North Cascades National Park
The North Cascades are the “American Alps”, a wilderness of jagged, glacier-hung peaks, plunging valleys and turquoise glacier-fed lakes in northern Washington. Holding more glaciers than anywhere in the Lower 48 outside Alaska, and among the least-visited of the major parks, it offers rugged solitude, serious mountaineering, and scenery as dramatic as any range on the continent.
Fast facts
- Established: 1968
- Size: about 505,000 acres (2,040 km²) (within a larger complex with Ross Lake and Lake Chelan)
- Glaciers: more than 300, the most of any U.S. park outside Alaska
- Character: steep, wild and lightly visited
- Gateway: the North Cascades Highway (SR-20) corridor, Washington
- Managed by: National Park Service
The landscape
This is a vertical, heavily glaciated landscape, hundreds of ice-clad peaks, hanging valleys, and the milky turquoise waters of Diablo and Ross lakes far below. Old-growth forest fills the wet valleys, alpine meadows and heather bloom on the high benches, and the whole is stitched by rivers of glacial melt. Black bears, mountain goats, and even a few grizzlies range the wilderness.
Best time to go
Summer and early fall are effectively the season, when the North Cascades Highway is open, the high trails clear of snow, and the larches turn gold in late September. Deep snow buries the high country much of the year, and SR-20 closes for winter, so plan around the short, glorious mountain summer.
Getting there and around
The scenic North Cascades Highway (SR-20) threads the corridor between the park’s units, open seasonally, and is the main access, but the park itself is largely roadless wilderness reached on foot. Marblemount is the hub for wilderness permits; a vehicle gets you to the trailheads and overlooks along the highway.
Things to do
Hike to alpine viewpoints like Cascade Pass and Maple Pass, walk beneath old growth, and take in the highway overlooks of Diablo Lake’s unreal color. Backpackers link remote high routes, mountaineers tackle glaciated peaks like Shuksan and Boston, and boaters explore Ross and Lake Chelan (with the remote community of Stehekin).
Top 10 things to do in North Cascades National Park →
Staying safe
The high country is glaciated, crevassed terrain for equipped, experienced parties, and many trails have steep exposure. Weather turns fast and cold, snow lingers into summer, rivers run cold and swift, and this is bear country. Carry layers, a satellite messenger and bear-proof storage, and match objectives to your skills.
Know before you go
There is no entrance fee, but wilderness camping needs a permit, and SR-20 closes in winter. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current road status, conditions and permits with the National Park Service before your trip.
- Coordinates
- 48.6852, -121.1359
- Magnetic declination
- 14.9° E (2026)
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass
A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.
Getting there 2
Park entrance
Visitor centre
On the trail 49
Trailhead
Routes
Campgrounds
Huts and shelters
Sights 134
Viewpoints
Waterfalls
Lakes
Points of interest
Peaks 31
Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).
Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →
- Best seasons
- Summer, Early fall
- Difficulty
- Moderate to strenuous
- Access / trailheads
- In northern Washington via the North Cascades Highway (SR-20), which threads the area seasonally. The park itself is largely roadless; Marblemount is the permit hub.
- Water
- Abundant rivers, streams and lakes; filter or treat all backcountry water.
- Cell / satellite coverage
- Little to no cell service. Carry a map and a satellite messenger.
- Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
- Contact park rangers; life-threatening emergencies: 911.
- Permits & regulations
- No entrance fee; wilderness camping requires a permit, and the highway (SR-20) through the area closes in winter.
- Leave No Trace
- Use bear-proof storage, stay on trails, pack out all waste, and follow Leave No Trace.
January
- Below-freezing nights
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October This month
November
December
What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.
Plan a trip here →Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Newhalem station, 7 miles (11 km)11 km (7 miles) away at 525 feet (160 m)160 m (525 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.
Nearby parks
-
E.C. Manning Provincial Park
Subalpine meadows, the Heather Trail and the end of the Pacific Crest Trail, three hours from Vancouver on Highway 3.
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Cathedral Provincial Park
Turquoise alpine lakes and the Rim Trail's granite formations above the Ashnola River, reached only on foot by a long, steep climb.
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Golden Ears Provincial Park
Rugged Coast Mountain peaks and Alouette Lake on the edge of Metro Vancouver, with a summit climb that tests the unprepared.
-
San Juan Islands National Monument
Headlands, meadows and two lighthouses scattered across Washington’s San Juan Islands, a ferry ride from British Columbia.
Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.
Looking for somewhere closer to home?
See every park and monument within a day’s drive of where you are.