The Complete Guide to Visiting North Cascades National Park

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North Cascades National Park is, in my opinion, the most beautiful national park in Washington. And it’s the least-visited. Filled with glacier blue lakes, snow-capped mountains, more than 300 glaciers, and 400 miles of rugged trails, North Cascades is a hidden treasure you will absolutely love. Here is everything you need to know about visting and camping at North Cascades National Park. You’ll find information about getting from Seattle to North Cascades National Park, insight on hotels near North Cascades National Park, information about camping at North Cascades National Park, a guide to the best hikes in North Cascades National Park, what to pack for camping at North Cascades National Park, and more.

Where is North Cascades National Park?

North Cascades National Park is located in the north western part of Washington State, meeting the Canadian border in the northernmost portion of the park. It is part of the greater North Cascades National Recreation Area, which covers a vast distance and incorporates three primary areas.

Courtesy of Wikipedia.

How to get from Seattle to North Cascades National Park 

Getting from Seattle to North Cascades National Park is pretty simple. With no traffic, the drive is about 2 hours and 15 minutes to get to the western end of the park. You’ll head north on highway 5 for about 45 miles, then take 530 East another 46 miles to highway 20 east. Highway 20 will take you straight into the park. In total, it’s about 115 miles from Seattle to North Cascades National Park.

The closest major airport to North Cascades National Park is Seattle-Tacoma Airport. Most visitors will arrive there and rent a car.

It’s a beautiful drive to reach North Cascades National Park, especially once you turn off highway 5. While it’s quite a drive, you can do Seattle to North Cascades National Park as a day trip. I’ve done it. I’d recommend bringing a friend, because doing that drive alone (especially if you’re hiking all day) is exhausting. It’s better to spend at least a night or two there if possible.

The towns near the park are Concrete and Marblemount in the West (you’ll pass through if you’re coming from Seattle to North Cascades National Park), and Mazama and Winthrop in the east. These are areas where you can find lodgings closest to the park. Which brings me to…

Where to stay at North Cascades National Park (West side)

If you’re driving from Seattle to North Cascades National Park, you’ll be closest to the western entrances and the towns of Marblemount and Concrete. In general, plan to reserve as far in advance as you can. Options are very limited, and may fill up. Here are some great hotels near North Cascades National Park, west entrance.

1. Glacier Peak Resort is a fabulous option on the west side of the park, in Marblemount. They have individual chalets which are equipped with kitchens, bedrooms, living areas, and decks for drinking your morning tea or coffee. You’ll be within 20-30 minutes of the park. Book your stay at Glacier Peak Resort here.
2. A bit farther from the park, but still a solid option is the Mt. Baker Hotel in Concrete, which offers standard rooms as well as suites with kitchens and living rooms. Get your reservation now.
3. A third option is the North Cascades Inn. Located in Marblemount, North Cascades Inn offers bare-bones budget rooms with shared bathrooms that will suit the frugal traveler. Reserve a room now.

Where to stay at North Cascades National Park (East side)

If you’re coming from east of Seattle, or if you’d simply like to be based on the east side of the park, Winthrop is th place you’ll want to book your lodgings. There are many more options on the east side of the park! Here are some great hotels near North Cascades National Park, east entrance.

1. Sun Mountain Lodge is a wonderful option with all the amenities you’d want in a loge: a gorgeous pool, a lovely dining room, and sweeping mountain views. They offer activities like mountain biking, fly fishing, horseback riding, skiing, spa services, and more. Reserve your room at Sun Mountain Lodge now.
2. Methow River Lodge is the perfect option for those who’d like a comfortable room at a more affordable price. A very popular spot, they offer visitors free bikes to use, have a shared lounge, and a garden available, alongside mountain views. Book your stay at Methow River Lodge now.
3. Hotel Rio Vista is another beloved option on the east side of the park. Something special about this hotel is that every room has a river view. It’s rated especially highly for families. Get your room at Hotel Rio Vista now.

Lake Diablo, on the west side of North Cascades, is a sight to behold.

Camping at North Cascades National Park

There are several campgrounds in the North Cascades National Recreation Area, five of which are within the National Park. 

Campgrounds at North Cascades National Park

Camping at North Cascades National Park is phenomenal. These five campgrounds are Goodell Creek Campground (vault toilets, standard nonelectric sites), Newhalem Creek Campground (flush toilets, accessible, standard nonelectric sites), Gorge Lake Campground (primitive, pack out all trash, no water, vault toilets), and Colonial Creek North and Colonial Creek South (both have flush toilets, standard nonelectric sites) Campgrounds.

Each campground is in a solid location in terms of accessing local attractions like hiking trails, viewpoints, and lakes. No matter where you camp at North Cascades National Park, you’ll be happy.

When can you camp at North Cascades National Park?

Camping at North Cascades National Park is possible between late spring and late summer. May 24 to September 8 is the season you can camp in North Cascades National Park.

Making camping reservations

You can book campsites six months in advance on recreation.gov. They release sites daily at 7 am PT. For example, on February 1st at 7 am PT, you can reserve sites for August 1st, and so on. Reserve your camping at North Cascades National Park as soon as possible if you want an opportunity to visit the park, especially for the months of July and August.

Backpacking at North Cascades National Park

There is also ample opportunity to backpack at North Cascades National Park. Permits are required for backpacking, year round. You can find more information about backpacking in North Cascades National Park on the National Park Service website here.

Entrance fees at North Cascades

Surprisingly, there are no entrance fees to visit North Cascades National Park! However, if you choose to hike a trail in the National Forest Service lands, you will need a Northwest Forest Pass. Some of the most popular trails are indeed NFS trails, so do your research prior to your visit to determine if you’ll need the Northwest Forest Pass.
Many of the trails in the North Cascades are run by the National Forest Service, which means you’ll need the Northwest Forest Pass to park at these trailheads.

Animal safety

Bears, cougars, wolverines, river otters, bobcats, lynx, gray wolves, mule deer, mountain goats, elk, and moose all are native to the North Cascades. Many of these animals live in the more rugged and remote areas. 

When exploring the park, it’s a good idea to carry bear spray for protection. It’s also critical to give all animals space when you encounter them. Keep a minimum of 25 yards from small animals and 100 yards from predators. 

The best hikes at North Cascades National Park

There are a variety of excellent hiking trails throughout North Cascades National Park. You will find something for everyone! 

However, many of the hikes (and certainly many of the most beautiful hikes) are quite difficult. I suspect this is part of why North Cascades is less popular than the other two national parks in Washington.

You can find a map of the best hikes in North Cascades National Park below.
Maple Pass Loop was the toughest hike we’ve done with a baby. Worth it!

Easy hikes in North Cascades National Park and Recreation Area

• Thunder Knob: 3.6 miles (5.8 km) roundtrip with 425 ft (130m) elevation gain, is a short trail that starts from the Colonial Creek South campground and makes its way up to a viewpoint over Diablo Lake. Great for families.
• Rainy Lake: 2 miles roundtrip with 70 ft elevation gain, the trail is paved (ADA accessible) and leads to a beautiful lake.
• Blue Lake: 4.4 miles roundtrip with 1050 ft elevation gain, the Blue Lake trail is gorgeous, winding up through forest and meadows to a striking blue green lake framed by jagged peaks.

The views from the top of Thunder Knob.

Moderate hikes in North Cascades National Park and Recreation Area

• Diablo Lake Trail: 7.6 miles roundtrip, 1400 ft elevation gain, the Diablo Lake trail is a gentle climb through the woods with occasional views of the lake and surrounding mountains. This trail is particularly great in the spring when most of the rest of the park trails are inaccessible due to snow. I wrote a trail guide about this one, read it now.
• Maple Pass Loop: 7.2 miles roundtrip, 2020 ft elevation gain, the Maple Pass Loop is one of the highlights of the entire park, with 360 mountain views, lakes, and larches in the fall. 
• Cascade Pass: 7 miles roundtrip, 1800 ft elevation gain, you’ll see glaciers, peaks, valleys, and meadows.
  Maple Pass Loop views for days.

Difficult hikes in North Cascades National Park and Recreation Area

• Cutthroat Pass: 10 miles roundtrip, 2000 ft elevation gain, the Cutthroat Pass trail passes through high alpine scenery, including granite boulders, dark green heather, Cutthroat Lake, and mountain peaks.
• Hidden Lake Lookout: 8 miles roundtrip, 3300 ft elevation gain, the Hidden Lake Lookout trail passes through forest, wildflower-filled meadows, and streams as it climbs to the summit. You can see Sahale, Triad, Eldorado, Torment, Boston, Forbidden, Klawatti, Sharkfin mountains from the top, alongside the lake. 
• Cascade Pass to Sahale Arm: 12 miles roundtrip, 4000 ft elevation gain, the Cascade Pass to Sahale Arm trail is known as one of the most spectacular in the state. You’ll see it all here: meadows, mountain ridges, waterfalls, lakes, and even a glacier. This trail is particularly beautiful in the late summer or early fall, when foliage is at its brightest.

Itinerary for North Cascades National Park

If you’re spending a weekend at North Cascades National Park, you’ll want to maximize your time to take in the beauty around you. Here’s your itinerary for a weekend at North Cascades National Park:

Friday, Day 1:

• Arrive Friday afternoon or early evening. Head up to the Diablo Lake Vista Point for gorgeous views over the glaciated water. Bring dinner or a drink and soak up the views (that you don’t even have to work for!).

What a spot! Incredible views, no hiking required.
Saturday, Day 2:

• Saturday morning, make the drive to the Maple Pass Loop trail. Spend the day in awe of the mountains around you as you climb upwards to a pass with unbelievable 360-degree views. This is one of my favorite hikes in the entire state of Washington. 
• On your way down from Maple Pass Loop, make a detour to see Rainy Lake. Provided you hike Maple Pass counterclockwise, the trail down will intersect with the Rainy Lake paved trail. 

One of my top trails in the entire state of Washington, Maple Pass Loop is stunning.

Sunday, Day 3:

• Sunday morning, head to Blue Lake trailhead for a quick jaunt to an incredible, sparkling lake. You’ll get to enjoy some striking mountain views on your way up, too.
• Sunday afternoon, on your way out of the park, hike up to the top of Thunder Knob (I wrote a trail guide here). It’s even easier than Blue Lake trail and a great spot to have lunch with views over Lake Diablo. 
• Pro tip: Hike Thunder Knob first if your home is east of the park, as Blue Lake is further east.
• Drive home!
  

Blue Lake is not to be missed. It’s gorgeous and relatively easy!

With this North Cascades National Park itinerary, you won’t waste a moment, and you’ll get to pack in a ton of beauty in a short amount of time. Alternatively, consider spending a more relaxing day playing at Diablo Lake. Bring a kayak or SUP and get out on the water!

This lakeside is right by the Colonial Creek North campground. You can launch kayaks from here. We plan to do so when our son is a little older!

What to bring camping?

Packing for a day hike (in the summer)

• • A quality day pack with a water reservoir. Gregory makes fantastic packs in a variety of sizes and colors. Get your daypack here.
  • A wicking short sleeve shirt in the summer. Grab one here.
  • Trail hiking leggings or shorts.
  • A sun hoodie. This one is amazing.
  • A sun hat
  • A fleece jacket for if it gets cold. I love my LL Bean fleece.
  • Sunscreen and bug spray
  • Sunglasses
  • Water reservoir
  • A sturdy pair of hiking boots
  • Wool socks
  • Hiking poles
  • Bear spray
  • Rain jacket

A note on hiking in the winter: While you can visit some areas of North Cascades National Park in the winter, the main highway through the park, highway 2, closes in November at milepost 134 at Ross Dam Trailhead on the west side and at milepost 171 at the Silver Star Gate on the east side, and reopens often around Labor Day weekend. The area gets a lot of snow. Most people visit North Cascades in April through October.
North Cascades National Park is a treasure in the summer.

Camping Gear

So, what gear do you need to go camping? Let’s break it down.

What to bring camping at North Cascades National Park

• A tent that fits the right number of people, has a sturdy rain fly, and provides the right amount of protection from the elements. Coleman has a variety of affordable tents that hold up super well. We used these for years with great success. Check latest prices on Coleman tents here.
  • If you’re ready to take the plunge and get a higher end tent, I absolutely LOVE our REI Wonderland tent. It is so tall and spacious, easy to set up, and all around fantastic. We got ours on sale half off during the spring sale. Check prices for the Wonderland tent here.
• Sleeping bags! Consider material (synthetic or down) and temperature rating (how low of a temperature you can sleep in safely). These bags from REI are roomy and warm. Buy yours here.
• Sleeping pads or air mattresses will make your life much better. I personally prefer an air mattress (and don’t forget a pump with a car plug). Thermarest is renowned for high quality sleeping pads. Check out this top selling sleeping pad.
• Camp stove: You will need somewhere to boil water and cook food. Coleman is the tried and true option. Ours is many years old (my dad gave it to us from my childhood camping days!) and still works great. Get your Coleman stove here.
• Lantern: It gets dark in nature areas at night without street lights, so you’ll need a source of light. This could be a flashlight, a head lamp, or a lantern. 
• Cooler: You’ll likely be bringing your own food to cook, so you need a cooler for produce, meat, and/or dairy products. This basic cooler should do the trick!
• Kitchen supplies: You’ll need some basic cooking supplies. Some of our items we just bring from our kitchen at home, which is definitely an option and what I’d recommend for first time campers. When you’re ready to make your own camp kitchen, REI has an incredible selection. Find your camping cookware here.
• Bug spray: I swear by heavy deet bug spray. If you want something more natural and family-friendly (from 2 months and older) that also works well, try this picaridin based repellent.
• Sunscreen: I love SunBum for the delicious coconut smell and its functionality. Get SunBum here.
• A swimsuit if you’d like to take a dip in Diablo Lake or any other lake!
• Bear spray. North Cascades does have bears, and may be reintroducing grizzlies in the future. Check prices for bear spray here.
• Camp chairs: we have super basic cheap ones, but I want to get this Nemo Moonlight Reclining Camp Chair.
• Picnic blanket: I’ve had this awesome picnic blanket for years and love it.
• Table cloth: This one is super cute and the vinyl makes it easy to wipe off dirt or dry off your seats if it rains.
• Dish washing buckets: for doing camp dishes. I’d recommend two of these, one for soap and one for rinsing.
• Hammock: the place you want to be after hiking all day. Eno is the best. Check prices here.
• External battery so you can charge your phone and/or camera. Get your portable power station here. 
• Yeti or Stanley for morning coffee to keep your drinks hot. Check latest prices here.
• String lights to give your campsite a fairy magic vibe.
• Solar shower so you can get clean after a hot day.. Honestly cannot recommend one of these enough!
• Biodegradable dish soap and biodegradable shampoo are a must.

North Cascades National Park should definitely be on your bucket list. With unbelievable mountains, glaciers, turquoise lakes, and pristine meadows, North Cascades is a place you don’t want to miss.