Join NRPA this September and host a Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz to engage your community in nature, learn about pollinators and collect valuable data to help manage your parks. No more mosquitoes, wild berries are aplenty, and the fall foliage cannot be beat! Trail of the Cedars Nature Walk: 0.3 miles, flat, easy. The trail ends at the Blue Lake, a brilliantly blue lake that is surrounded by towering mountains. Listen to cascading waters in forested valleys. The hiking distances we list are round trip. If you camp in the park, there may be fire restrictions to reduce forest fires. Explore the North Cascades right from your office! It also travels through the Okanogan National Forest, near Rainy Lake. Just a short walk from the Trail of the Cedars, also located in Newhalem, is Ladder Creek Falls. Check in advance to see if there are fire restrictions in the park. All of these activities are safer and more fun during the summer months. . In colder weather, it is always good to have socks, a hat, and good socks. All meals are prepared by your guide and we provide nearly all the gear. The unassuming National Park sign sits on the side of a highway, but theres no entrance gate, no entrance fee, nothing except the views, and a map to tell you that you have entered a spectacular national park. Find out where they are required, why they are required, and how to obtain a permit. On day 2, you can hike more of the trails along North Cascades Highway or hike to Cascade Pass and/or Sahale Arm. In the evenings, we would get carryout and wine, sit in the river, and have dinner. Washington, North Cascades Highway From Washington Pass Overlook Along Hwy, 20. Here is a link to the travel planner put out by the NPS, http://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=269307. If you want to visit Stehekin, you will need a minimum of two days, since travel times can be long between Chelan and Stehekin. The Best Months to Visit the North Cascades are August and September. The park was established in 1968 to preserve majestic mountain scenery, snowfields, glaciers, alpine meadows, cascading waterfalls, and other unique natural features in the North Cascade Range. This is a gorgeous hike and beyond the lake sits North Cascades National Park. To get to these regions, you can either drive on one of the dirt roads or go backpacking. During the 30 miles the road travels through the park, there are several overlooks, short hikes, and lakes to visit. Grand Canyon National Park; Trail of the Cedars. Check out our. Also, there is no entrance booth along Highway 20. The area is popular with snowmobilers, skiers, and other winter backcountry travelers. From North Cascades National Park, we drove north to the Mount Baker area. Day 4: Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm hike, drive north to Mt. There are three sections to North Cascades National Park Complex: There is only one paved road in the park. To save money on your visit, the key is thorough planning. With one day in North Cascades National Park, drive North Cascades Highway, visit the overlooks, and do one or two hikes. The weather is especially nice in the NE Cascades, so be sure to stay a couple days around Mazama and do nearby hikes. North Cascades National Park forms part of the Cascade Range in northwestern Washington state and is about a 2.5-hour drive from Seattle. If you camp, it is essential to bring warm and comfortable layers, walkable shoes, and rain gear. . This short, easy trail makes a loop alongside the Skagit River. The temps seldom reach too chilly or too hot for comfort in the 60s and 70s. Its well worth a stay in addition to being excellent access for North Cascades National Park and the surrounding mountains. However, you can still drive to Diablo Lake and hike some of the lower-elevation trails like Thunder Knob. This short driving tour would make for a scenic and very worthwhile trip to North Cascades National Park. The best weather for visiting the North Cascades generally occurs between mid-June and late-September. It includes eight distinct life zones thanks to its variety of elevation and fire ecology. Kulshan, and the North Cascades off in the distance. This overlook is located right on Highway 20. dialed-in logistics all serve a common goal: to create unforgettable California: Yosemite, Death Valley & More, Montana / Wyoming: Yellowstone, Tetons & More, The Ultimate Guide to North Cascades National Park in Washington. North Cascades National Park is fairly isolated from any sizable city. To get off the beaten path, heading up is always the way to find the best views with few crowds. We only had one full day here and unfortunately, storms moved in, so we could not do any hiking. All of these sites are usually open in the summer, with a few staying open in the winter. While visiting the park, keep an eye out for elk, moose, marmots, pika, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, black bear, coyote, lynx, bobcats and otters. to experience the deep North Cascades wilderness. Thunder Knob: 3.6 miles, easy to moderate. This gorgeous area in northern Washington state is 500,000 acres of rivers, mountains, lakes, and recreation areas. Be prepared for snowfall and cold temperatures beginning in September. I love September in the mountains. We are also a member of several other affiliate networks. Here are the 9 best things to do in North Cascades National Park. From the highest points along the trail, you will have spectacular views of the national park. Go for a Scenic Drive on North Cascades Highway, 9. However, this option is accessible only by a ferry ride from Chelan or a 23-mile hike from Highway 20 and a shuttle bus from High Bridge. If you want to stay in the national park along Highway 20, Ross Lake Resort is the only lodge in this area of the park. Cutthroat Lake: 4 miles, easy. The cascades have their permit requirements for camping that vary from surrounding campsites. Average low temperature in September: 39F Explore amazing North Cascades National Park with Wildland Trekking on the Wonders of the North Cascades Backpacking Adventure! There are also mudslides that close . North Cascades is one of three national parks in the state of Washington, the others being Olympic and Mount Rainier. Planning your North Cascades trip carefully can provide you with a fantastic adventure. Sign up to receive our exclusive Wildland Wire emails and stay up to date with Wildland Trekking's promotions, discounts, contests, outdoor tips and tricks, trip reports and more! While there are countless peaks in the North Cascades, some are still more popular than others. North Cascades Travel Tips Cascade National Park is Free! However, the trails are where North Cascade National Park really shines. Backpacking is an exceptional way to enjoy the world's amazing national parks, wilderness areas and remote landscapes! With such prominent peaks and exceptional natural features, it's no surprise that the park has been nicknamed the "American Alps". As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Along this hike, you will have stunning views of the North Cascades range, with views of Sahale, Forbidden, and Boston peaks. Mount Shuskan, Late September/Early October Conclusion If you're looking to visit North Cascades National Park in June, the park will be accessible, but just barely. Just three hours from Seattle, North Cascades National Park's rugged beauty is characterized by jagged peaks, deep forested valleys, cascading waterfalls, and over 300 glaciers more than any other U.S. park outside of Alaska. You only have two options for places to stay in North Cascades National Park other than at a campsite. Unlike many national parks, the North Cascades is not one that you can simply drive through to see the iconic features. Have your camera ready! Check out the day hikes options below if you only have a day. In 1956, he spent part of the summer here working as a watchman in the fire tower and wrote the book Desolation Angels from this experience. When navigating the lakes within the North Cascades, there is a ferry that can take you between Diablo and Ross lakes. These bears do not generally bother humans as long as they store food properly and engage in other safe practices. The wild flowers will be past bloom by mid -September in all but pockets of the highest Alpine regions of NCNP proper. Hike the North Cascades to experience some of the finest mountain country in North America! From the east, the highway intersects with US 97 at Okanogan and with SR 153 at Twisp. Dramatic mountain peaks and turquoise bodies of water define camping at North Cascades National Park. Add on a morning scramble of Trappers peak, and you have a classic North Cascades backpacking trip. Walk Up the Sterling Munro Trail. OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK: Take your pick from 17 awesome hikes in Olympic National Park. If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. This beautiful, remote lake is surrounded by rocky mountains. You will rarely run into a grizzly, but it is essential to be prepared. It is a 400-meter walk, round trip, on a paved trail to the overlook. North Cascades National Park (NCNP) sits in northern Washington State, amidst the Northern Cascade mountains. The timing changes every year, depending on the weather. On a backpacking trip you'll camp in the backcountry and carry everything you need for the trip in a top-of-the-line, fitted backpack we provide. Winter & Spring in North Cascades The snow banks were still 3 feet tall in May! Cutthroat Lake Trail is a 3.8-mile out-and-back trail. Keep in mind, however, that winter arrives early at high elevations. Even though Mount Baker is not tucked away with the national park complex, it still makes a great place to add onto your visit to the North Cascades, as it is a gorgeous place to go hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. Just 2 hours from the urban bustle of Seattle, WA, North Cascades National Park is an underrated gem waiting to be explored. Once the road is safe to clear from snow, Highway 20 typically opens in April or May. It looks like something out of the wild west and it is worth the drive out this way just to see it. So, Whats the Best Time to Visit North Cascades National Park? To get here, it is a mostly flat walk through a forest. These accommodations can be more expensive during the busy summer season. Jack Kerouac made this peak famous. Whitewater enthusiasts also could check out the Stehekin and Skagit rivers for kayaking or rafting during the warmer months. Many travelers enjoy experiencing a drive through the loop as they stop for different experiences. Cost per night: $20/night for reservations. Check out our Enchantments Trail Guide and our guide to how to handle the logistics of hiking the Enchantments. The park encompasses over a half-million acres, including the noteworthy Lake Chelan and Ross Lake National Recreation Areas. In fact, you could easily drive through the park on Highway 20 and barely know youre in a national park (except for the Diablo Lake Overlook). The State Department of Transportation . 18 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail travels through North Cascades National Park. Some popular drive-in sites include Goodell Creek, Gorge Lake, Colonial Creek, and Newhalem Creek. National protected lands lie right outside of the National Park Complex. There are also usually more activities during this time in general. Still, the drive is gorgeous, and you'll see flashes of yellow and orange lighting up the landscape around you. 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