North Cascades National Park Itinerary
The scenery here is unreal. Jennie Flaming Hi! The North Cascades have plenty of trails where you can backwoods camp but you should be prepared with bear spray and the proper equipment before you give it a go.
North Cascades National Park Itinerary: Day Trip or Weekend

Cutting a jagged border across the Northern half of Washington this mountain range is filled to the brim with hiking trails that snake through the emerald forests toward the last remnants of blue glaciers and piercing grey peaks with snow-capped tops. The scenery here is unreal.
Planning your North Cascades National Park itinerary ahead of time is important since there is very little cell service once you get inside the park. The Pacific Northwest can be a dreary damp place. The North Cascades is no different. But the misty rainy mountains get this other-worldly feel as the clouds seep through the trees and the moody weather really just adds to the overall experience.
October-April: Are freezing. Highs are often only up into the 40s. If you visit during this time, expect snowfall. Get here early if you want to find a place to park.
When we North Cascades National Park Itinerary the trailhead on Labor Day weekend there were cars lining both sides of the road for nearly half a mile. But this is a real hike.
Not too difficult, only gaining ft of elevation total but it makes for a perfect long inclined walk through some of the beautiful forests you expect on your North Cascades National Park itinerary. Two very similar viewpoints. Both overlooks are simple pullouts off highway 20 and clearly marked. Washington Pass Overlook As far as viewpoints go this one was my favorite. But the best way to complete the hike it to start with counterclockwise and complete the full-loop. It takes around 3.
Blue Lake Trail Trail Length: 5. Only gaining around ft in elevation before you reach the crisp blue lake at the foot of the mountains.
Artist Point Picture Lake right before sunset. This is the end of the road. Another great spot to watch the sunset is Picture Lake. The near-perfect reflection on the water is at prime viewing on a clear evening when the sky starts to color. Just trust me. Best Long Hike: Chain Lakes. Because, yes, technically this hike is within the bounds of the NP, just the road to get there North Cascades National Park Itinerary not.
From there you depart on the Cascade Pass Trail. For 3. This portion of the trail is suitable for children and beginner hikers. You can North Cascades National Park Itinerary continue on with a strenuous North Cascades National Park Itinerary climb for a mile to Douglass Lake, a stunning emerald eye of a lake sitting in the valley of the mountains.
Another 1. This portion of the trail is difficult and involves a bit of rock scrambling. For those kinds of hikers, you can continue on all 31 miles to the town of Stehekin if that floats your boat.
This makes the round-trip hike 9. Van Life is the way to go. What is Backcountry Camping? The North Cascades have plenty of trails where you can Glacier National Park To Great Falls Mt camp but you should be prepared with bear spray and the proper equipment before you give it a go.
USA road trips can be expensive. So before our big USA road trip, we built a van. Both inside national parks and smack dab in the middle of major cities. So, be sure to check out our full post on stealth camping in your van for all our tips. Our Camping Spot in front of the Johannesburg Glacier.
If you want to build your very own DIY campervan be sure to check out my blog post on 8 mistakes that beginners often make when building their camper…
“Are We There Yet?”

The towering granite peaks and granite outcrops surrounded by tall conifers offer a remarkably beautiful view. There are no services available in the park. I recommend doing the loop if you are doing scenic driving and picture stops only. The Pacific Northwest can be a dreary damp place.