Best Camping In North Cascades National Park

Explore nearby caves, relax after hiking to a natural hot spring or jump into a cool swimming hole to feel refreshed and invigorated. The campground’s location is near to Early Winters Creek, and campers can take advantage of water and spectacular mountain views not seen often anywhere. The scenery all along the hiking trail is something almost mystical in nature. The campsite is located just below the Sahale Glacier itself. Those 100 South Loop area campsites can be reserved in-advance which is something rather rare for such a popular campsite. The other 42 campsites on the North Loop are on a first-come first-served schedule.

If you want to follow the loop on the way back, follow the directions in Day 3 of the weekend itinerary below. If you’re doing a day trip to North Cascades National Park from Seattle, you can either go straight to one destination and return the same way or you can make a loop. A unique option in North Cascades National Park is boat in camping! You can kayak or take a power boat to a campsite along Diablo or Ross Lake.

Mineral Park Campground

Try to reserve a site as close to the lake as possible – there are some sites where you can see the lake from your tent! There are not any access roads to reach the quaint community of Stehekin. Visitors can arrive via foot-hiking, on horseback, aboard boats or via a plane. This ranch offers home-cooked, hearty, and delicious meals and cozy cabin accommodations shaded by the tall, majestic trees native to the region. All of these sites will require a backpacking camping permit. Exceptions to this permit rule are some lakeside camping sites.

Only adventurous hikers and climbers can gaze upon the soaring peak. 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.

How To Hike The Mt Tallac Trail In South Lake Tahoe

West McMillan Spire is an 8,000′ peak located in the Southern Pickets. Hozomeen Campground is a more primitive campground, with no garbage facilities, at the northern tip of Ross Lake. Gorge Lake is a small campground alongside Gorge Lake and Stetattle Creek without water or garbage.

It’s a difficult hike that climbs 2,800 feet over three and a half miles to reach the pass. Once you arrive at the lake, make sure to take some time to walk along both shores. There are some spectacular views to be had that are along the trails on both sides. Less than three hours from Seattle, an alpine landscape beckons. Discover communities of life adapted to moisture in the west and recurring fire in the east. Witness a landscape sensitive to the Earth’s changing climate.

Two-day excursions to escape the 9-to-5 work day blues are a possibility if you come prepared. Grab your backcountry permit before hitting the water, and may all of your cubicle daydreams come true. For experienced and newbie paddlers alike, Spencer’s Boat-In campsite is a destination for everyone. Whether its your final weekend resting place or the first stop on your 7-day journey, grab your backcountry permit and make your way to Spencer’s. If you prefer your outdoor adventure away from the sound of motors, Dry Creek is the perfect spot.

A very small town that is located at the northern end of Lake Chelan. Once in Stehekin, you can go on day hikes or start a backpacking adventure into the interior of the park. Highway 20 runs east west through the park, along the Skagit River, bisecting the park into two pieces.

Travel Tips For Creating A North Cascades National Park Itinerary

This is a gorgeous hike and beyond the lake sits North Cascades National Park. This is technically located outside of the North Cascades National Park Complex but it is still well worth the visit. Washington Pass is located on Highway 20, just east of the national park. If you’re camping, make sure to bring everything you need for camping.

Boat-in camping on Ross Lake and camping near Stehekin offer another option for those looking to get away from it all. Within the trail and lake corridors, camping is allowed in designated sites only, to protect both the wilderness and to ensure all visitors have a quality backcountry experience. Exploring Washington’s wilderness through backpacking is an otherworldly experience. With cascading glacial façades and a number of alpine lakes, it’s the ultimate place for backcountry camping. While all backcountry sites require permits, the method to get one and the campsites themselves differ immensely from each park.

It also has a shower + bathroom inside, a queen-size memory foam mattress, WiFi, TV, and a pull-out kitchen in the back. I’ve stayed in a few different campervans in the past, and this one is the most luxury by far. You can pick up your van from either their Los Angeles or Seattle location.

Best Alpine Scrambles In Rocky Mountain National Park

Call early as there are just a few sites at any given time. Some campsites sit on the edge of beautiful Lake Gorge, and others are located towards the center of the campgrounds that won’t have the same great views. There are access points here to the lake with a boat launch on site. Beginning at the terminus of the scenic Cascade River Road, it’s a roughly six-mile hike up Cascade Pass to reach Sahale Glacier Campground. This trail is one of the best hiking trails in Washington, with spectacular views along Cascade Pass.

North Cascades National Park is a highly underrated park but for those who venture here, it is a peaceful, beautiful experience. Wild, rugged, remote…North Cascades National Park is highly underrated park, especially for hikers and backpackers. The scenic drives and overlooks give you a glimpse of the beauty of this place, but to truly discover the majesty of the North Cascades, you’ll have to hit the hiking trails. Here are the 9 best things to do in North Cascades National Park. Backpacking is also amazing in North Cascades National Park.

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. Ross Lake and Desolation Peak trip for an accessible peak that would be perfect for a first summit. Thunder Creek to Fourth of July Pass, an 11-mile round trip hike.

For mountaineers or those looking for serious adventure and challenge, see the page on cross-country camping. Be careful when heading up this 4.5 mile trail since there can be snow coverage into the summer. When you start the trail, you’ll get a little tree coverage as you start climbing up.

Stehekin offers camping in a range of settings, from lakeside sites to quiet roadside camps to backpacking sites. Farther east, near the Washington Pass Overlook, the alpine environment dries up and the hikes become more arid and open. Maple Pass Loopis a stirring 2,150-foot ascent over 6.5 miles with wildlife, vistas, and the occasional hiker-poet.

A Complete Guide To Hiking In North Cascades National Park

Skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing are a few of the wintry pastimes for visitors to enjoy. Below are five North Cascades National Park RV campgrounds that you can roll into during your visit. If you’re planning a trip to the Pacific Northwest, we’ve got you covered with all sorts of super detailed travel guides to our favorite places in Washington and Oregon. Eventually, you’ll climb over a ridge and be rewarded with the picture-perfect view of Hidden Lake to the east. The trail starts at a small parking lot at the end of a dirt road that is a little bit bumpy and narrow.

Best Campgrounds In North Cascades National Park

If you’re looking for a moderate, family-friendly hike in the North Cascades, we think this hike is a great choice. The trail takes you through three different landscapes as you make the climb to the lake. Then continue along the trail, climbing above Lake Ann until you’re looking east, with Lake Ann in the foreground and the snowy peaks of the Cascades in the background. Around this point is when you are inside the national park boundaries, although only briefly.