North Cascades National Park
Washington
Imagine immersing yourself in an evergreen forest, hiking over mountaintops sometimes still lightly dusted with snow, and coming across glistening clear pools nestled in between two peaks, and you’ll get a pretty good mental image of what to expect at North Cascades National Park. Blue Lake Trail, Cascade Pass and Hidden Lake Lookout Trail all offer spectacular views of the mountains, and all the lakes and the forests in between.
This is a beautiful park, best enjoyed in the summer months in my opinion (July or August). Be sure to check park conditions with a ranger before you go, as wildfires sometimes break out here and you’ll want to know which areas are at highest risk. My group was caught off guard when a wildfire got dangerously close to where we were hiking…you do not want that to happen to you!
Read on for more tips on camping and backpacking in the North Cascades, and some of the best hikes to try to enjoy this magnificent park.
North Cascades National Park Stats
When to Visit North Cascades National Park
Below is a chart outlining the average number of visitors and temperatures for each month in North Cascades National Park as of 2023.
Plants and Animals at North Cascades National Park, Utah
The national park service tracks each animal and plant species sighting in the park. The data below is a summary of the NPS Species database, updated in 2024.
North Cascades National Park Hikes
The North Cascades offer a vast wilderness for you to get lost in (figuratively and literally). Hike over mountain ridges and into valleys. Take in stunning views of glistening, clear lakes nestled between two peaks. There are endless trails to explore, but below are just a few of the most popular hikes in the park.
Blue Lake Trail
This 4.6 mile round trip hike is doable for most hikers, and dog friendly – as long as they are on a leash. This hike offers a range of views that make it one of the more popular hikes in the park, and it is easily accessible from a parking lot right off of Highway 20.
This hike takes you through peaceful forests, into a meadow teaming with wildflowers like the Cascade Azalea or Lupine, and ends at the beautiful Blue Lake, nestled between two granite mountains. If you’re feeling brave, take a dip in the cool blue waters, or just enjoy the views from the lakeside. This is a must-try hike for any first time visitors to the North Cascades!
Cascade Pass
The Cascade Pass Trail is the most popular hike in the park. This 6.9 mile out-and-back hike is only accessible from the Cascade Pass parking lot beginning in late June or July, depending on weather conditions. Dogs are not allowed on this trail.
This trail is popular for a reason! This day-hike offers spectacular views of peaks and glaciers, such as Eldorado, Johannesburg, Magic, Mixup, McGregor and even Mt. Rainier on a clear day. Backcountry camping is permitted along this trail only with the use of a backcountry camping pass, which you can purchase at recreation.gov. This hike takes you through meadows and along the subalpine environment thriving on the mountainsides. Look for marmots, deer, and wildflowers just after the snow melts - but watch where you step! Be sure to stay on the trail so as not to endanger delicate plant species in this unique ecosystem.
Ladder Creek Falls
If you’re not looking for as long of a hike as Cascade Pass, Ladder Creek Falls offers an easy, half mile trail with astounding views of the waterfall. There are many beautiful views packed into this short loop, including those of wildflowers in the spring and vibrant foliage in the fall. Dogs are permitted on this trail, on a leash. This is also a kid-friendly hike for those hiking with family.
Hidden Lake Lookout Trail
This 8.8 mile out-and-back trail is a bit more challenging and not a good choice for a day hike. If you are backpacking, however, this trail offers excellent views of all that the North Cascades has to offer, including granite mountainsides, crystal clear lakes and alpine forests. The best time to hike this trail is May to October, but expect to traverse snowfields on this hike. Make sure you have the proper gear before attempting this hike, including snow axes and ice grips for your shoes. Dogs are allowed on this trail, on a leash. The end of the hike offers a lookout with a view of the surrounding mountains (including Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker) that will leave you speechless.
North Cascades National Park Camping
There are six campgrounds in the park: Newhalem Creek Campground, Gorge Lake Campground, Goodell Creek Campground, Lower Goodell Creek Campground, Colonial Creek North Campground, and Colonial Creek South Campground. Most of these campgrounds are only open the Monday before Memorial Day weekend through September. Most campsites can be reserved in advance at recreation.gov. A limited number of sites are available year-round on a first-come, first-served basis with no water and no fee. These sites are: Goodell Creek and the tent-only walk-in sites at Colonial Creek South.
Check each campground’s webpage for more information on the services offered. Some of the campgrounds have trash collection services, potable water stations and flush toilets seasonally. Gathering firewood is strictly prohibited in all of the campgrounds. Firewood is available just outside the park. Additionally, cell service is spotty in some areas, so don’t depend on it.
Backcountry camping in North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park offers a wide variety of trails and backcountry campsites. One particularly unique feature of this park are the boat-in campsites. There are twenty-five boat-in campsites available at Lake Chelan, Ross Lake and Diablo Lake. However, boating to the campsites when the water level is too low is prohibited. It’s best to plan a trip between July and September for the best boating conditions.
A backcountry permit is required year-round for backcountry camping in the park. To obtain a permit, make a reservation for a backcountry trip on recreation.gov. From there, you can follow the instructions to obtain a permit via email to print ahead of your trip. Additionally, it is strongly encouraged that first time visitors talk to a ranger about their trip in advance. As I mentioned earlier, it is a good idea to check the ranger station right before you head out on your trip for fire conditions, weather and things of that nature. Visit the wilderness trip planner for more information on backcountry campsites and their amenities.
Pro Tip: Before every backcountry trip my sister and I embark on, we purchase a National Geographic Trails Illustrated Topographic Map of the park we are about to visit. These maps outline trail distances, where there are campsites, topography, parking spots and more and are very helpful for planning a trip according to your group’s abilities.
North Cascades National Park History
The region that is now North Cascades National Park was first settled by Paleo-Indian Native Americans, then much later, Skagit tribes. By the early 19th century, the region was visited by fur trappers and several British and American companies vied for control over the fur trade. Limited mining and logging occurred in this area from the late 19th century to the early 20th century.
The North Cascades were designated a National Park in 1968 to protect the remaining land. The park is made up of 684,237 federally protected acres from the crest of the Cascade Mountains to the Canadian border south to Lake Chelan. The park is additionally bordered by two national recreation areas, several national forests and wilderness areas, as well as Canadian provincial parks in British Columbia. All together, these spaces make up more than two million acres of protected land.
Other Resources:
If you’re planning a trip to North Cascades National Park, check out the additional resources below for help.
