Discover the best things to do in North Cascades National Park, from the stunning drive along Highway 20 to Diablo Lake, Washington Pass Overlook, and world-class hiking trails.
North Cascades National Park gets a fraction of the visitors that flock to Olympic and Mount Rainier, and that’s exactly what makes it so good. We visited this park as the final stop on a three-week road trip through Washington, after hiking the Enchantments, Mount Rainier, and Olympic National Park, and North Cascades ended up being the one that surprised us most.
We spent three days here, entering from the east and road tripping west through the park. The drive along Highway 20 is spectacular, and the overlooks over Diablo Lake and Washington Pass will stop you in your tracks. But what we weren’t prepared for was how extraordinary the hiking is. Hike up to Sahale Glacier Camp, which we’d put on the short list of the best day hikes we’ve done in any national park, anywhere, and you’ll understand why serious hikers consider this one of the hidden gems of the US national park system.
In this post, we share the best things to do in North Cascades National Park, along with tips on where to stay, how much time to spend, and when to go.
If you are in the early planning stages, start with our North Cascades National Park Travel Guide for more tips on how to plan your visit.
North Cascades National Park: At a Glance
LOCATION | Washington state
DON’T MISS | Diablo Lake Vista Point, Maple Pass Loop, Washington Pass Overlook, North Cascades Highway
BEST FOR FIRST TIMERS | Diablo Lake Vista Point and the Maple Pass Loop
OUR FAVORITE VIEW | Sahale Glacier Camp
BEST EASY WALK | Rainy Lake
MINIMUM TIME | 2 days for the highlights; 3 days is ideal
BEST TIME TO VISIT | July through September
Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife.
If You Only Do 3 Things in North Cascades National Park
North Cascades is a park that rewards time, but if your visit is short, these are the experiences worth prioritizing.
#1 – Drive Highway 20 and stop at Diablo Lake Vista Point. The drive along North Cascades Highway is spectacular on its own, but Diablo Lake is the non-negotiable stop. The color of the water, a vivid, milky turquoise created by glacial silt, is unlike anything else in the national park system. Pull into the overlook, walk the short path to the viewpoint, and give yourself a few minutes to take it in. It will be one of the most memorable views of your trip.
#2 – Stop at Washington Pass Overlook. Just east of the park boundary, this overlook gives you one of the most dramatic views along the entire Highway 20 corridor, with Liberty Bell Mountain rising sharply above the road as it winds through the mountains below. It’s a short walk from the parking lot and an easy add-on to the scenic drive.
#3 – Hike the Maple Pass Loop. If you’re fit enough for a moderate to difficult hike, this is the one to do. At 7.2 miles, it delivers wildflowers, an alpine lake, old-growth forest, and panoramic views of the North Cascades range, all in one loop. It’s just outside the park boundary but sits right on the edge of it, and from the high points on the trail the views into the park are extraordinary.
If you have more energy: Hike Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm. This is our favorite day hike in North Cascades National Park, and one of the best hikes we’ve done in the US national parks. It’s hard, coming in at 12 miles with significant elevation gain, but the views from Sahale Glacier Camp are on a completely different level. If you have strong legs and a full day, don’t skip it.
Hiking the Maple Pass Loop
Maps of North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is located in Washington.
There are three sections to North Cascades National Park Complex: the Chelan Lake National Recreational Area (which includes Stehekin), Ross Lake National Recreational Area, and North Cascades National Park.
There is only one paved road in the park. Highway 20 (also known as North Cascades Highway) runs east west through the park, along the Skagit River, bisecting the park into two pieces. North of this road is Ross Lake. The area along Highway 20 and around Ross Lake is called the Ross Lake National Recreational Area. This is where most visitors spend the majority of their time.
Lake Chelan is in the southeast part of the North Cascades National Park Complex. From Chelan, you can take a boat, plane, or hike to Stehekin, a very small town that is located at the northern end of Lake Chelan. Once in Stehekin, you can go on day hikes or start a backpacking adventure into the interior of the park.
Here is a map with the best things to do in North Cascades National Park.
How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left corner of the map to see a list of the points of interest and to turn layers on/off. Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest.
To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.
What Makes North Cascades National Park Special?
The North Cascades Range, for which this park is named, has the largest glacial system in the United States, other than Alaska. In the park, there are over 300 glaciers and 300 lakes. Over millions of years, these glaciers created some of the steepest mountain ranges in the USA, some mountains rising 4,000 to 6,000 feet above their bases.
In the northern area of the park is the Picket Range, a collection of mountains, most rising over 8,000 feet. Somebody had fun naming these mountains: Mount Terror, Phantom Peak, Poltergeist Pinnacle, Mount Fury, and Ghost Peak.
North Cascades National Park is nicknamed the American Alps, getting its name from the jagged, rocky mountain peaks and emerald green slopes.
While visiting the park, keep an eye out for elk, moose, marmots, pika, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, black bear, grizzly bears, coyote, lynx, bobcats and otters.
North Cascades is one of the least visited parks in the national park system. In 2025, it only had 47,000 visitors, making it one of the least visited national park in the United States. North Cascades National Park is a highly underrated park, but for those who venture here, it is a peaceful, beautiful experience.
Mountain goat at Sahale Glacier Camp
Best Things to Do in North Cascades National Park
1. Go for a Scenic Drive on North Cascades Highway
North Cascades Highway (State Highway 20) is the only paved road in the park, and it is a spectacular one. Traveling east-west along the Skagit River, the highway passes through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Washington state. Over the 30 miles it travels through the park complex, you’ll find overlooks, short walks, and crystal-clear lakes to explore.
If you’re short on time, you can still have a memorable experience in North Cascades simply by driving this road and making stops along the way. But the more time you spend getting out of the car, the better.
2. Sterling Munro Trail
Located at the North Cascades Visitor Center in Newhalem, this 300-foot boardwalk trail leads to a viewpoint overlooking the Picket Range. It is one of the best and most accessible places to take in views of those jagged, snow-covered peaks without venturing deep into the backcountry.
If you’re stopping at the visitor center anyway (which we recommend for first-time visitors), this short walk is an easy addition.
3. Gorge Lake Overlook
From this overlook, you get a view of the Skagit Gorge and the Gorge Dam, a hydroelectric dam. It is a 400-meter walk, round trip, on a paved trail to the overlook.
If you like, you can continue another 600 meters along a dirt trail through the woods, for more views of the river, before looping back to the parking lot.
4. Diablo Lake Vista Point
This is our favorite overlook in North Cascades National Park. What a gorgeous view, don’t you think?
Diablo Lake gets its unusual color from the melting glaciers. The glaciers grind against the rocks, forming a powdery silt. The water washes this silt (also called “rock flour”) into the lake, giving it this milky green-blue color.
This overlook is located right on Highway 20. There are several viewpoints located around the large parking lot as well as bathrooms.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Visit on a clear day for the best colors. Overcast skies will mute the lake’s color significantly.
5. Ross Lake Overlook
For a view over Ross Lake, make the quick stop at the Ross Lake Overlook. The view isn’t quite as good as it is at the Diablo Lake Overlook, but I still think it is worth the very quick stop.
Off in the distance, you can see Desolation Peak. Jack Kerouac made this peak famous. In 1956, he spent part of the summer here working as a watchman in the fire tower and wrote the book Desolation Angels from this experience. Now, visitors follow in his footsteps, hiking to the top of Desolation Peak.
6. Washington Pass Overlook
Technically located just outside the national park boundary, Washington Pass is still one of the must-see stops on a drive along Highway 20, and one that many visitors rank as the most impressive viewpoint of the entire route.
From the Washington Pass Overlook, you have a sweeping view of Liberty Bell Mountain and the highway itself as it snakes through the mountains below. It is a genuinely spectacular sight.
Washington Pass
Looking east along Highway 20 from the overlook.
7. Visit Stehekin
Stehekin is a small community located on the far northern end of Lake Chelan. Once here, you can explore Stehekin Valley on foot, go camping, and discover the cultural history of the people who live here. For backpackers, this makes a great starting or ending point for a multi-day hike through the park.
There are no roads to Stehekin. The only way to get here is by boat, plane, or on foot. If you want to visit Stehekin, you will need a minimum of two days, since travel times can be long between Chelan and Stehekin.
Learn more on the National Park Service website.
8. Hike the Trails
Without a doubt, one of the best things to do in North Cascades National Park is to go hiking. If you only saw the North Cascades from the viewpoints along Highway 20, you would only see about 10% of the park.
You don’t truly get to see the beauty and the grandeur of North Cascades National Park unless you go hiking. If you have the energy and stamina to hike high into the mountains, the views that await you are breathtaking. Layers and layers of glacier-capped mountains stretch off in all directions. It is an awe-inspiring sight.
The good news is that there are great options at every ability level. For an easy introduction, Rainy Lake is a flat, paved 2-mile round trip to a stunning alpine lake. Thunder Knob is a gentle 3.6-mile hike with lovely views over Diablo Lake. For something more challenging, the Maple Pass Loop (7.2 miles) is one of the finest hikes in all of Washington. And for the full North Cascades experience, Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm is the hike we’d recommend above all others. It’s 12 miles, strenuous, and absolutely extraordinary.
For trail stats, photos, and the full breakdown of all 12 hikes in and around the park, visit our Guide to Hiking North Cascades National Park.
Rainy Lake
The view from Sahale Glacier Camp
Best Hikes in North Cascades National Park
A detailed guide to the best hikes in North Cascades National Park.9. Hike a Portion of the Pacific Crest Trail
About 18 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail passes through the North Cascades National Park Complex. The PCT cuts through a narrow band of parkland just north of Stehekin and also travels through the Okanogan National Forest near Rainy Lake. If you plan to camp overnight, you’ll need a backcountry permit.
Learn more on the National Park Service website.
How Much Time Do You Need in North Cascades National Park?
You need a bare minimum of one full day for North Cascades National Park. Of course, more time is always better.
With one day in North Cascades National Park, drive North Cascades Highway, visit the overlooks, and do one or two hikes. If you prefer short, easy hikes, we recommend Rainy Lake, Blue Lake, or Thunder Knob. For something more challenging that will offer spectacular views of the North Cascades Range, the Maple Pass Loop is amazing.
With two days in North Cascades National Park, do what I list above on day 1. On day 2, you can hike more of the trails along North Cascades Highway or hike to Cascade Pass and/or Sahale Arm. The hike to Sahale Arm and the Glacier Camp is truly spectacular, and in our opinion, the best way to experience this national park, other than going on a backpacking trip.
With three or more days, you can add in more hikes or visit Stehekin.
Hiking the Maple Pass Loop
When is the Best Time to Visit North Cascades National Park?
Summer (July–August) is the best time to visit for most people. The high mountain trails are free of snow, the wildflowers are in bloom, and the long days give you plenty of time to explore. This is also the busiest season, though North Cascades remains much quieter than more famous parks like Rainier or Zion.
Spring (May–June) can be a lovely time to visit the lower elevation trails and overlooks. Higher routes like Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm may still have snow into late June. Wildflowers begin appearing at lower elevations by late May.
Autumn (September–October) brings gorgeous fall color, especially in the Methow Valley around Winthrop and Mazama. Crowds thin out and wildlife sightings can be excellent. Snow begins to arrive at higher elevations in October.
Winter brings heavy snow to the mountains, and Highway 20 typically closes between November and April due to snowfall. The western parts of the park remain accessible, but most trails and visitor services are closed.
North Cascades National Park appears in our Best US National Parks Month-By-Month series as a great park to visit in July and August.
15 Best US National Parks to Visit in July
Pinterest Facebook Flipboard Which are the best national parks to visit in July? In this guide, we list 15 great parks to visit in the USA. Go hiking in Mount Rainier and Glacier National Parks, go whale watching in the Channel Islands, and venture into Alaska for some amazing adventures. About this National Park Series […]
15 Best US National Parks to Visit in August
Planning a trip to the US national parks in August and don’t know which ones to visit? August is a busy time to visit the national parks, but crowd levels aren’t quite at their peak (that typically happens in July for many parks). In this guide, we list some popular summertime parks to visit plus […]
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Highway 20 (North Cascades Highway) is usually closed between November and April due to snow. Check the Washington State Department of Transportation for current road conditions before planning a spring or fall visit.
Where to Stay
Along Highway 20
If you want to stay in the national park along Highway 20, Ross Lake Resort is the only lodge in this area of the park. There are also campgrounds in Newhalem and at Diablo Lake.
East of the North Cascades
There are several small towns to the east of the national park.
Winthrop
Winthrop is a very cool town. It looks like something out of the wild west and it is worth the drive out this way just to see it. Definitely stop into Sherri’s Sweet Shop for some ice cream…the perfect treat after a day of hiking. In Winthrop, River’s Edge Resort, Mt Gardner Inn, and Methow River Lodge all get great reviews.
From Winthrop, it takes one hour to drive to Ross Lake and 40 minutes to drive to Rainy Lake Picnic area.
A little farther down the road from Winthrop is Twisp. This tiny town isn’t as scenic as Winthrop and doesn’t have nearly as many restaurants, but we stayed here and loved it. We stayed at Twisp River Suites in a 2-bedroom apartment. In the evenings, we would get carryout and wine, sit in the river, and have dinner. It was an awesome way to end the day and worth the extra drive time into the park (1 hour 15 minutes to Ross Lake).
The town of Mazama also makes a nice option. It is smaller than Winthrop but it is located closer to the east entrance of the park so you will have a shorter drive. Check out the Mazama Country Inn and the Freestone Inn.
West of the North Cascades
Marblemount is the closest town on the west side of the park. This “town” is made up of a handful of hotels and restaurants. We stayed at the Buffalo Run Inn. It’s nothing fancy but rooms are clean, quiet, and the WiFi worked well. This makes a great place to stay if you plan to hike Cascade Pass or Hidden Lake, since Cascade River Road starts in this town.
The North Cascades Inn is also located in Marblemount and gets decent reviews.
If Marblemount is booked up, Concrete is the next closest town, about 20 minutes further west on Highway 20. The Mount Baker Inn in Concrete gets good review scores and is a solid backup option.
What We Did
We spent three days in the North Cascades as part of a three-week road trip through Washington state. We started on the east side of the park, hiking the trails in Okanogan National Forest, just east of the national park border. On day 2, we hiked the Maple Pass Loop and then drove Highway 20 through the park, stopping at the overlooks mentioned above. We slept in Marblemount, and on day 3, hiked Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm.
From North Cascades National Park, we drove north to the Mount Baker area. We only had one full day here and unfortunately, storms moved in, so we could not do any hiking. It’s a reminder that visiting this part of Washington is highly weather-dependent.
Our Itinerary for North Cascades National Park:
Day 1: Arrive in the evening to Twisp. We drove up from Leavenworth, visiting Chelan on the way.
Day 2: Rainy Lake, Blue Lake, Cutthroat Lake, Washington Pass Overlook, afternoon in Winthrop; sleep in Twisp.
Day 3: Maple Pass Loop hike, scenic drive and overlooks on Highway 20; sleep in Marblemount.
Day 4: Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm hike, drive north to Mt. Baker region.
Practical Information
Entrance Fee: There is no fee to enter North Cascades National Park. Also, there is no entrance booth along Highway 20. However, if you plan to hike in one of the adjacent national forests (such as Rainy Lake or the Maple Pass Loop) you will need a Northwest Forest Pass. This can be purchased for $5 at the trailhead.
Operating Hours: The park is open 365 days a year, but operating hours of the visitor centers vary depending on the season. Road closures are likely during the winter months.
Note: Highway 20 is usually closed between November and April due to snowfall.
Before you go, make sure you get updates about park conditions, road closures, and trail closures on the National Park service website.
Plan Your Trip to North Cascades
Start with our North Cascades National Park Travel Guide, where you can see all of our guides on Olympic National Park.
If you want to hit the trails, don’t miss our guide to the Best Hikes in North Cascades National Park, where we cover the park’s top trails with trail stats, photos, and tips.
If North Cascades is part of a bigger trip to Washington, check out our Washington Road Trip Itinerary, which also includes Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks, plus the Enchantments.
If you have any questions about things to do in North Cascades National Park, let us know in the comment section below.
More Information for Your Trip to Washington
If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USA, visit our United States Travel Guide and our Washington Travel Guide for more inspiration and travel planning tips.
North Cascades National Park: How to Plan Your Visit
Plan your visit to North Cascades National Park. Learn about the best things to do, the best hikes and viewpoints, and get sample itineraries and travel tips.
Maple Pass Loop Hiking Guide 2026 | North Cascades, WA
The Maple Pass Loop, also known as the Heather-Maple Pass Loop, is one of the best day hikes in the North Cascades, and one that’s surprisingly accessible for the views it delivers. In early August, Tim, Kara, and I completed this hike and came away genuinely impressed. It’s not our favorite hike in the area […]
Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm: The Best Day Hike in North Cascades
We’ve hiked in more than 50 national parks across the United States, and the Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm hike is one that still stands out. We did this hike as part of a six-week road trip through the national parks of Colorado and Washington, and it was the perfect way to end the trip. […]
Best Things to Do in Mount Rainier National Park (2026 Guide)
Discover the best things to do in Mount Rainier National Park, from iconic hikes like the Skyline Trail and Mount Fremont Fire Lookout to scenic viewpoints, waterfalls, and easy walks that are perfect for first-time visitors. We’ve visited Mount Rainier National Park twice: once on a 6-day deep dive where we hiked trail after trail […]
The Enchantments Thru Hike: Complete Planning Guide
The Enchantments are a slice of hiking paradise. Located in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness of Washington state, this is a wonderland of alpine lakes, jagged mountains, and waterfalls. If you’ve done any research on the Enchantments, you already know it’s one of the best day hikes in the United States. What you might not know yet is […]
Olympic National Park Itinerary: How to Spend 2 to 3 Days in the Park
Olympic National Park is one of the most diverse and logistically complex national parks in the United States and figuring out how to structure your time here can feel overwhelming. This Olympic National Park itinerary combines the best of the park into one easy-to-plan trip, and we’re sharing it from experience. We spent four days […]
Best Hikes in Olympic National Park: Ranked by Area and Difficulty
Olympic National Park offers some of the most diverse hiking in the United States. Where else can you hike through a moss-covered temperate rainforest in the morning, walk along a wild Pacific coastline in the afternoon, and look out over glacier-capped mountain peaks from an alpine ridge? We spent four days in Olympic National Park, […]
15 Best Hikes in Mount Rainier (Ranked by Difficulty & Area)
Mount Rainier is one of the most spectacular hiking destinations in the United States. From wildflower-covered alpine meadows to glacier viewpoints and fire lookout summits, the variety here is incredible. We’ve hiked in more than 50 U.S. national parks and on trails around the world, from Everest Base Camp in Nepal to the Dolomites, and […]
US National Park Itineraries & Road Trip Ideas
National Park Itineraries The national parks are best experienced as a road trip and with 56 parks visited between us, we’ve done a lot of them. Whether you’re dreaming of a two-week American Southwest loop, a classic Yellowstone and Grand Teton combo, or a deep dive into Utah’s Mighty 5, we’ve put together detailed itineraries […]
Our 15 Favorite US National Parks: A Few May Surprise You
Stretching from the South Pacific, across the United States and into the Caribbean, are 63 national parks. These national treasures are filled with scenic drives, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, wildlife, historic sites, and endless opportunities for adventure. In this guide, we cover 15 of the best national parks in the USA and what […]
20 Fun, Short Hikes in the US National Parks
One of the best ways to experience the national parks is from a hiking trail. Hike to amazing viewpoints, deep into the forests, through scenic canyons, and to hidden lakes and waterfalls. Along the way, you have a better chance of spotting wildlife and potentially leaving the crowds behind. Here are 20 fun, short hikes […]
The Ultimate Guide to the 63 US National Parks
Stretching from the South Pacific, across the United States to the Caribbean, are 63 national parks. These national treasures preserve iconic landscapes, majestic mountains, primordial forests, arid deserts, misty coastlines, immense canyons, wildlife, and historic landmarks. We have visited 56 of the 63 US national parks, from the towering granite walls of Yosemite and the […]
Comments 36