North Cascades
MOUNTAINS · WA

North Cascades

National Park
RANKED #13 OF 64 · COMPOSITE RANKING

The Details

The American Alps — one of the most rugged and remote mountain ranges in the lower 48, with over 300 active glaciers.

STATE
WA
ESTABLISHED
1968
AREA
505k acres
ECOSYSTEM
Mountains

When To Visit

Best Time To Visit

MONTH BY MONTH
BEST TIME TO GO

Mid-July–September: the North Cascades Highway is open, high trails are snow-free, and larches turn gold in late September–October.

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WEATHER
CROWDS
Weather: greatokaytough — heat, cold, snow, monsoon or closures
Crowds: quietmoderatebusy
CROWDS

Uncrowded for its beauty; summer weekends at Diablo Lake and Washington Pass are the busiest.

WEATHER

SR 20 closes for winter, and avalanches and snow persist on higher trails into July. The west side is rainy, and wildfire smoke is possible in late summer.

General patterns — conditions vary by year. Check current NPS alerts and road status before you go.

How Far

Park Entrances

SET YOUR LOCATION
Every entrance is a different drive. Enter your ZIP to compare:
North Cascades Visitor Center (Newhalem)
DIRECTIONS →
Stehekin Landing (boat/air)
DIRECTIONS →

Nearest Airports

ESTIMATED DRIVE TO THE PARK
BLI
Bellingham IntlNEAREST
≈ 74 mi · ~1.5 hr drive to North Cascades Visitor Center (Newhalem)
DIRECTIONS →
SEA
Seattle–Tacoma Intl
≈ 121 mi · ~2.4 hr drive to North Cascades Visitor Center (Newhalem)
DIRECTIONS →

Distances are rough estimates to the closest entrance. Check road and ferry conditions before you go.

What To Do

Top Things To Do

◆Drive the North Cascades Highway (SR 20)
◆Hike toward Cascade Pass
◆Stop at the Diablo Lake overlook
◆Paddle or camp at Ross Lake

Where To Stay

Camping

Campgrounds inside the park are booked through Recreation.gov, and many fill months ahead.

FIND CAMPSITES ON RECREATION.GOV ↗

Lodging & Nearby Towns

INSIDE THE PARK
Ross Lake ResortNorth Cascades Lodge at Stehekin
GATEWAY TOWNS
MarblemountWinthropSedro-WoolleyStehekin

Cool Facts & Figures

By The Numbers

#20
LARGEST OF 64
#33
OLDEST OF 64
504,781
ACRES
58
YEARS PROTECTED
◆More than 300 glaciers sit within the park — more than any other park in the lower 48.
◆Stehekin can be reached only by boat, plane or on foot.

Links

Plan Your Visit

OFFICIAL & TRUSTED SITES
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