North Cascades National Park

National park · Whatcom County

North Cascades National Park

National park · Whatcom County

Washington

Highlights

Discover the rugged beauty of North Cascades National Park, where snow-capped mountains, sparkling lakes, and serene hiking trails await with fewer crowds.

Washington Get directions

nps.gov

@ncascadesnps

@travelleisure

"Renowned for its rugged mountain peaks, glaciers, and deep valleys, this park offers a wilderness experience with numerous hiking trails. It's one of the least visited parks, providing solitude and pristine nature." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'

View Postcard for North Cascades National Park

@travelleisure

"North Cascades National Park, located less than three hours by car from Seattle, is noted for its rugged terrain shaped by glaciers and waterways. The park features over 300 glaciers, dense forests, clear lakes, and is home to gray wolves and grizzly bears. Despite its natural beauty, it remains one of the less visited parks, with just over 40,000 visitors in 2023." - Travel + Leisure Editors

This Is the Most Underrated National Park in the U.S.

View Postcard for North Cascades National Park

Kailah O'Brien

Google

Absolutely breathtaking and beautiful. The mountains are gorgeous and snow capped. The water is crystal clear. There are so many hiking paths with spectacular views. The roads weren't too icy but some of them were blocked off past diablo lake. I am sure by summer time more of the park will be accessible. Worth the visit. So peaceful and serene

Lizza G

Google

“Spectacular views, serene surroundings, and an unforgettable experience. This spot offers breathtaking landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and majestic snow-capped mountains. A must-visit for nature lovers and photographers!”

Daniel Bennett

Google

Beautiful location with so much to see. Most of the National Park is actually located away from the roads, making it one of the most remote National Parks in the country. This is tough terrain and can bring both challenges and delights. This is untamed wilderness and must be treated with the respect it deserves.

Amber Anderson

Google

This park is far less touristy than the others but offers amazing views! This park offers a drive through option that allows you to see it without any hikes but the hikes are beautiful! This is a must see in my book! The color of the water is perfection

Ernie Furtado

Google

Loved this national park … we had an airbnb in Concrete that was right on the river - and it was an easy 30 minute drive … we had two great hikes with stops along the way to take in the scenery. Definitely do Washington Pass and stop and walk to the outlook - the valley, mountains and Liberty peak are worth pausing to reflect how wonderful our country is! We hope you enjoy as much as we did.

Sally Ragusa

Google

Amazing place. The road up turns into gravel and gets a little narrow, but it is still worth the drive. Several hikes are available along the way up.

Ivanna Kaleniuk

Google

Lovely national park! As you might know already North Cascades is extremely underrated, it is one of least popular and visited parks in US. But don’t let it scare you it only means there will be less people and you will get to enjoy everything this park has to offer. The diamond and most popular location in North Cascades is of course Diablo lake. Stunning color lake that surrounded by hikes, campgrounds and viewpoints. We also did Maple Ridge trail, it ended up to be 7mi long and took us somewhere between 3.5-4hr. Keep in mind it is considered hard trail. We stoped at Washington pass overlook and drove along North Cascades Highway. Unfortunately when we visited in the end of July 2024 there was a wildfire and the only road that goes through park was partially closed, but firefighters were working nonstop to prevent fire from spreading and to accommodate tourists as well. They reopened the road week later but with ‘follow me’ car. I just want to point out that NP campground was amazing. If you are planning to camp definitely try to get a spot at North cascades national park.

Nishant N

Google

Lovely drive up here and beautiful sights to take in. The lakes and mountains are the main draw with a couple of scenic overlooks and good hikes. The fact that it was barely busy and free to access was icing on the cake. Note that it is closed at mile 134 due to the post winter restoration, so we didn't get high enough to see snow. You can easily spend a day or two here.