North Cascades National Park Guide

Transportation and Accommodation in North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park is located in Washington State.
It is one of the three national parks around Seattle . The other two are Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park
. It is also one of the least visited national parks in the United States.

Admission : Free.
Opening hours : Open all year round. June to October is the best time to visit.
Current road conditions/trail opening : Please see here


by Pavł Polø

Transportation in North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park is a 2.5-hour drive from Seattle
. Most of the attractions are concentrated near the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20).
You can go there on a day trip or arrange a 2-day, 1-night trip.

Accommodation in North Cascades National Park

The most convenient place to stay is the town of Winthrop:
AbbyCreek Inn ★★ $
Location 8.8 Facilities/Service 8.0 Value for Money 8.2 Methow River Lodge ★★★ $$ Location 9.5 Facilities/Service 8.9 Value for Money 8.5 Sun Mountain Lodge ★★★ $$$ Location 9.4 Facilities/Service 9.0 Value for Money 8.2 River's Edge Resort ★★★★ $$$ Location 9.6 Facilities/Service 9.3 Value for Money 8.9

What to do in North Cascades National Park

Sample itinerary :
Day1 Depart from Seattle > Walk "1. Thunder Knob Trail" to see the forest/lake view ( 1.5-2 hours ) > Check out the most beautiful scenic spot "2. Diablo Lake Vista Point" ( 15 minutes ) > Walk "3. Ross Dam Trail" to see the dam ( 1 hour/optional ) > "5. Washington Pass" to see the spectacular mountain scenery ( 15 minutes ) > Stay in Winthrop town at night
Day2 Walk the most beautiful trail "4. Maple Pass Trail" ( 5 hours ) > Return to Seattle

Attractions in North Cascades National Park

1. Thunder Knob Trail, Lake View Trail

Popular trail, through the forest, across the creek, overlooking Diablo Lake at the end, but blocked by trees
3.3 miles/5.5 kilometers round trip, 206 meters of elevation gain, medium to low
difficulty Time required: 1.5 - 2 hours
AllTrails: 4.6 stars 3549 reviews +
Address: Thunder Knob Trailhead Rockport, WA 98283


Recommended video: 3 minutes and 7 seconds, XtraMileS, click to watch (Youtube)





2. Lake view point Diablo Lake Vista Point

The most popular viewing point in the park, overlooking the blue-green Diablo Lake
without trees blocking the view. You can enjoy the view as soon as you get off the car, without
hiking Time required: 15 minutes
Address: Diablo Lake Vista Point State Rte 20, Rockport, WA 98283


Recommended video: 2 minutes and 30 seconds long, Seth August, click to watch (Youtube) Photography: by RC Victorino | Peter Robbins | Andrew Spencer | Ryan Stone









3. Ross Dam Trail

The scenery is average, but there is a dam to see, which is interesting. The difficulty is medium, and it is an optional attraction.
1.4 miles/2.3 kilometers round trip, 110 meters of elevation gain
Time required for the tour: 1-1.5 hours
AllTrails: 4.3 stars 668 reviews +
Address: Ross Dam Trailhead N Cascades Hwy, Rockport, WA 98283


Recommended video: 4 minutes long, Adventure with Sunny, click to watch (Youtube)





4. The most beautiful trail Maple Pass Trail

The most beautiful trail in the area ( not as good as the Rainier Skyline Trail next door ), you can see exquisite small lakes
6.6 miles/10.5 kilometers round trip, 659 meters of elevation gain, high difficulty, it is recommended to walk counterclockwise
Time required for play: 5-6 hours
Note: There are a lot of people on weekends in autumn, and the trail is dusty, please be mentally prepared
Equipment: It is recommended to use trekking poles, please refer to " Recommended equipment for beginners "
Accommodation: If you plan to walk this trail, it is recommended to stay in the nearby town of Winthrop
AllTrails: 4.9 stars 6902 reviews +
Address: Maple Pass Trailhead Pacific Crest Nat'l Scenic Trl, Winthrop, WA 98862


Recommended video: 8 minutes and 10 seconds long, XtraMileS, click to watch (Youtube) Photography: by Beier C.









5. Mountain View Attraction Washington Pass Observation Site

It is far from the main scenic area, but it is worth going! After parking, walk for 5 minutes to enjoy the magnificent mountain view
Time taken: 15 minutes
Address: Washington Pass Observation Site Mazama, WA 98833Photography


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by Pavł Polø | Peter Robbins

Safety in North Cascades National Park

Safety tips
- Be especially careful when driving at dawn and dusk , as animals often appear/cross the road during this period
-There is no signal in most areas of the park, so don't rely on your phone
-If you encounter a bear at close range, you cannot turn around and run away ( which may arouse the animal's hunting instinct ), you can only back away slowly, or speak loudly to scare it away


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Thank you for reading, I wish you all a happy time!
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