North Cascades National Park is one of America's most rugged and least-visited national parks, known for jagged peaks, glaciers, turquoise lakes, and old-growth forests. Before entering the park, we stopped in the Old West-style town of Winthrop and camped nearby at Pearrygin Lake State Park before crossing Washington Pass to begin exploring the Cascades.
Pick a stop to see its story and photos.
Winthrop is an Old West-themed service town on the east approach to the North Cascades. Its wooden storefronts, restaurants, and shops make it a useful and memorable stop before crossing Washington Pass.
Pearrygin Lake State Park sits just outside Winthrop and provides camping, swimming, paddling, and an easy overnight base before crossing Washington Pass into the North Cascades.
Washington Pass Overlook is a short paved walk from Highway 20 to broad views of Liberty Bell Mountain and the surrounding peaks. It marks the sharp transition from the dry Methow Valley into the alpine North Cascades.
Lake Ann Trail begins at Rainy Pass and climbs through forest and wildflower slopes to a small alpine lake beneath the surrounding ridges. The roughly four-mile round trip shares its trailhead with the Pacific Crest Trail and Maple Pass Loop.
Diablo Lake is one of the North Cascades' most recognizable sights, famous for its brilliant turquoise water created by glacial rock flour suspended in the lake. Highway 20 offers spectacular overlooks, while nearby Colonial Creek provides shoreline access beneath the surrounding peaks.
The Skagit Hydroelectric Project has powered the Seattle area for more than a century through a series of dams, reservoirs, and powerhouses along the Skagit River. Stops such as Diablo Dam, Gorge Dam, Ladder Creek Falls, and the powerhouse museum showcase both the engineering and history behind the system.
Newhalem is a forested base along the Skagit River with campground access and several connected short walks. We combined the River Loop, Trail of the Cedars, and Rock Shelter Trail, which leads to an archaeological site used by Indigenous people centuries ago.
The Thornton Lakes–Trappers Peak route is a steep, roughly ten-mile hike with more than 3,500 feet of elevation gain. A forest climb and exposed scramble lead to ridge views over three alpine lakes and the surrounding North Cascades.
Marble Creek Campground is a shaded forest campground beside a fast-moving creek near Marblemount. We used it for two rest days between the Trappers Peak and Cascade Pass hikes.
Cascade Pass is one of the park's major alpine routes, climbing through forest to open views of glaciers and sharp peaks. Our 7.4-mile hike included mountain goats, lingering snow, and the option to continue higher toward Sahale Arm.
Winthrop is an Old West-themed service town on the east approach to the North Cascades. Its wooden storefronts, restaurants, and shops make it a useful and memorable stop before crossing Washington Pass.
Pearrygin Lake State Park sits just outside Winthrop and provides camping, swimming, paddling, and an easy overnight base before crossing Washington Pass into the North Cascades.
Washington Pass Overlook is a short paved walk from Highway 20 to broad views of Liberty Bell Mountain and the surrounding peaks. It marks the sharp transition from the dry Methow Valley into the alpine North Cascades.
Lake Ann Trail begins at Rainy Pass and climbs through forest and wildflower slopes to a small alpine lake beneath the surrounding ridges. The roughly four-mile round trip shares its trailhead with the Pacific Crest Trail and Maple Pass Loop.
Diablo Lake is one of the North Cascades' most recognizable sights, famous for its brilliant turquoise water created by glacial rock flour suspended in the lake. Highway 20 offers spectacular overlooks, while nearby Colonial Creek provides shoreline access beneath the surrounding peaks.
The Skagit Hydroelectric Project has powered the Seattle area for more than a century through a series of dams, reservoirs, and powerhouses along the Skagit River. Stops such as Diablo Dam, Gorge Dam, Ladder Creek Falls, and the powerhouse museum showcase both the engineering and history behind the system.
Newhalem is a forested base along the Skagit River with campground access and several connected short walks. We combined the River Loop, Trail of the Cedars, and Rock Shelter Trail, which leads to an archaeological site used by Indigenous people centuries ago.
The Thornton Lakes–Trappers Peak route is a steep, roughly ten-mile hike with more than 3,500 feet of elevation gain. A forest climb and exposed scramble lead to ridge views over three alpine lakes and the surrounding North Cascades.
Marble Creek Campground is a shaded forest campground beside a fast-moving creek near Marblemount. We used it for two rest days between the Trappers Peak and Cascade Pass hikes.
Cascade Pass is one of the park's major alpine routes, climbing through forest to open views of glaciers and sharp peaks. Our 7.4-mile hike included mountain goats, lingering snow, and the option to continue higher toward Sahale Arm.
We left Spokane and made our way toward the North Cascades, with a planned overnight stop at Pearrygin Lake…
We packed up at Pearrygin State Park and headed west along Highway 20, leaving the dry, open landscape…
With highs hitting 90 degrees, we stuck to morning hiking and shady trails near Newhalem Campground.…
Another scorcher in the Northern Cascades with temps back in the 90s, so we planned the day around staying…
After days of heat, the forecast finally gave us a break with a high of 75. Naturally, we celebrated by…
We broke camp at Newhalem and made one last stop before leaving. Danny wanted a shot of the old locomotive…
Once we were fully recharged after a couple of down days, we laced up our boots again for the Cascade Pass…
