North Cascades National Park Itinerary: 10 Best Things To Do in North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is, in my opinion, underrated. It is the least visited national park in Washington, which blows my mind! North Cascades National Park offers incredible views and hiking trails in Washington and is home to over 300 glaciers and 500 lakes and ponds.
When we visited, we could not get over the stunning views! Everything from the snow-capped mountains to the bright blue lakes was incredible. I cannot believe it is not visited as often as other nearby national parks!
I highly recommend visiting North Cascades National Park if you are visiting Washington! This guide will review everything you need to know to create the best North Cascades National Park itinerary, including where to stay, what to know before you go, and the best things to do in North Cascades National Park.
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Tips for Creating a North Cascades National Park Itinerary
Spend at least 2-4 days in North Cascades National Park. Many of the best things to do in North Cascades National Park are at least an-hour from one another and many of them require hikes. Honestly, you could spend an entire week hiking in North Cascades National Park if you wanted! We spent about 2 days in the park and were able to see a lot and hike the trails we wanted to. I wish we stayed longer though!
Be prepared for winter conditions on trails through July. North Cascades National Park can have winter conditions on its trails through July. The trails that have winter conditions in North Cascades National Parks will have snow and ice. It is very important to read trail reviews before planning a hike and pack the proper hiking gear. We visited in August, and some trails still had some snow on the trails!
Get your pass ahead of time. There is no fee to enter North Cascades National Park. However, if you have hikes on your North Cascades National Park itinerary, you will need a Northwest Forest Pass. If you are visiting other national parks along with North Cascades National Park, you can purchase America the Beautiful Annual Pass. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass will allow you into any national park and federal recreation land for a year!
Start your days early. The most popular sights in North Cascades National Park become very crowded, so I recommend arriving at those spots before 9:00 AM or after 4:00 PM. Most of the parking lots are large, but they still fill up quickly, especially on weekends. We noticed most of the sights we arrived at started to become crowded between 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM.
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
How to Get From Seattle to North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is in northern Washington near the border of Canada. The easiest way to get to North Cascades National Park is to fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. From the airport, it is a 2-hour drive to Route 20 without traffic.
I recommend adding time to your North Cascades National Park itinerary to accommodate any traffic you may hit leaving Seattle. It took us longer than expected to get out of Seattle due to traffic.
I highly recommend renting a car for your trip to North Cascades National Park. The national park does not offer a shuttle service, and the must-see sights are spread out, so having a car is essential.
Places to Stay Near North Cascades National Park
Because North Cascades National Park is remote, there are few hotels in or near the park in the surrounding towns. I recommend getting everything you need, including groceries, before entering the park. Campgrounds are the best accommodations because they are near many of the best things to do in North Cascades National Park.
If you are interested in renting a campervan, I highly recommend renting from Escape Campervans! We rented a campervan and had a blast driving through Washington and staying at various campgrounds near the national parks.
If you are not staying in a campground, I recommend adding time to your North Cascades National Park itinerary to accommodate driving time.
Best Hotels Near North Cascades National Park:
Best Campgrounds Near North Cascades National Park:
What to Pack for a North Cascades National Park Itinerary
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
North Cascades National Park Itinerary: Best Things To Do in North Cascades National Park
Washington Pass Overlook
Washington Pass Overlook is one of the best things to do and a great way to kick off your North Cascades National Park itinerary because you get beautiful views with minimal effort. A short 0.25-mile paved path brings you to a beautiful viewpoint standing at 5,000 feet, overlooking Washington Pass and the infamous Liberty Bell.
Washington Pass is the highest point on Highway 20 and marks the middle of the western and eastern sections of Washington. For those who are not a fan of heights, this easy hike is perfect because there are railings along the edges of the overlook.
Because we arrived to North Cascades National Park later than expected, we caught the sunset here, and it was incredible! We loved having an easy trail with beautiful views to start off our road trip.
Pro tip: Hike to Washington Pass Overlook for sunset. The beautiful golden light pours on Liberty Bell, creating a beautiful sight to see! Keep in mind that this beautiful part of North Cascades is only open between May and October because it is avalanche-prone.
Diablo Lake
Diablo Lake is another beautiful viewpoint to add to your North Cascades National Park itinerary! It is one of the most popular spots in because of its beautiful bright blue waters and accessibility. The beautiful lake is a man-made reservoir located on the Skagit River and is surrounded by 7,000-8,000-foot tall mountains.
We thought Diablo Lake was very similar to many lakes in Banff National Park because they get their bright blue colors from glacier sediments. We visited on a sunny day, and the waters turned a beautiful turquoise color. It was stunning!
Diablo Lake is easily accessible from a viewpoint on the side of Highway 20, making it one of the best things to do in North Cascades National Park for those who don’t want to hike. The parking lot for Diablo Lake is large but can fill up quickly, especially at sunset. Diablo Lake is one of the best, easily accessible spots in North Cascades National Park to watch the sunset.
If you want to hike, the 7.6-mile Diablo Lake Trail is perfect. The Diablo Lake Trail brings you through the mountains along the shores of Diablo Lake and past waterfalls. The views were stunning and worth the effort!
I highly recommend visiting in the early morning because Diablo Lake will have fewer crowds. When we visited midday, we had trouble finding parking. But no matter when you experience Diablo Lake, you will not be disappointed!
Heather-Maple Pass
Heather-Maple Pass Loop was my favorite hike on our North Cascades National Park itinerary. If you are looking to experience the incredible mountains North Cascades National Park has to offer, Heather-Maple Pass Loop is for you!
The 7.2-mile loop hikes through beautiful fields of wildflowers and along the ridge of Lake Ann to the top of Heather Pass. There are many beautiful views on the way to Heather Pass, so make sure to take your time and stop at all of the viewpoints. The hike took longer than we expected because we kept stopping to take photos, but it was worth it!
Once you reach Heather Pass, you are rewarded with an incredible 360° view. But don’t worry, the beautiful hike is not over yet! The trail continues along the ridgeline to Maple Pass, providing views of Black Peak, Stiletto Peak, Frisco Mountain, and Goode Mountain along the way.
We packed a meal and sat on the ridgeline while taking in the beautiful views of North Cascades National Park. I could have stayed up there for hours enjoying the views. They were unmatched!
The trail then descends on switchbacks down towards Rainy Lake and loops back to the parking lot where it began. Heather-Maple Pass Loop is one of the best things to do in North Cascades National Park for those looking for an incredible hike!
We hiked the Heather-Maple Pass Loop in the morning, and the views were gorgeous. However, I would highly recommend, if you are up for it, hiking it for sunrise. It would require an early wake-up call, but the golden light on the mountains would be beyond beautiful. Either way, make sure to arrive at the trailhead early. This parking lot fills up very quickly!
Rainy Lake
Rainy Lake is a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains in North Cascades National Park. It is a popular spot because the trail is only 2 miles round trip, is paved, has almost no elevation gain, and provides beautiful views of waterfalls cascading into a blue lake. It is one of the best easy hikes you can add to your North Cascades National Park itinerary for those looking for an easy trail with beautiful views.
The Rainy Pass trailhead begins in the same parking lot as the Heather-Maple Pass Loop and Lake Ann and is the busiest trail of the three. Rainy Lake becomes very crowded after 10:00 AM, so I suggest visiting the lake early or late in the day.
After we finished Heather-Maple Pass, we hiked to Rainy Lake. It is easy to add to the hike, so I highly recommend it!
Lake Ann
If you are looking for another easy hike to add to your North Cascades National Park itinerary that provides incredible views of a lake surrounded by mountains, Lake Ann is perfect! The trail to Lake Ann begins on the same trail to Heather-Maple Pass Loop and diverges from it after 1.25 miles.
The Lake Ann Trail is only 3.4 miles and leads you to its shores with Heather Pass and Maple Pass in the background. If you visit Lake Ann in the fall, the surrounding larches will turn a beautiful golden color. Lake Ann is the perfect spot for a picnic to enjoy the incredible views!
If you want to add a little extra mileage to your hike on the Heather-Maple Pass Loop, I highly recommend hiking to Lake Ann. It is easy to add to the hike, and the views are stunning!
Blue Lake
Do you want to hike to another beautiful lake surrounded by mountains, wildflowers, and meadows in North Cascades National Park? Blue Lake is one of the most beautiful hikes in North Cascades National Park and is arguably one of the most beautiful lakes because of its bright blue waters.
A 4-mile roundtrip hike brings you to the shores of Blue Lake and will take your breath away with beautiful views along the entire trail. Although short, the trail gains over 1,000 feet of elevation, but it is worth it for the beautiful views of Blue Lake!
Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm
Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm is another beautiful hike and is considered to be one of the most beautiful hikes in North Cascades National Park. The strenuous 12-mile roundtrip hike gains over 4,000 feet of elevation and has many steep sections.
Although the hike to Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm is not easy, the beautiful views of glaciers, mountains, and valleys will distract you from the constant climb. If you are not up to hiking the entire trail, you can choose to only hike to Cascade Pass, which is 7 miles roundtrip.
The first 3 miles of the hike to Cascade Pass travel up 30 switchbacks that can seem never-ending. Once the switchbacks are complete, the trail gradually ascends to Cascade Pass. Soon enough, the trail breaks free from the trees and offers some of the most incredible views.
After Cascade Pass, the trail continues to Sahale Arm. The final half-mile to Sahale Arm is difficult and climbs very steeply over rock scrambles. Finally, you are rewarded with some of the most beautiful views in North Cascades National Park. The hike to Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm is one of the best things to do in North Cascades National Park for those looking for a challenge!
Sahale Arm is a popular area to backcountry camp because the campsites offer incredible views to watch the sunset or sunrise. If you are looking to camp near Sahale Arm, you can obtain permits here.
Artist Point
If you are willing to drive a little extra to get to Artist Point (which I highly recommend!), you will not be disappointed. Although Artist Point is just outside of the park boundary, it is still a great place to add to your North Cascades National Park itinerary.
Artist Point is just north of North Cascades National Park and is over 5,000 feet high. The best part about Artist Point? You get beautiful views right from the parking lot! Artist Point offers incredible views and an up-close and personal experience with Mount Baker. Many paved paths lead to more beautiful viewpoints.
This area receives a lot of snow, which sometimes will not melt until August. We visited in mid-August, and there was still a lot of snow on Artist Point and the surrounding area. I highly recommend reading recent reviews and the Forest Service website to know if the road has been cleared.
Pro tip: Visit Artist Point for sunrise AND sunset. I recommend staying close to the road leading to Artist Point, so you can quickly and easily reach the top to take in the beautiful views during both golden hours. You will not be disappointed with the early wake-up call and late bedtime!
Table Mountain
If you venture to Artist Point, Table Mountain is a must-do hike. Although this trail is only 2.6 miles roundtrip, it is strenuous. The first section of the hike is steep and challenging, winding up switchbacks with a drop-off on one side. It is very important to check the weather and recent trail reviews before hiking to Table Mountain because the trail has loose gravel and is known to be icy.
If you have a day with beautiful weather, I highly recommend hiking to Table Mountain. We hiked it just before sunset, and it was breathtaking. There are views along the entire trail of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, and the other surrounding mountains in the northern North Cascades.
Chain Lakes
Another must-do hike at Artist Point is the Chain Lakes Trail. The 6.5-mile trail is one of the best hikes to add to your North Cascades National Park itinerary because it has something for everyone, including beautiful mountain views, wildflower meadows, blueberry bushes, and alpine lakes.
Views of Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan are endless along this loop, so the miles pass quickly. The Chain Lakes Trail is also a beautiful place to backcountry camp. There are about eight campsites along the Chain Lakes Trail that do not require a permit and are first-come, first-serve. I highly recommend claiming a spot around dinnertime so you can watch the sunset over Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan!
Are you ready to create the best North Cascades National Park itinerary?! This guide has everything you need to plan the best trip, including the best things to do in North Cascades National Park and the best hikes in North Cascades National Park.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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