North Cascades National Park

"The American Alps": the North Cascades Highway links emerald Diablo Lake, Ross Lake, glacier-capped peaks and Washington Pass.

North Cascades National Park lies in northern Washington State, right on the Canadian border. Together with Ross Lake and Lake Chelan national recreation areas, it makes up the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. The park has more glaciers than anywhere else in the Lower 48 (about 300), along with jagged granite peaks and emerald glacial lakes, which earned it the name "the American Alps." Its core is almost roadless, though, so it is one of the least-visited national parks in the U.S., and most visitors experience it along the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20), which crosses the park.

The best season is July–Sep, when snow has melted from the highway and the alpine trails. From late September to mid-October the alpine larches turn gold, and trails such as Maple Pass and Blue Lake are at their busiest. The Washington Pass section of Highway 20 closes every year from about November until April or May because of avalanche risk. During that time, Newhalem and Diablo Lake can only be reached from the west. In winter, bald eagles gather along the Skagit River near Rockport.

Areas to explore: The western section centers on Newhalem, with a visitor center, the Trail of the Cedars and Ladder Creek Falls. The middle section takes in Diablo Lake, Ross Lake and their dams. The eastern section climbs over Rainy Pass and Washington Pass, home to alpine trails such as the Maple Pass Loop and Blue Lake, before descending to Winthrop, a town with a Wild West theme. To reach Cascade Pass, take the gravel road from Marblemount.

Getting there: Newhalem is about 2.5 hours from Seattle. Driving is the only practical option. Gas stations are very scarce along the route (there are none for about 120 km between Marblemount and Mazama), and there's almost no cell service. The national park itself is free to enter, but some trailheads are in national forest land and need a Northwest Forest Pass or an America the Beautiful pass. Plan on 2–3 days. You can stay at campgrounds near Newhalem/Marblemount or in Winthrop on the east side.

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