Hiking in North Cascades National Park (For First Timers)

Searching for a guide offering the premier hikes in North Cascades National Park and how to plan a North Cascades trip to tackle them? You’re in the right place! We’ve visited North Cascades National Park multiple times up to this point, with plans to make additional excursions this summer and fall.

Why do we love the North Cascades? It aligns with our interests. And by that, we mean a couple things.

First, while some national parks (looking at you, Yellowstone) are all about the attractions that are just off the road, accessed by a short boardwalk (which means crowds galore), North Cascades National Park focuses highly on hiking. The real magic tends to happen a couple of miles into a hike.

Secondly, the fact that we are deeply connected to rugged, rocky mountain landscapes is important. The mountainous terrain of the North Cascades appeals greatly to us.

We’re also quite fond of alpine lakes, as you’ll see if you’ve read any of our other hiking guides. And the North Cascades has many of those.

The point remains that if you enjoy both hiking and mountains – and consequently hiking in the mountains – the North Cascades are essentially paradise.

In this guide to our picks for best hikes in North Cascades National Park, here’s what we’re going to cover:

• A few key logistics to keep in mind as you plan, like the different passes you might need and seasonal factors to be aware of before you visit.
• Our favorite North Cascades National Park hikes – specifically the trails along Highway 20.
• A helpful map of the trailheads for the hikes in this guide to assist you visualize how it all fits together

Throughout the guide, we’ll share our favorite routes, views, waterfalls, and more from our trips to help youplan your North Cascades hiking expedition.

Sound good to you? Let’s get into it. 

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%.

A Quick North Cascades National Park Geography Overview

Prior to delving into this guide, we believe it is important to discuss the park`s layout.

While the area on the northern side of Mount Baker (along Highway 542 just south of the Canadian border) is TECHNICALLY within the geographical region of the North Cascades, it is NOT administered as part of the federally protected North Cascades National Park.

Some guides have mentioned hikes along that area as part of the park, and it is worth noting that it takes around three hours of driving to arrive at the trailheads for those hikes from the visitor center.

For what it`s worth, we really enjoy that area of Washington (see our guide on hiking at Mount Baker), but it certainly doesn`t make sense to cover any trails there here.

For the purposes of this guide, we are referring to hikes located along Highway 20, which is called both the North Cascades Highway and stretches from Interstate 5 over Washington Pass (and the Cascades) into eastern Washington.

Here’s a map of the park showing Highway 20 (the red line) for reference.

Every single hike in this guide is off of that thoroughfare, though it is worth noting that some trailheads require driving along pitted forest roads that can add a significant amount of travel time.

Another notable feature of our favorite hikes in North Cascades National Park, such as Maple Pass and Blue Lake, was that most were situated on the eastern region near Washington Pass.

The implication here mostly surrounds where you opt to stay.

There are really not very many places to stay near the park, ESPECIALLY on the western side of the park and ESPECIALLY if camping is not an option for you.

If camping is part of your trip, consider pitching a tent at Colonial Creek (regarded as the best campsite inside the park), located 35 minutes from the Maple Pass trailhead, or at one of the forest service campgrounds on the eastern region of Washington Pass outside the park grounds.

The Campground of Lone Fir and Klipchuck Campground are both good options, and they’re 20-25 minutes from those trailheads. Plus, they’re far less crowded than the campgrounds inside the park.

If it were the author, they would opt to stay outside the park on its eastern edge for improved access to those trailheads.

Without question, lodging just outside the park`s eastern boundary vastly outperforms other options both in availability and quality.

The charming town of Winthrop in the eastern hills of the Cascades has the best blend of lodging, amenities, and proximity to the park.

The Best Time to Hike in North Cascades National Park

This section often appears near the conclusion of a guide, but the answer here differs from most places – even within Washington.

Including this up front helps prevent replicating our mistake during our first trip, when we arrived in June assuming trails would be accessible when they remained buried under snow.

The hiking season in the North Cascades is incredibly brief, lasting a couple blissful months in the summer and early fall before the park becomes dormant again.

There are two things to keep in mind when you’re planning your trip: the weather and any road closures.

Weather in the North Cascades is notoriously unpredictable, and can change suddenly. However, it’s a pretty good bet that hiking trails, especially those at higher elevations, will be covered in snow through June and into July.

We know because we tried to go to the park in mid-June one year, and had to basically reschedule our trip despite already having flown to Seattle from the Bay Area. Whoops.

Basically, if you want to go hiking in the North Cascades, you need to plan your trip AFTER mid-July or so. 

Peak hiking season is mid-July through the end of September, when the weather is warm, relatively dry, and the snow has melted from most, if not all, hiking trails.

For what it’s worth, we love September in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s our preferred time to hit the hiking trails in both Washington State and in our home state of Oregon.

You get the best parts of the summer – long days, warm climate, blue skies – with a few extra bonuses like smaller crowds and more reasonable sunrise/sunset times (5am sunsets are tough for photographers).

At some point in October, the celebrated larches of the Cascades start to change a splendid yellow shading, and the ground starts to light up with hues of orange and red as fall shading begins to come in all finished the domain.

It becomes incredibly busy in the Cascades as everyone and their entire family venture out in search of the transient autumn colors, but it is gorgeous and well deserving of braving the crowds.

The tradeoff with hiking in October is cooler temperatures and more unpredictable weather (usually with a chance of rain).

As that autumn coloring starts to fade, usually by the third week of October, the weather transitions to winter, when it’s cold, rainy, and sometimes even snowy. Then the road closes (more on that in a second), and we’re back to waiting for next year’s summer season all over again.

A Note on Road Closures

Highway 20, also known as the North Cascades Highway, serves as the main route through the park. It regularly closes between Ross Dam and milepost 171 on the other side of the Washington Pass Overlook in late November, usually reopening sometime in late spring, generally May.

That implies you’ll be able to reach Diablo Lake in winter and early spring, but won’t be able to travel much farther than that.

As a result, the majority of the trails discussed below are inaccessible between November and May, contingent on the year.

Check the latest road conditions for access to the park here.

The Best Hikes in North Cascades National Park (plus one BONUS Hike)

And now, let’s get into the hikes themselves!

Some of the best trails in Washington State can be found in the North Cascades, and it’s an underrated hiking destination that is often overshadowed by the two more famous national parks in Washington, Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park.

After much contemplation on optimizing this guide`s arrangement, we decided upon ordering these hikes based on our individual preferences.

Have another question? Don’t hesitate to contact us, or leave a comment below. We`re more than pleased to chat!

One of the coolest aspects of this hike is how the landscape varies throughout the changing seasons.

In the summer, vegetation and wildflowers cover the hillsides.

Come mid-October, that greenery turns a bright shade of orange or red, and the larches scattering the landscape light up, bringing that signature pop of golden color to the rocky landscape.

Access to the trail`s start is effortless, situated beside Highway 20 on the eastern border of the park, a handful of miles from Washington Pass. The Pacific Crest Trail in fact runs straight through this parking lot.

While the trailhead has ample parking available, it still fills up on summer weekends. We recommend arriving at the trailhead by 9:00am at the latest to secure a spot and begin the hike before large crowds materialize. Earlier is, of course, preferable.

The hike in fact starts on United States Forest Service property, not inside the national park, so you’ll necessitate a Northwest Forest Pass to avoid getting a parking citation.

We strongly recommend hiking this trail counter-clockwise, meaning a more gradual ascent and steeper descent. If you have knee problems, the other direction may be better, but the switchbacks climbing up that way are extremely difficult.

The hike initiates with a consistent uphill climb through the dense forest. At 1.3 miles in, there’s an offshoot trail to the left that takes you to the shore of Lake Ann, and you should undoubtedly do it.

Then continue along the trail, climbing above Lake Ann until you’re facing eastward, with Lake Ann in the foreground and the snowcapped peaks of the Cascades in the background. Around this point is when you briefly enter the national park boundaries.

Pause at the high point of the pass, four miles in and 2,000 feet above the starting point, and take a break to enjoy a snack and water before making the return descent to the trailhead.

The descent is no leisurely stroll. It`s steep, and hiking poles will serve as helpful companions as one loses 2,000 feet in elevation over the course of around two miles.

Second is the tower. Ascending the Guinigi Tower will bring you to an outlook that could well be our favorite perspective across all of Italy.

After a gentle upward trek through the forest (with occasional openings in the trees to see peaks that hikers regularly ascend), you emerge on the shore of a exceptionally beautiful alpine lake backed by those lovely peaks.

On the off chance that you’re searching for a direct, family-accommodating climb in the North Cascades, we think this climb is an extraordinary decision. It’s on the simpler side of direct, climbing 900 feet over two and a half miles to achieve that fabulous alpine lake.

When the sun strikes the lake, it causes the water to shimmer and take on a vivid blue-green hue, a sight that is rather spectacular.

The starting point for Blue Lake is near the Maple Pass starting point, in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forestland.

There are only enough parking spaces for perhaps twenty vehicles in the parking lot, so make sure you arrive early, or be prepared to either wait for a space to open up or park along Highway 20 (pay attention to the signage around no parking zones, though).

From the parking area, you immediately enter the tree-covered region of the forest, with the sounds of vehicles swiftly passing on the road to accompany you for the initial half mile or so.

The climb is rather dull, to be honest. There is one or two spots where you have views of the surrounding landscapes, but mostly it is a gradual ascent through the forest.

Once at the lake, be sure to take some time walking along both shorelines. There are spectacular views to be enjoyed along the trails on both sides.

Specifically, there’s a modest loop on the correct side of the lake with a pleasant tarn and some fine perspectives of the peaks of the North Cascades to the southwest.

Wildlife viewing opportunities also draw visitors here, such as the elusive mountain goats living on the scree facing the far side of the lake.

Let’s begin with the payoff. At the end of this hike, there’s a perched lake waiting for you. You’ll have the lake in the foreground, and the snowy peaks of the Cascades in the background, making for one of the most incredible views in the entire state.

Further up, you have the historic lookout station – built in 1931 – that gives this hike its name. You can still stay overnight in the lookout, but it’s first-arrived, first-served and it’s HIGHLY popular.

I’m not even sure how you would begin to go about getting a spot, but it definitely involves waking up very early on a weekday and relying on chance.

The trail begins at a small parking lot at the end of an earthen road that is a little bumpy and narrow.

Luckily for us, we had an SUV (thanks mom!), because I’m unsure our minivan would have made it. That being said, there was a Prius in the parking lot, so if you have a regular passenger vehicle and you take it slowly, you should be fine.

The trail guides you through three diverse landscapes as the climb to the lake is made.

You`ll begin your hike in a forested area for around a mile before emerging into a meadow filled with wildflowers, especially in early summer (July), where you`ll climb a lengthy series of switchbacks up the mountain face prior to the trail becoming more rocky.

The last two sections, in particular, are lovely. The climb through the open meadows is steep and difficult, but the wildflower shows in the early summer are magical.

At about 2.5 miles into the ascent, two events take place. The trail makes a sharp turn to the right, and the landscape instantly transitions from lush meadows to a rocky ridge. The views of the North Cascades from this ridge are stunning.

Ultimately, you’ll ascend over a ridgeline – which signifies the boundary between the national forest and North Cascades National Park – and you’ll be rewarded with the picture-perfect view of Hidden Lake located to the east. The lookout is a brief climb up the ridge to your right.

We determined it would take us over an hour each direction to arrive at the trailhead, and spent our time elsewhere. Next time, we’ll carry a higher clearance vehicle.

The roadway is passable for regular vehicles, but you’ll have to travel gradually and it will take an extremely lengthy time.

Though it is not located within the national park boundaries, Comet Falls Trail is certainly one of the premier hikes in the North Cascades region due to its scenic views and encapsulation of the area`s natural beauty. Hikers are treated to their first glimpse of the waterfall`s multiple tiers from the initial viewpoint, with additional perspectives available by continuing further up the path.

An important point upfront: this hike essentially involves two separate hikes – the initial ascent to Cascade Pass, and then the climb from Cascade Pass to the base of the Sahale Glacier.

The distance and elevation above represent the entire ascent from the trailhead to the Sahale Glacier. If one simply goes up to Cascade Pass, the hike is much more manageable at 7.5 miles and 1,700 feet of elevation gain, and still worthwhile.

The trail departs from the end of a 23 mile long gravel roadway – called Cascade River Road. The turn onto Cascade River Road is in the town of Marblemount, well before reaching the park`s visitor center in Newhalem (for those entering the park from western Washington).

The trailhead has restricted parking (arrive early!) and bathrooms. There are also multiple campgrounds along Cascade River Road on the route up, which would be a good spot to spend the night before the hike to get an early start.

From the trailhead, the hike skips the warm up and promptly enters a steep phase of highly constricted switchbacks up a rocky hillside (where you’ll find our marmot friends squeaking at you!).

It’s a steady ascent, and you’ll be removing your layers almost immediately. That being said, the scenery is nice, especially when wildflowers envelop the trail in the early summer.

These switchbacks last for the first 2.5 miles (approx.) of the hike, and represent the bulk of the climbing up to Cascade Pass.

You’ll start to obtain some nice views as you approach the top of the switchbacks, and things really begin to improve when you arrive at the ridgeline and initiate the final push to the pass (which is about another mile).

Once departing from the pass heading towards the glacier, the trail becomes noticeably steeper and noticeably more scenic. It climbs through subalpine meadows that transition into a rocky ridge, culminating with a steep rocky ascent through a boulder field to Sahale Glacier Camp (and the end of this hike).

This is one of the higher elevation trails in the park, which means you’re likely going to encounter snow along the top section that lingers in July and returns sometime in September.

One must prepare with traction cleats, various layers of clothing (the temperature can differ vastly from the starting point to the top of the ridge), sun protective gear, and ample provisions of nourishment and water.

The Thunder Knob Trail

• Length: 3.6 miles
• Elevation Gain: 635 feet
• Trail Type: Out and Back 
• Difficulty: Easy 
• Pass Required? None

Essentially, if you are adding the Cinque Terre as part of a broader Italy tour, as we did, you will most likely be traveling from either Florence or Milan.

Looking for an easy hike in North Cascades National Park? In a park full of steep upwards and downwards thigh-burners, this is one of your best options (particularly on the western side of the park around Diablo Lake).

The trail leaves from across the road from the Colonial Creek Campground, making it a perfect trail for campers staying there (that’s how we did it) because you can walk to the trailhead.

The trail itself ascends gently through the forest before arriving at a pleasant viewpoint, where you’ll be able to observe Diablo Lake from the west, which is the opposing direction you see it from the viewpoint off of Highway 20.

Dedicate some time to exploring the diverse viewpoints at the top. Several have benches, and are a good place for a snack before you return back to the campground (or your car).

This hike requires an immense amount of physical exertion. The trail ascends nearly 5,000 feet over the course of five miles to reach the summit, which could be challenging yet manageable if spread out more evenly. However, gaining all that elevation in just five miles is incredibly taxing for the full distance.

For context when evaluating difficulty levels, anything exceeding 500 feet of elevation gain per mile during an ascent is in the “Challenging” category. This hike is nearly TWICE that threshold.

If read this far into the description, likelihood is high that the level of difficulty is acceptable, so let`s discuss the hike itself.

The highest viewpoint of this hike is the fire lookout tower situated at the summit. It was among the earliest lookouts established by the U.S. Forest Service, even though the interior is now closed to visitors (if you want to go inside a fire lookout tower, Hidden Lake Lookout and Park Butte Lookout are good options to see).

To reach the trail, drive on Highway 20 past Marblemount for 20 miles until just before reaching the western edges of Diablo Lake. Turn left on Diablo Road, cross the Stetattle Creek bridge, keep right, and you’ll reach the trail in a quarter mile.

The trail heading toward Sourdough Mountain gets right down to business straightaway. Though the climb eases marginally in steepness as it rises, you likely won’t detect the difference because it’s a tough ascent all the way through.

You’ll climb 3,000 feet in the first two miles along seemingly endless switchbacks through dense forest. The forest eventually thins out, providing some views as motivation to keep progressing.

At around four miles, cross over Sourdough Creek – the first real water source on this hike – and pass Sourdough Camp, which brings you into slightly gentler terrain.

You’ll continue your climb through expansive wildflower fields and subalpine woodland with a stunning vista dotted with glaciated peaks ahead. Push up one final set of switchbacks to reach Sourdough Mountain.

The summit comprises expansive grassy hills dotted with colorful flowers overlooking a series of peaks dusted with snow. The turquoise waters of Diablo Lake wind between Pyramid and Colonial Peaks, crafting an iconic and entirely perfect scene of the Pacific Northwest.

Important note: This trail experienced a fire in July of 2023, and is closed indefinitely. It is unclear whether or not it will open for the 2024 summer and fall seasons, but we will update this guide once we know more. You can also get updates from the National Park Service.

It’s more of a casual walk than a hike, but it`s still worth a brief stop (particularly if you want to stretch your legs after a long drive).

Access to the trailhead is obtainable off Highway 20 at milepost 120 situated at the eastern end of Newhalem. Visitors must park across the river from the Gorge Powerhouse. Crossing the suspension bridge allows one to attain the path guiding a pleasant nature immersion.

This short forest excursion leads you through Ladder Creek Gardens, full of natural flora in bloom, to close views of the descending waterfalls. The path is paved and well preserved, with several seats along the route.

The mist rising from the cascades is a perfect solution for hot days. And should you occur at night, an illumination performance lasting 15 minutes lighting up the gardens and falls runs from dusk till midnight throughout the year.

BONUS: The Park Butte Lookout Trail

• Length: 7.5 miles
• Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet
• Trail Type: Out and Back 
• Difficulty: Moderate / Hard
• Pass Required? Northwest Forest Pass OR America the Beautiful Pass
• Starting Point: Park Butte Trailhead

First of all, this hike is actually near Baker Lake, outside the park boundaries on the western side, near the town of Concrete. But it’s worth a quick detour if you find yourself with some extra time.

Reaching the end of this hike rewards hikers with a breathtaking vista of Mount Baker`s southern face, blanketed with blooming wildflowers during summer months.

You may be questioning why this hike features in this guide, and not in a guide about hiking near Mount Baker.

This is because the trail for this hike is located on the south side of Mount Baker, which is approximately a three hour drive from Artist Point, where Highway 542 ends on the northern side of Mount Baker.

As it is notably closer to the other hikes within North Cascades National Park than to any hikes covered in our Mount Baker guide, it makes more logical sense to include it here.

The starting point is at the end of a nine mile gravel and dirt road that is a bit bumpy in places, but we traveled it in our minivan. However, very gradually. The beginning itself is actually quite nice, partially due to the fact that this is where you commence the climb to Mount Baker’s summit from the southern side.

From the trailhead, where there are multiple vaulted bathrooms, the path itself ascends gently at first, crossing a creek and winding through the woodland.

Fontainebleau State Park is situated in the Northshore town of Mandeville, north of Lake Pontchartrain. It is less than an hour`s drive from New Orleans’ French Quarter.

You’ll pass through fields of vibrant wildflowers during summer, before arriving at rocky terrain featuring spectacular panoramas of Baker for nearly the entire route.

The end point of the hike is a fire lookout tower that looks north at Mount Baker. Spend some time up there, and find a good spot for a snack before returning the same way you came.

This location also allows visitors to spend the night, though it attracts many guests so requiring an early wake up, plenty of luck, and a willingness to leave if no space remains upon arrival.

The Best Hikes in North Cascades National Park, Mapped

Pro-tip: To view an expanded version of the map, click on the “expand” icon in the top right corner.

Backcountry Hiking in the North Cascades

As mentioned with the day hiking opportunities in North Cascades National Park, overnight trips require backcountry permits. Beginning in 2024, there will be three methods to obtain one.

Note that as in previous years, around 60% of permits must be reserved in advance while 40% are available on site, though a lottery system has been implemented to make the process fairer and smoother.

• Early Access via Lottery: Comparable to other crowded areas in the state like the Enchantments, the North Cascades implements a drawing for a portion of backpacking permits. Applications for summer and fall permits are accepted from March 4-15, winners and non-winners are notified on March 22, then lottery victors can make early reservation appointments from March 25 – April 23. Additional details here.
• The General Booking Period: The remaining portion of reserve ahead passes are posted to the online portal after the lottery reservation timeframe is over. In 2024, this will be April 29 at 7am PST. This is when everyone who didn’t join or didn’t win the lottery can make reservations.
• Day-of Permits: The additional 40% of permits are on a first-come-first-served basis, available at the Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount. You’ll need to go there on the day of your trip, or the day before to determine availability. Arrive early, and be adaptable regarding timing and chosen trail. More info here.

Now that you understand how to get to Victoria, the best time to visit Vancouver Island, and how to get around, let’s delve into the day-by-day detailed itinerary.

It’s also worth noting that your permit must be collected by 11am on the first day of your trip, otherwise your reservation will be canceled.

Note: All overnight permits for trails departing from Cascade River Road, including the Cascade Pass Trail / Sahale Arm Trail, are issued solely at the Marblemount Wilderness Information Center.

Things to Know Before You Visit North Cascades National Park

Here is some information that may be helpful to know before visiting North Cascades National Park.

The hiking period is tragically brief.We touched on this above, but it bears restating. Don’t make the same mistake we did and show up in early July thinking everything will be snow-free and ready to tackle without winter hiking equipment. The best time to hit the trail with little fear of snow and ice is late July through the end of September.

There are very few areas to lodge near the park. There are, essentially, zero areas to lodge on the west side of the park between Marblemount and the I-5 corridor EXCEPT FOR CAMPING. If you’re camping, stay at either Colonial Creek or Newhalem Creek Campground. If you’re not camping, the charming town of Winthrop in the eastern hills of the Cascades has the best combination of areas to lodge, facilities, and proximity to the park.

If tranquility is what you seek, consider visiting Saona Island, an authentic Caribbean paradise filled with mangroves and coral reefs. You may even opt to take this catamaran excursion to bask in pristine beaches, crystal clear waters, and untamed flora surrounding the island. Another possibility is this full-day snorkeling tour to Catalina Island to experience one of the most vibrant underwater ecosystems around the Dominican Republic.

This national park does NOT require a entrance cost to get in, but you may need a parking permit at certain trail areas.Fortunately, there are no national park fees for North Cascades National Park! However, you will need a Northwest Forest Pass to park at numerous of the trailheads.

Backcountry hiking necessitates acquiring a backcountry permit, which must be collected personally. Reservations for permits must be made online in advance on Recreation.gov. All backcountry permits allowing for overnight camping in the park must be obtained in person at the Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount. Additional data on the process for applying for and securing backcountry permits here.

Leave your canine companions at home.Pets are not permitted on any of the trails through the North Cascades national park (with the sole exception being a portion of the Maple Pass trail that crosses into national forest area). This rule helps to preserve the trail systems and the surrounding natural environment inhabited by plants and wildlife within the national park boundaries.

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