This very short trail (.25 miles) takes you to a cascading waterfall. Suggestion by Hannah from That Adventurer Blog. As a National Park, the main activities you can do here include hiking, canoeing, camping, backpacking, and swimming. The snow has melted by August, and the park has transformed into a huge, lush, green jewel. Storm King, the hike to the peak of Mount Angeles, and the underrated Staircase Rapids Loop. Before you go, make sure you get updates about park conditions, road closures, and trail closures on the National Park service website. Rent either an entire house or cabin or a room at the lodge, where you can gaze out at the beautiful Lake Chelan and the mountains of the North Cascades. The Maple Pass Loop offers a little bit of everythingwildflowers, old growth forests, a visit to a lovely alpine lake, and (the best part) panoramic views of the North Cascades. This 4.5-mile hike right off of Washington Pass also might not be entirely in the National Park boundaries, but this is the perfect short hike to take a leg stretcher while driving the North Cascades highway. In Stehekin, stay at the North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin. The River Loop Trail is a small and very easy trail near the main visitor center. , or pull out a map and see where you want to go! Colonial Creek South Campground in North Cascades National Park is a remote, yet bustling campground nestled in old growth forest. Some peaks involve little more than hiking to get to the summit but still involve off-trail travel and the ability to read a map, and the fitness to get up and down. : Often called the best hike in the North Cascades, combine these trails for a challenging 12-mile hike through some of the most beautiful terrain in the country. For a view over Ross Lake, make the quick stop at the Ross Lake Overlook. These small towns have many lodging options, but a few small hotels and inns mixed in with Airbnbs and other vacation rentals make for a great lodging option if you dont want to camp. While summer is more popular, safer, and has more opportunities, it does carry some risks. Average low temperature in September: 39F Even though technical rock climbing skills are not required, loose rock abounds on this summit, so wear a helmet! The area along Highway 20 and around Ross Lake is called the Ross Lake National Recreational Area. Interesting Facts About North Cascades National Park, Best Things to Do in North Cascades National Park. OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK: Take your pick from 17 awesome hikes in Olympic National Park. What a gorgeous view, dont you think? The average temperature in North Cascades National Park in September for a typical day ranges from a high of 63F (17C) and a low of 43F (6C). On day 2, we hiked the Maple Pass Loop and then drove Highway 20 through the park, stopping at the overlooks mentioned above. Ilana is a writer, photographer, and lifelong learner. This park is one of the most biodiverse areas in the country. However, there are a few man-made structures that remind you civilization exists. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Reservations for backcountry permits begin in March 2023. North Cascades National Park. Benefits included four paid Holidays. Developed campgrounds, like Early Winters Campground, are more common in the National Forest to the east of the Park and are usually first-come first-served. As a result, you can enjoy your time in the North Cascades without too many people around. One of the best parts about this park is how underrated it is! While the higher elevation keeps this very popular North Cascades trail from being a year-round fungal destination, it can be a mushroom paradise. North Cascades is a popular spot to catch some early and vibrant fall colors toward the end of September and early October (the exact timing varies from year to year). To really see this spectacular park, you need to get off the highway. North Cascades is one of the least visited parks in the national park system. Here are some common questions about visiting the North Cascades National Park: The ideal length of time will vary based on what activities you want to do and your comfort level with outdoor activities. Lake Chelan is in the southeast part of the North Cascades National Park Complex. Wildflowers might be gone, but the ground foliage is resplendent is the fall. If you like, you can continue another 600 meters along a dirt trail through the woods, for more views of the river, before looping back to the parking lot. Three to five days is an ideal amount of time that allows experienced campers the ability to see a large chunk of the cascades and engage in many activities. You only have two options for places to stay in North Cascades National Park other than at a campsite. Go for a Scenic Drive on North Cascades Highway, 9. To the west is the Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest and the Mount Baker Wilderness. We will be taking this trip in September 2023, following your itinerary in reverse because it will fit better with a Labor Day concert weekend at the Gorge . This is another very short trail of only 300 feet that provides incredible views. If you want to experience the great outdoors during the day and sleep in a bed instead of a tent at night, there are plenty of nearby options. North Cascades Highway (State Highway 20) is the only paved road in the park. NCNP features over 300 glaciers and even more snowfields, making it the most heavily glaciated area in the lower 48. with its incredible jagged mountain peaks, expansive glacially-carved valleys, endless temperate rainforest, old-growth trees, turquoise-colored lakes and life-sustaining rivers. Benefits included four paid Holidays. We just came back from our Washington trip. I love September in the mountains. Class three scrambling and route finding experience are necessary as there is no marked path to the summit. WA Some options are perfect for inexperienced hikers, while others are best only for advanced hikers. This is a gorgeous hike and beyond the lake sits North Cascades National Park. While persistent snow is not always common, it can happen sometimes. If you plan a spring trip to North Cascades National Park, be ready to explore trails at lower elevations and prepare for any sort of weather! Washington Pass Overlook is one of the best things to do in North Cascades National Park to get beautiful views with minimal effort.A short .25-mile paved path brings you to a beautiful viewpoint standing at 5,000 feet, overlooking Washington Pass and the infamous Liberty Bell. Closure depends on snow and avalanche conditions. The Beautiful Glacier-fed Freshwater of Lake Chelan on December 19, 2022 at 5:09 pm [] Chelan is about a 3-hour drive from Seattle, and the drive . From the highest points along the trail, you will have spectacular views of the national park. Paul Peak is a quiet summit at a popular national park. Look out for gray wolves, wolverines, peregrine falcons, bald eagles, and salmon. 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). Driving Directions. Kulshan, and the North Cascades off in the distance. 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. North Cascades National Park is one of the lesser-visited but most stunning in the national park [] Reply. 12 Great Hikes in North Cascades National Park, Washington National Parks: Travel Guide & Itinerary, Complete Guide to the Maple Pass Loop | North Cascades National Park, Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm Hike: North Cascades National Park. The Stehekin Valley has long served as a passageway for travelers, linking Washington's interior wilderness to the rugged Cascade Mountains. During the winter, Highway 20 closes through most of the Park from just west of Mazama to Ross Lake. Its short and relatively easy, so its perfect for almost all ages and ability levels. ENCHANTMENTS: The Enchantments is an epic hike in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness of Washington State. Campground appropriate for tents and small RVs. Day 4: Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm hike, drive north to Mt. Check out the Mazama Country Inn and the Freestone Inn. pay for content, product research, guides, and more). However, if you plan to hike in one of the adjacent national forests (such as Rainy Lake or the Maple Pass Loop) you will need a Northwest Forest Pass. On Wildland trips, Within the park, camping is only allowed in designated campgrounds, and you can make a reservation on Recreation.gov. There are ways to camp inside the park. hiking vacations that enrich people's lives." To. Desolation Peak - 9.4 miles 4400 foot gain (where Jack Kerouac stayed for 63 days at the fire lookout) Cutthroat Lake Trail - 3 mile roundtrip with a 410 foot elevation gain. Often labeled as the best day hike in North Cascades National Park, the Sahale Arm hike is gorgeous every step of the way. Along this hike, you will have stunning views of the North Cascades range, with views of Sahale, Forbidden, and Boston peaks. all-inclusive trip styles, award-winning guides, exceptional food, and The trailhead can be reached by crossing Ross Lake by boat or by hiking an additional 16 miles on the East Bank Trail. Now, visitors follow in his footsteps, hiking to the top of Desolation Peak. : This 10 mile round trip trail leads you to a lake surrounded by rocky peaks. The best part of North Cascades National Park is the hidden beauty. A little farther down the road from Winthrop is Twisp. The image was draped over terrain data from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER). MOUNT RAINIER: Check out our Mount Rainier National Park Travel Guidefor important travel planning tips, sample itineraries, advice on when to go, where to stay, and more. National Park Hiking Tours; Unforgettable Experiences. There are lots of mushrooms to be seen, and if the views afield are good, so much the better. Hidden Lake: 9 miles, moderate to strenuous. 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. Stay safe by knowing which animals to look out for, dressing appropriately, staying hydrated, and planning. North Cascades is one of the least visited parks in the national park system. You can also find options for camping in the National Forest surrounding North Cascades National Park, from established campgrounds to dispersed camping. But if you plan to visit more National Parks within the next 12 months I suggest you go ahead and purchase the America the Beautiful Pass (which can be found at the entrance gates to most national parks). California: Yosemite, Death Valley & More, Montana / Wyoming: Yellowstone, Tetons & More, The Ultimate Guide to North Cascades National Park in Washington. Explore the North Cascades right from your office! Witness a landscape sensitive to the Earth's changing climate. In the evenings, we would get carryout and wine, sit in the river, and have dinner. Summertime offers the best weather in the park, averaging around 70 degrees during the daytime. Some peaks involve little more than hiking to get to the summit but still involve off-trail travel and the ability to read a map, and the fitness to get up and down. It covers nearly 1 million acres of land and is home to miles of ocean coastline, a temperate rainforest, and the Olympic Mountain range. Those from lower altitude areas may get tired faster. Since winter is not a viable time to visit the Cascades, it is not necessary to consider how much it would cost to visit during that time. Due to the popularity, this trail is often busy. Certain times of the year are much better when planning your visit to this park. The Best Months to Visit the North Cascades are August and September. Are the miles on each of the hike above round trip or one way? From the east, the highway intersects with US 97 at Okanogan and with SR 153 at Twisp. The desert may seem like a barren and inhospitable place, but it is actually home to a unique and stunning beauty. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. To get off the beaten path, heading up is always the way to find the best views with few crowds. Then the trail climbs steeply up to a ridgeline. Read on for our guide to North Cascades National Park. Location: Located south of State Route 20 at milepost 119. The park consists of two sections, called units. Even though North Cascades National Park is just three hours from Seattle by car, it welcomed a mere 17,855 visitors in 2021 a staggering number when compared to the 14.1 million people who . People love to visit the park because of the plethora of flora and fauna available. Highway 20, the main road in North Cascades National Park, is typically closed from early November through early May, although these times can change depending on snowfall amounts. Our goal is for people to be inspired, and The hiking distances we list are round trip. We stayed at Twisp River Suites in a 2-bedroom apartment. backcountry permit from the ranger station in Marblemount before heading into the backcountry. For help with reservations, call (877) 444-6777. Stay in one of 15 floating cabins on Ross Lake with views out onto the lake and surrounding mountains, or access boat-in-only camping through the resort. 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. - Steve Cundy and Scott Cundy, Co-founders and Managers. their lives enriched, by the wonders of our amazing planet. Since the North Cascades National Park is so large, it contains many environments, including temperate rainforests and dry ponderosa pine forests. Summer also has the most reliably good weather in the area but always be prepared for storms and cooler weather at higher elevations! Guide to Hiking North Cascades National Park. 1. If you are staying on the east side of the park, I highly recommend one of my favorite places in the world: Mazama and the Methow Valley. The park surrounds Highway 20, which travels between Sedro Wooley on the west side of the mountains and Mazama and the Methow Valley on the east side. To get from the lake to Desolation Peak, it is a challenging, steep hike. Your email address will not be published. Desolation Peak: 9.4 miles, hard. guided trips that allow you to get out there without the stress of planning the trip yourself! Operating Hours: The park is open 365 days a year, but operating hours of the visitor centers vary depending on the season. The trail starts off easy, a relatively flat walk through thick forests. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Travellers Worldwide is reader-supported. North Cascades National Park is one of the least visited national parks in the United States, but for those who venture here, it is a serene, beautiful experience. 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! Although it is not located in North Cascades National Park, you bump right up against the park border. It is an awe-inspiring sight. Late spring can be a good time to visit the North Cascades, but Highway 20 does not typically open until April or May, so be aware that much of the area will still be in winter mode. From hiking to kayaking to spending days in the backcountry, the real adventure begins when you get out of the car. This is where most visitors spend the majority of their time. In addition to hiking, you can enjoy kayaks, fishing, riding, swimming, and other activities in the park. Its nothing fancy but rooms are clean, quiet, and the WiFi worked well. We slept in Marblemount and on day 3 hiked Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm. Picture an alpine wonderland full of blue lakes, meadows, and towering peaks. If you dont have a watercraft, Ross Lake Resort rents kayaks, canoes, motorboats, and other equipment, making the perfect daytime activity for families or anyone wanting to spend time on the water. Location: Washington. You will rarely run into a grizzly, but it is essential to be prepared. As a National Park, the main activities you can do here include hiking, canoeing, camping, backpacking, and swimming. On the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn, you may need to deal with more weather concerns and, as a result, more specialty gear. North of this road is Ross Lake. There are also usually more activities during this time in general. Number of sites: 19 sites. 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