Things To Do In North Cascades National Park

If you were to ask us which USA National Park we think is the most underappreciated, we would, without hesitation, answer: North Cascades National Park.

From the stunningly blue waters of Diablo Lake to the renowned Liberty Bell Mountain to the lovely village of Stehekin (only accessible by boat or trekking), North Cascades National Park is chock full of spectacular adventure.

With more than 300 glaciers and 400 miles of trails, North Cascades is home to some of the most beautiful scenery we’ve seen anywhere in the world, yet it is one of the least frequented US National Parks.

North Cascades National Park at a glance

• Open: Technically open year-round, but highly limited access and minimal services accessible from late September to late May

• Entrance Fee: Free to all guests

• Wildlife: Mountain goats, deer, bears, beavers, and rattlesnakes (especially on the dry eastern side)

• Established: October 2, 1968

• Ancestral Lands: example: Given the expanse of Yellowstone, 27 tribes called this territory home. Tribes including the Crow, Umatilla, Shoshone, Bannock, and Blackfeet frequented the region for hunting and gathering.

• Area: 505,000 acres

How To Travel To North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park is almost similar distance between Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, BC. 108 miles and 125 miles (201 kilometers), respectively—about 2 hours travel time. Most travelers fly into either city and then drive, and depending on traffic, the trip normally takes around 2.5 hours.

The little college town of Bellingham, near the Canadian border, also has an airport, but it’s considerably smaller and provides restricted flights.

There are no shuttles or public transit that go into North Cascades, however you may be able to locate a day trip excursion departing from Seattle in the summer.

Getting About In North Cascades National Park

• There is the boat system on Lake Chelan to access Stehekin in the summer, but that’s the sole kind of “public transportation” in the park. Once there, there’s a shuttle that operates just within the Stehekin Valley.

• If you need to hire a car to visit North Cascades, we recommend renting via DiscoverCars.com.

• Discover Cars analyzes information from a big number of providers to get you the lowest deal for your rental car. They are also the only aggregating platform for rental automobiles that includes the cost of obligatory insurance in the pricing. This way you know you won’t have any unexpected fees when you land and start your vacation.

• Check what’s available for your vacation to North Cascades:

How many days do you need at North Cascades National Park?

We recommend spending 2-3 days at North Cascades National Park, particularly if you’re an enthusiastic hiker. You could get away with one full day, assuming perchance you’re visiting Seattle and don’t have more time to spare. However, that won’t allow you to do much more than drive around the park and check out the views.

Read Also: Adventurous Things to do in Olympic National Park

Best Time To Visit North Cascades National Park

Summer in North Cascades

• Summer is probably the greatest time to visit North Cascades National Park since you will be able to explore the entire park and the highest possibilities of hiking and camping (which is why most people come in the first place!).

• But be warned: Being that the higher-elevation snowfall doesn’t melt away until late in the summer, there is a very narrow window for undertaking some of the main treks in North Cascades.

• We learnt this out the hard way when we went to go on a trek in early July and had to turn around mid-way because the route was too packed with snow. For that reason, it is a favorite site for backcountry skiers to get in some turns in the summer!

Fall in North Cascades

• North Cascades is a favorite site to capture some early and vivid fall colors between the end of September and early October (the precise date changes from year to year).

• Be prepared for snowfall and freezing weather beginning in September.

Winter & Spring in North Cascades

• Winter and spring are tough periods to visit North Cascades since snowstorms and avalanches are highly prevalent.

• Part of Highway 20 (North Cascades Highway) is blocked during the winter, making parts of this National Park inaccessible to most tourists during this season.

• The road opens up entirely in June of each year (precise dates vary).

Things To Do In North Cascades National Park

Whether you want to climb, camp, marvel at one of the numerous alpine lakes or glaciers, enjoy a beautiful drive, or visit the little hamlet of Stehekin, there’s much to do at North Cascades National Park.

1. Hike The Legendary Maple Pass Loop

• Technically just outside North Cascades National Park, this is a popular and wonderfully gorgeous climb. Between the high-alpine beauty, vistas of Lake Ann, wildflowers in the summer, and golden larches in the fall, it’s little wonder Maple Pass Loop is often rated one of the top hikes in Washington state!

• Snow typically lingers around (literally!) on the route until far into July, so it’s a good idea to plan this trip for later in the summer or the fall.

2. Take A Lovely Drive Along North Cascades Highway

• The park’s lone paved road travels east-west through the park for 30 kilometers. Along the route, there are various viewpoints (including Diablo and Ross Lakes!) and trailheads for short, gentle walks.

• It takes around one hour to drive the whole North Cascades Highway, but prepare for 2-3 hours if you plan to make many stops.

3. Stop At Washington Pass Overlook For A Spectacular View

• A modest 400-foot circle path along North Cascades Highway gives great views of Liberty Bell Mountain and the surrounding rocky peaks. The walk is dog-friendly, and the overlook is an excellent vantage for stands of larch trees in the fall.

• Like Maple Pass Loop, Washington Pass Overlook is officially just outside the national park.

4. Walk The Sterling Munro Boardwalk

• No matter what else you’re intending to do in North Cascades National Park, you can squeeze in this short and delightful boardwalk trek. This shouldn’t take any more than 10 minutes!

• The boardwalk sits behind the visitor center and leads to a picture-perfect vista of the spectacularly craggy Picket Range and Terror Glacier. This is one of the only glaciers you can see in the park that doesn’t necessitate a long climb!

5. Hike To Blue Lake

• In a park famed for its steep, demanding hiking routes, Blue Lake is one of the shorter and gentler ones – and also one of the most gorgeous (which is saying a lot!). Many PNW natives advocate this walk as a must-do, even if you have just one day in North Cascades National Park.

• The trek to Blue Lake is particularly popular, due of its shorter distance and good effort-to-reward payback. If feasible, timing it to arrive at the lake for sunset, when most other hikers are headed out of the park for the day.

• Because of the way the lake lies behind a steep slope, there isn’t much of a proper sunset. You’ll scarcely notice when you see the mirror-still lake in magnificent golden hour sunlight, but it’s crucial to be wary of daylight walking back out.