AndiThe North Cascades National Park is BEAUTIFUL!!! One day is not enough time to do it justice, but you will walk away with having seen incredible views and a longing to return. The best way to cover a majority of the park is by car, however you should get out and hike as much as time will allow!
The North Cascades Scenic highway from Newhalem to Winthrop is 72 miles with no gas stations in between!!! Fill up the tank and bring snacks and a picnic lunch.
The weather can change quickly, so be prepared for anything. Bring a jacket and poncho just in case.
Be Bear Aware! They recommend not hiking solo, bringing bear spray and make noise while on the trail. I came here by myself, so I made sure other people were on the trails before I ventured to far from the trailhead.
Bonus, there’s no fee to enter the park!!!
North Cascades Scenic Highway
Starting from the west, one of the first towns you will pass through on the way to the park will be Concrete. Known for its cement production, lol. It has a cute historic downtown area.
Cascadian Farm Stand
You must stop at the Cascadian Farm stand!!! How cute is this little building??? And it has the best blueberry ice cream!! There will probably be a line, because it’s a popular stop. However this was the most people I saw all day. They offer other flavors of ice cream, milk shakes and fresh produce. This is the site of the original farm.
Marblemount will be the last town you are able to fill up your gas tank for 72 miles!!!
After Marblemount you will enter the park. Make sure you stop at the North Cascades National Park sign for a photo!
The Visitor Center located around Newhalem offers exhibits, a small gift shop, information desk, trails and restrooms.
Ladder Falls Hike in North Cascades National Park
Park by the Gorge Powerhouse for a quick hike.
Ladder Creek Falls trail is a .4-mile loop. You cross a suspension bridge to start the hike. Make sure to check out the powerhouse on your way out. It has a restroom.
Gorge Creek Falls
Gorge Creek Falls is a quick stop. Park in the lot close by and cross the bridge to see the falls. The bridge is cool, you can see straight down to the creek below. There is a .5-mile loop trail in the back of the parking lot to see a partial view of Gorge Lake and Dam.
Diablo Dam
Diablo Dam is next. Turn at North Cascades Environmental Learning Center to drive on it. I have not personally done this, but heard the views are incredible. There’s a small parking lot down there for the 4-mile Diablo Lake trail.
Milepost 130 right outside the Colonial campground will be the Trailhead for Thunder Knob. Parking is very limited. This is a fairly easy 3.6-mile roundtrip hike with beautiful views at the end.
Diablo Lake Overlook
Diablo Lake Overlook has the iconic photo of the North Cascades National Park. The water is this beautiful unreal emerald color. The “rock flour” is what gives it that color. It forms when glaciers rub against the mountain. The area is breathtaking! This alone is worth the drive!
Happy Forest Creek Walk In North Cascades National Park
Happy Creek Forest walk is a short .3-mile trail through the woods on a boardwalk. I had the place to myself which was kinda cool and kinda scary. Remember the whole be bear aware. I didn’t venture to far, since this place was literally deserted and I didn’t have bear spray on me. I’m sure I was being a little paranoid, bears don’t usually hang around high traffic areas.
Ross Lake Overlook has the same beautiful glacier fed water. Not quite as good of a view due to the trees.
Washington Pass
Washington Pass is a must do at the North Cascades National Park! It’s supposed to have incredible views. Unfortunately, the road was closed the day I was there. Not sure if it was too early in the season or if it was closed for a different reason. There are restrooms here when it is open.
Other honorable mentions in North Cascades National Park:
Maple Pass 7.2-mile hike- incredible views.
Cutthroat Lake trail- 3.8-mile hike
I did not have the time for these amazing hikes, but I plan on coming back and updating this post when I do.
You can continue to Winthrop and step back in the Old West. I wish I would have had time to stroll along these old wooden boardwalks in their historic town. There’s also a wide range of activities to choose from: horseback riding, hiking, hot air balloon, golfing and water sports.
I chose to turn around and go back the same way to see the breath-taking views one last time. My total time in the park was around five hours. I had originally planned on ten, but my schedule fluctuated a little and I had to roll with it.
Summary of North Cascades National Park
Like I said in the beginning, one day is not nearly long enough to see all that the North Cascades National Park has to offer. However, if you start early and end late, you will have time to drive the whole way round trip, pull off at different viewpoints, soak in the majestic views, breathe that crisp mountain air and explore a few small hikes.
North Cascades National Park is one of my favorites! Besides the views, the next best part is the crowds! This is the least crowded national park I’ve been too. I’m looking forward to a return trip some day.
Interested In Other National Parks:
Ultimate Guide to Arches National Park
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Thank you. It was really helpful blog and I covered most of the places which you suggested in your blog
That’s awesome! Hope you had a wonderful time!
We went to the Cascades last month. Wish I had seen your post before but we still managed to hit pretty much most of the places listed. The weather wasn’t that great so we didn’t hike and also were not comfortable to drive all the way to the final overlook and get back before it got too dark.
Even without hiking it’s such a beautiful drive! Hope you enjoyed it!