North Cascades National Park
Washington Est. 1968

North Cascades National Park

Mountains Glacier Lake Forest
Plan a visit Check conditions
Established
1968
Size
504,781 acres
Visitors / yr
1M
Entrance
Free
Best season
July through September
Nearest airport
SEA Seattle-Tacoma International
Danger: Smoke from Wildfires May Affect Air Quality +7 more Details Wildfire Tracker
01

Why North Cascades is worth the trip

Washington · Established 1968

North Cascades hides in plain sight. It sits three hours from Seattle, holds more than 300 glaciers, more than any American park outside Alaska, and most folks passing through on Highway 20 never leave the road. Climbers call these the American Alps for the sawtooth skyline, and for once the nickname is not flattery.

The highway delivers the easy hits, above all the Diablo Lake overlook, where glacial rock flour turns the water a chalky, improbable turquoise. The park proper starts on foot. Hike toward Cascade Pass, the classic day trip, and the ice and spires close in around you while the crowds thin to nothing. Bring a rain shell whatever the forecast says. These mountains squeeze the sky, and the drama is the whole point.

Start with our full North Cascades guide, then use the planning below.

02

Top things to do in North Cascades

Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.

North Cascades National Park
Start here

20 Things to Do in North Cascades National Park

Read the guide
01 Day Hiking in North Cascades Hiking · nps.gov Day Hiking in North Cascades Hike the North Cascades to experience some of the finest mountain country in North America. 02 Plan a Backcountry Trip Backcountry Camping · nps.gov Plan a Backcountry Trip Backcountry camping in the North Cascades can be an exciting adventure for prepared hikers. 03 Fishing in the North Cascades Fishing · nps.gov Fishing in the North Cascades Fishing is popular in many lakes and rivers of the North Cascades. 04 Paddling in the North Cascades Boating · nps.gov Paddling in the North Cascades Kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding are popular on the lakes of the North Cascades.
03

Best hikes in North Cascades

The trails that define the park, with the distance and elevation numbers that decide your day.

1 Maple Pass Loop to Lake Ann Our absolute favorite hike in the North Cascades. 2 Cascade Pass / Sahale Arm One of the park's most popular trails, worth continuing to Sahale. 3 Blue Lake Trail Sweeping Cascade views on a relatively short and easy trail. 4 Sourdough Mountain Some of the most striking views in all the North Cascades. 5 Hidden Lake Lookout One of the best hikes in the whole Pacific Northwest.
All North Cascades hikes
Before you go

Get the North Cascades heads-up

Permit windows, closures and seasonal alerts, plus our best North Cascades guides, in your inbox before you go. Free, no spam.

04

Plan your trip

Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for North Cascades.

Things to Do Best Hikes Fun Facts

Where to stay

Gateway towns with lodging, food and outfitters.

  • Marblemount, WAGateway town
  • Newhalem, WAGateway town
  • Winthrop, WAGateway town
  • Newhalem Creek Campground 107 sites · Reserve
  • Goodell Creek Campground 19 sites · Reserve
Compare stays near North Cascades

Maps & guides

Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.

North Cascades Trails Illustrated map
Waterproof National Geographic topo of the park.
View on Amazon
North Cascades field guide
Trail-by-trail detail and planning help in print.
View on Amazon
America the Beautiful pass
$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the pass

What to bring

Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.

  • Bear Spray
    Required carry in grizzly country. Practice the quick-draw before you need it. View on REI
  • Trekking Poles
    Save your knees on steep descents and river crossings. View on REI
  • Rain Jacket
    Mountain weather turns fast. Pack a shell even on clear mornings. View on REI
  • Fleece Jacket
    Mid-layer warmth for alpine mornings and evening campfires. View on REI

Getting there

  • SEA Seattle-Tacoma International 130 mi
  • BLI Bellingham International 90 mi
NPS Official Page Reservations Google Maps

Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.

North Cascades map

VC Visitor Center CG Campground Nearby Park
05

When to go

Loading weather...

Month-by-Month Conditions

Tap any month for details

Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan
40°
32°
Low
Closed
Feb
44°
33°
Low
Closed
Mar
49°
35°
Low
Closed
Apr
58°
40°
Low
Closed
May
66°
46°
Light
Partial
Jun
70°
50°
Moderate
Open
Jul Best
78°
54°
Peak
Open
Aug Best
79°
54°
Peak
Open
Sep Best
71°
50°
Peak
Open
Oct
57°
44°
Moderate
Partial
Nov
45°
37°
Low
Closed
Dec
40°
32°
Low
Closed
Best months to visit Crowd level (low to peak)
06

More North Cascades guides

07

Parks near North Cascades

Within reach if you are building a longer trip.

Olympic National Park
Washington

Olympic

125 miles away
Mount Rainier National Park
Washington

Mount Rainier

133 miles away
Glacier National Park
Montana

Glacier

338 miles away
Crater Lake National Park
Oregon

Crater Lake

411 miles away

Worth protecting

North Cascades belongs to all of us

Protections that took generations to win can be rolled back in a single session of Congress. We keep watch so they hold.

See what's at stake Join the fight for Washington

Threatened Lands Map

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