Hidden Lake: 9 miles, moderate to strenuous. To get to Rainy Lake, it is a flat walk on a paved trail to a viewpoint of the lake. The Stehekin Valley has long served as a passageway for travelers, linking Washington's interior wilderness to the rugged Cascade Mountains. , Traveling to new places has changed our lives, and we hope to share our experience, insight, and passion with you in order to inspire you to change yours as well! Even once the highway is open, trails and dirt roads might still be covered with snow until deep into the summer. There is an effort underway to restore the population of grizzly bears to the North Cascades. If you camp, it is essential to bring warm and comfortable layers, walkable shoes, and rain gear. In colder weather, it is always good to have socks, a hat, and good socks. In Winthrop, Rivers Edge Resort, Mt Gardner Inn, and Methow River Lodge all get great reviews. In the northern area of the park is the Picket Range, a collection of mountains, most rising over 8,000 feet. Backcountry permits are required year-round. 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. To. We spent three days in the North Cascades as part of a three-week road trip through Washington state. USA Hiking Vacations. Without a doubt, one of the best things to do in North Cascades National Park is to go hiking. Paul Peak is a quiet summit at a popular national park. Get the monthly weather forecast for North Cascades National Park, WA, including daily high/low, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. Too late for flowers, but the bugs will be gone, there will be few people, weather is still generally good, and there will be blueberries/huckleberries and a little fall color. Following all these steps and more can allow you to save money and have an easier time overall. There are countless day hikes in North Cascades National Park. You will hike through evergreen forests, through fields of heather and wildflowers, past marmots, mountain goats, and maybe even bear. Along the way, you can find hiking, climbing, fishing, riding, and more. The best time to visit North Cascades National Park is during the summer from mid-June to late September. Within the park, camping is only allowed in designated campgrounds, and you can make a reservation on Recreation.gov. As a result, you can enjoy your time in the North Cascades without too many people around. To get from the lake to Desolation Peak, it is a challenging, steep hike. Summertime offers the best weather in the park, averaging around 70 degrees during the daytime. When you plan your trip, consider lodgings such as Sun Mountain Lodge, Rivers Edge Resort, and Airbnbs. As such, the color is most vibrant on sunny days July through September when seasonal glacial melts occur. Blue Lake: 5 miles, easy to moderate. The temperatures from November to February hover between eight and 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-13 to -6 Celcius). Of course, more time is always better. Add on the scramble to Trapper Peak above the lake for an additional challenge and great views. If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. We slept in Marblemount and on day 3 hiked Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm. For more information or specific questions, email the park complex. Washington Pass is the highest point on Highway 20 and marks the middle of the western and eastern sections of . It is just a short drive from Seattle, Washington but North Cascades only gets a handful of the visitors that flock to nearby Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks. It is essential to know in advance that cell service is unreliable in the park. If you love beautiful views and want to feel in touch with nature, North Cascades National Park is one of the most beautiful places you can visit. , or pull out a map and see where you want to go! In some seasons, you may need more gear, making those seasons more expensive. guided trips that allow you to get out there without the stress of planning the trip yourself! (Photo by Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty . Position Summary: The North Cascades National Park is recruiting one 680 Hour Trail Crew Steward Individual Placement beginning May through September 2023 to provide recreation and natural resource management assistance. Are the miles on each of the hike above round trip or one way? While visiting the park, keep an eye out for elk, moose, marmots, pika, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, black bear, coyote, lynx, bobcats and otters. The best weather for visiting the North Cascades generally occurs between mid-June and late-September. If you manage to visit during less busy times with good hiking conditions, you can enjoy a tranquil visit to the North Cascades, where you will not run into too many people. For something more challenging that will offer spectacular views of the North Cascades Range, the Maple Pass Loop is amazing. During the operational season (mid-May to early September), a ll sites in campgrounds along State Route 20 and in Stehekin can be reserved in advance. The view isnt quite as good as it is at the Diablo Lake Overlook, but I still think it is worth the very quick stop. Keep in mind, climbing and mountaineering requires technical skills and know-how. These deciduous conifers grace the alpine zones of the North Cascades and turn bright yellow in the fall before shedding their needles for the winter. Now, visitors follow in his footsteps, hiking to the top of Desolation Peak. Before you go, make sure you get updates about park conditions, road closures, and trail closures on the National Park service website. We are also a member of several other affiliate networks. 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. 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. North Cascades National Park (NCNP) sits in northern Washington State, amidst the Northern Cascade mountains. Day 2: Rainy Lake, Blue Lake, Cutthroat Lake, Washington Pass Overlook, afternoon in Winthrop; sleep in Twisp. Travellers Worldwide is reader-supported. If you buy a product we link to, we may earn a commission. From hiking to kayaking to spending days in the backcountry, the real adventure begins when you get out of the car. Thunder Knob Trail - 3.6 mile roundtrip with a 425 foot elevation gain. Plan a trip into the backcountry of the North Cascades. For beautiful views over Diablo Lake, hike to the top of Thunder Knob. Be prepared for wintry conditions as early as September or October. 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. Operating Hours: The park is open 365 days a year, but operating hours of the visitor centers vary depending on the season. Areas around Washington Pass or Heather/Maple pass often become crowded with hikers and photographers when Larch Madness descends in September or October. The vast expanses of sand dunes, the towering rock formations, and the clear night skies all contribute to the captivating allure of the desert. Lake Chelan is in the southeast part of the North Cascades National Park Complex. Look out for ferries, visitor centers, and the dam that produces electricity. If you want to visit Stehekin, you will need a minimum of two days, since travel times can be long between Chelan and Stehekin. Forks, Sol Duc falls, Hurricane Ridge. With two days in North Cascades National Park, do what I list above on day 1. But despite not receiving nearly the visitation of nearby Olympic or Rainier National Parks (in 2020, North Cascades received ~30,000 visitors compared to Olympics 2.5 million and Rainiers 1 million), North Cascades National Park is well worth the visit. Unlike some National Parks, you cant truly experience the spectacle of the park without putting in some real effort. Along this hike, you will have stunning views of the North Cascades range, with views of Sahale, Forbidden, and Boston peaks. The backcountry is where the North Cascades shine if you have more time. Note: This post contains affiliate links. 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 . Discover the latest conservation jobs and internships The best overall time to visit is in the summer, between June and September. Day 1: Arrive in the evening to Twisp. Since the North Cascades National Park is so large, it contains many environments, including temperate rainforests and dry ponderosa pine forests. If you want to pack in as many activities and sights as possible on your day trip to North Cascades National Park from Seattle, it makes sense to embark on short hikes rather than full-day treks. Trail of the Cedars. While the higher elevation keeps this very popular North Cascades trail from being a year-round fungal destination, it can be a mushroom paradise. There are also mudslides that close . After a short descent, you are standing at the shore of Thornton Lake. 15. - Steve Cundy and Scott Cundy, Co-founders and Managers. Wildflowers might be gone, but the ground foliage is resplendent is the fall. Olympic National Park Vs. North Cascades: Overviews. to experience the deep North Cascades wilderness. I just hiked Hidden Lake LO trail (West side) on Sept 9, the wildflowers were still abundant and beautiful. North Cascades National Park does not require permits to hike in some areas while requiring a permit in others. In 2021, it only had 18,000 visitors, making it the 4th least visited national park in the United States. 1. By participating, you could win one of three $1,000 prizes or a Scotts Miracle-Gro gift pack. Road access is weather dependent, typically accessible spring through late fall. North Cascades National Park is nicknamed the American Alps, getting its name from the jagged, rocky mountain peaks and emerald green slopes. North Cascades National Park. Its well worth a stay in addition to being excellent access for North Cascades National Park and the surrounding mountains. 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