Often overshadowed by its cousins, the National Parks that also surround Seattle, North Cascades National Park holds hidden treasures for all who come to behold its beauty. Crystal blue lakes, mountain goats, rushing waters, and otherworldly dams just touch the surface of all the park has to offer. So, travel along with me in this article as we discover all there is to do, where to stay, what to bring, and more for North Cascades National Park!
Table of Contents
Tips for Visiting North Cascades National Park
- Rent a car (things are more spread out in this park)
- Bring bug spray (especially during summer)
- Check the website for wildlife warnings
- Come prepared and conditioned for longer hikes, there are not many short ones
Hikes & More Things to do
The way North Cascades National Park is laid out, everything is basically off one road. This makes it easier to find things, but hikes are further apart, and you have to drive between them. Because of this, there are no distinct areas that the park is separated into. However, there is still a lot to do.
On our trip, North Cascades was the second park we visited, and we were feeling pretty tired and sore, so unfortunately, we did not do as many hikes as we had planned. Keep this in mind and plan for rest on your trip. Now, let’s get started!
North Cascades Highway
There are two main roads in North Cascades that make up the park. North Cascades Highway is the main road, and I would suggest that you stick to this road during your trip. Most hikes will be off this road, and it is a gorgeous drive even if you do not stop. The main scenic area of the road starts in Marblemount and ends in Winthrop. I highly suggest driving the whole thing if you have time in your trip.
Cascades River Road
The other road in the park is the Cascades River Road and branches off from North Cascades in Marblemount via a one-lane bridge. I had heard mixed reviews on this road, but when traveling, it is hard for me to leave a stone unturned, so we drove it. I would not recommend it. At the end are two very long hikes in a remote area of the park. While we were there, bears had been sighted in the area, so we knew we were not going to do either hike.
It is also overgrown and obviously not as well kept as other areas of the park. Finally, the road is SO bad. I had heard this before, but I was truly surprised by just how bad it was, and I was nervous taking our rental on the road. It was worse than the backroad to Hana on Maui. It also took us an hour to drive. Save your time and skip this road.
Cascades Pass & Hidden Lake
These are the two hikes at the end of Cascades River Road. When we visited, the road was closed two miles before the trailhead, so you would have to add two miles to the total length for the hike. Cascades Pass is 7.5 miles and Hidden Lake is 9 miles. Because this area of the park is more remote and harder to get to, with more wildlife, I would only recommend these to experienced and knowledgeable hikers.
North Cascades Visitors Center
A must-do in each national park for me is to head to the visitor center. I love to talk to rangers to figure out their favorite hikes and if there are any warnings or closures we need to know. Looking around the gift shop and getting a Junior Ranger booklet are also musts. Some visitor centers have really great displays that show information about the history of the park, animals, and the landscape in the park, and more. Therefore, the North Cascades National Park Visitor Center is a must-visit.
Thunderknob Trail
Thunderknob Trail is the first trail we did in the park and is a great there-and-back 3.6-mile hike up to an amazing lookout. It will give you a good workout but is not too exhausting. If you plan to camp, there is a campground at the trailhead, and in my opinion, it has the best location in the park.
Sterling Munro Trail
The Sterling Munro Trail is a short 330ft trail that is located at the North Cascades National Park Visitors Center. It is a great short, easy trail for families and anyone who is already stopping by the visitors center.
River Loop Trail
We love a good loop trail. The River Loop Trail also starts at the North Cascades Visitors Center and is 1.8 miles long. It leads you through the forest and provides views of the river. A nice trail to stretch your legs and stroll.
Gorge Creek Falls & Overlook Trail
Offering a good-sized parking lot and bathrooms at the trailhead, you can take a short stroll to an overlook of Gorge Creek Falls and/or you can take a 0.8-mile loop to see Gorge Lake and Dam. Part of the loop is accessible with the other half through the forest.
Diablo Lake Overlook Trail
The Diablo Lake Trail is a there-and-back trail to a sweeping overlook of Diablo Lake and other parts of North Cascades National Park. It has a good altitude change of 1400 feet and is 7.6 miles long, so make sure you are prepared for the hike with snacks and water. We heard great things but were just not up for a hike so long at the time of our trip when we were in the North Cascades.
East Bank Trail
The East Bank Trail is an easy trail with a low elevation gain of only 800 feet and is 31 miles long. Whether you decide to camp out or only hike a portion of the trail, it is a good one for families or anyone wanting a nice low elevation trail.
Ross Lake Trail
The Ross Lake Trail is a steep trail that will lead you down to a service road so that you can get to the Ross Lake Dam. From here, you can walk across the dam and see Ross Lake. There are other ways to access the Ross Lake Dam, so if this is the only reason you are taking this trail and you want something a bit easier, look into other trails.
Blue Lake Trail
The Blue Lake Trail was one of our favorite trails in North Cascades National Park. It is a 5.3-mile there-and-back trail that showcases a gorgeous alpine lake at the end. I highly recommend this trail. When we were there, we saw a family swimming in the lake, spotted lots of animals (including pikas!), and tried to spot a mountain goat.
Pro Tip: bring lots of bug spray and snacks to sit a while at the end. Read below for more details about this and our experience.
Maple Pass Trail
The Maple Pass Trail was one we did not get to, but I had read great reviews and we heard great things from people we asked for recommendations. We opted to do multiple smaller trails instead of Maple Pass, which is 7.5 miles, but I wish we could have gotten to this one. The altitude change is no joke, but the end views are supposed to be sweet.
Rainy Lake Trail
Rainy Lake Trail is at the same trailhead as Maple Pass, so if you are looking to plan a long hiking day with variety, it would be easy to combine these two trails. This is a there-and-back trail that leads you to Rainy Lake. It is a completely paved 2-mile trail and a great choice for families or those in need of accessible trails.
Agnes Gorge
The Agnes Gorge Trail is an easy out-and-back trail, spanning a total of 5 miles. It would be a great hike to include in your itinerary if you plan to visit the Stehekin area. However, if you are not specifically going to the Stehekin area, I would not worry about this trail due to its inconvenient access.
Skagit Information Center
Located in Newhalem, the Skagit Information Center tells of the history of the area and the multiple dams that provide electricity to surrounding towns, and even Seattle. It is a good break, and all history buffs will love it. We just walked through and scanned, but if you like to read and learn about the places you travel, you will love it.
Newhalem
Newhalem is a small town (if you could even call it that) that was created because of the dams on the Skagit River. There are not places to stay here for travelers, but there is a market and shops. It is a good place to stop for snacks and to let kids run around and play on a playground.
Trail of Cedars
Trail of Cedars is a short 0.6 mile loop trail that starts from Newhalem. It is very approachable for all abilities and goes through a forest with some huge trees. I would not consider this a must-do, but it is a nice short trail to add on if you are in the area.
Winthrop
Winthrop, WA is the town to the East of North Cascades National Park, with Marblemount, WA being the western endpoint. It is an adorable western themed town that takes Frontierland in Magic Kingdom and makes it a reality. Precious shops, great ice cream, and good vibes.
If you are trying to figure out where to stay, this is a good option for a close town outside of the park. However, even if you are not staying here, it is fun to visit if you have time.
Where to Stay When Visiting North Cascades National Park
When visiting North Cascades National Park, there are not many options when trying to decide where to stay. There are some places in the park (like Ross Lake Resort), but they can be difficult to get to and require a boat or plane. If you are in it for an experience, plan to stay just in that area, and are not working on a budget, then these could be great places for you. However, my guess is that, like us, that is not the case.
If you like to camp, there are some great campsites in the park with bathrooms and access to water and trailheads.
The leftmost town to North Cascades National Park is Marblemount and the rightmost town is Winthrop. To decide which town you want to stay in, I suggest looking up 1) where are you driving from and 2) where are the majority of the trails you want to hike.
I found that Winthrop was a bit further away from most of the trails we planned to do. However, it is a bit larger that Marblemount and a really cute town to visit during your trip anyway.
Marblemount has a lot less to offer, but is a bit closer to places in the park. You are also forced to drive through it if you are coming from Seattle or the West.
We chose to stay at the North Cascades Inn in Marblemount and were really glad. It was a quaint, adorable little Inn that was very comfortable and clean. It is basically the only place to stay in Marblemount and we were worried it was going to be run down and feel old because of this. However, it pleasantly surprised us.
What to Bring When Visiting North Cascades National Park
Okay, get ready for a long list, because with the diversity of the weather in North Cascades National Park, that means a diverse array of clothing. However, I will try to only list my favorite and must-get’s.
- Hiking boots (I LOVE my keens and highly recommend getting hiking specific insoles, they saved my feet).
- Hiking pants (Prana pants have been my go-to brand and I am loyal. Pricey, but worth it, trust me.)
- T-shirts or tank tops for summertime hiking
- Merino wool long sleeve for colder temperatures (I find smartwool to be really flattering and comfortable)
- Hiking socks (Darn Tough has some really cute designs & high quality)
- Rainjacket (I lean towards Northface, but you can find more affordable ones)
- Hiking packs (my husband convinced me to get an Osprey and I won’t go back)
- Sunhat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Quick dry underwear (Found these on amazon and they are great with 100%cotton – I wear them all the time!)
- Light jacket to layer (a great Lulu Lemon dupe on amazon – here)
- National Park Pass (if you are going to visit more than 3 parks in a year)
- First aid kit
- Snacks
- Swimsuit
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Our Experience
Our route to North Cascades National Park from Mount Rainier National Park took us back through Seattle, North, and over East which worked out perfectly, because we wanted to stop at an REI to get a few things. Once we got to Seattle we picked up Burger King (I know, very fancy, but we were starving and it was fast) and ate in the car. Then we headed to REI where we got some sun shirts (we were not expecting it to be so hot – 80s), hiking socks and hiking boot insoles. We also just strolled around, because who doesn’t love an REI. Btw it was started in Seattle!
After some shopping, we continued our drive until we stopped in Mount Vernon at a Safeway to get more groceries. We stocked back up and got a few more things and then picked up Panda Express for dinner. Then we continued our trek to the wilderness, about an hour away.
We arrived in Marblemount which is just West of the park where we were staying. It consisted of two restaurants, two gas stations and one North Cascades Inn where we were staying. I was a little worried since it was a small Inn and the only place to stay, but we were very impressed. It was roomy (except for the bathroom), clean, and comfortable. It was also a great location to the park and we didn’t have to drive more than an hour to anything. I would highly recommend it.
After settling in, we got ready for bed and went night night.
Day 7 in North Cascades National Park
Our first day in North Cascades National Park! After resting up yesterday, we wanted today to be more hiking and active while we were rested. After getting ready and eating breakfast, we headed out to our first hike.
Our first hike was the Thunderknob Trail which was 3.6 miles. The trailhead is a camp ground and has actual toilets and lake access. It’s a great spot. The trail went through a majestic forest along creeks at the beginning, but then cleared out from what appeared to be a forest fire of old. There was a bit of altitude, so it definitely was a workout. When we got to the top, there were multiple lookout places of Diablo Lake, a gorgeous blue alpine lake formed by one of the dams in the area.
We rested at the top, took a bunch of pictures and ate snacks/lunch before heading back down. Once we got to the bottom, we headed to the Visitors Center. It was smaller, but had a theatre with a short show about the park, an area to walk through and learn about the wildlife, and a small small shop. We looked around everything and I became a junior ranger to get a pin. Then we headed to Newhalem and walked around the Skagit Information Center. We learned about the hydroelectric project and how the dams work to provide electricity to Seattle.
Then we walked along the Trail of Cedars, a short 0.6 mile trail that started in the town. There were a ton of big trees and it was a nice stroll. From there we went to the Gorge Dam and hydroelectric building to walk around it. You could hear the electricity running along the lines and crackling. After circling the building and learning more about the history, we headed to the Ross Lake Trail.
This trail was a steep path that led down to a service road where you could get to the Ross Lake Dam and walk along the top. We walked along the whole dam and admired the dam like “wow that’s crazy big, can’t believe it’s holding back all that water.” Then it sprinkled and we used our rain jackets to turtle and keep us safe from the water, but it got cooler!
Then we hiked back up, but on the way stopped at a beautiful waterfall and relaxed for a while. After finishing up the hike, we headed back towards Marblemount. We ate dinner at Mondos, a Korean American restaurant. I got the chicken ranch wrap and Reid got a burger. Both were good. Service was quick and it was a quirky restaurant. I was hesitant to go, but am glad we went.
After dinner, we got ready for the next day and went to sleep.
Day 8 in North Cascades National Park
Today was our second day in North Cascades National Park. After sleeping in yesterday, we were determined to get up earlier because we needed to drive a little further and were worried about parking. So, after getting ready we left and drove an hour to the trailhead for the Blue Lake Trail. It was a little cooler which was really nice.
The trail was a slow uphill incline, mostly through the woods, with a couple of meadows, boardwalks and streams. You hiked 2.2 miles to get to the “top” where you see a blue alpine lake formed by the melting snow on the mountain. There are several trails at the top you can walk through to see other viewpoints.
When we got to the top, we kept going to get to the highest viewpoint. We paused for some pictures and for me to shed some layers. That’s when we saw. The mosquitos. The monsters. Swarming, flying, landing on you. Everywhere. It was bad, but we were expecting it and loaded ourselves up with bug spray.
We kept going to another viewpoint and sat down in the shade for a break and snack. Once the bugs got too bad we got up and moved to another spot closer to the lake. We sat there for a while finishing our snack, watching fish, getting pictures and cooling off. The sun went behind the clouds and it cooled off and felt amazing. Then we walked around a little bit more and spotted some pikas scampering over rocks and watched them a while.
After that we started our descent down the hill. I had to pee so bad that by the end I was rushing as much as possible to make it back to the trailhead bathroom. I was so worried a bug would bite my booty if I squatted along the trail.
From there we drove to Winthrop to explore the town. It was really precious and western themed. We walked around the downtown exploring stores before stopping for some homemade ice cream. I got peach and vanilla, Reid got chocolate and chocolate chunk. We sat on the patio eating it and people watching before walking around the rest of the town, then started to head back to Marblemount.
It was a 2 hour drive back and once we got back we went to dinner at Upriver. I got the salmon with mashed potatoes and asparagus, Reid got the hatch green chili burger. Both were good. After dinner, we drove the Cascades River Road. It leads to the only other part of the park. We had read it was a scenic drive, but honestly I disagree. It took an hour to drive to the end and another hour back with half of that on a dirt road. It was all through a forest and although it had some big trees, there are other places more exciting and more easily accessible that you can see them. I would only recommend this if you are hiking a trail at the end.
Once we got back to the inn, we got ready for bed and started to pack up to leave the next day.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How many days do you need at North Cascades?
I think two days is sufficient or a long weekend. North Cascades National Park is not a huge park and there is not a lot of driving required to get to different places. Depending on how close to the park you are, you you could even just spend one night.
What town to stay in for Noth Cascades National Park?
Your only options really are Marblemount and Winthrop. I think Marblemount is a better option, because of proximity to places in the park, but I could be biased since that is where we stayed and I have not stayed elsewhere.
Which is better North Cascades or Mount Rainier?
I personally prefered Mount Rainier. I feel that there is more to do/variety in the park. However, before visiting both, most people I had met or read about prefered North Cascades National Park. So, visit both and draw your own conclusions then let us know down in the comments!
Is there a scenic drive through North Cascades National Park?
Yes! North Cascades Road is beautiful and I highly recommend driving from Marblemount to Winthrop to see it all.
Can you do North Cascades National Park in one day?
Probably. It depends on how many trails you want to hike and what all you want to see, but it is a smaller park and if a day is all you have, you could definitely see a lot still.
I hope that this travel guide to North Cascades National Park has helped you learn more about the park and plan a trip for yourself. Let me know your favorite National Park down below in the comments!
Laurel McDaniel
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