaciers, alpine meadows, lakes, hydropower dams, wilderness
Top Attractions: Diablo Lake, Ross Lake Dam, Cascade Pass, Colonial Creek Campground, Maple Pass Loop, Stehekin
Popular Activities: Hiking, backpacking, boating, camping, wildlife viewing
Suggested Stay: 3 days
Campgrounds:
- Goodell Creek Campground (19 sites)
- Newhalem Creek Campground (107 sites)
- Colonial Creek Campground (96 sites on South Loop; 41 sites on North Loop)
- Gorge Lake Campground (8 sites)
- Hozomeen Campground (75 sites)
More Information: National Park Service
Nearby National Parks:
- Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
- Olympic National Park, Washington
- Glacier National Park, Montana
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