North Cascades National Park
Less than three hours from Seattle, an alpine landscape beckons.
Photo: NPS Photo/D.Dixon / NPS
About North Cascades National Park
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. Explore jagged peaks crowned by more than 300 glaciers. Listen to cascading waters in forested valleys. Witness a landscape sensitive to the Earth's changing climate. Help steward the ecological heart of the Cascades.
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WAdrive time
WAdrive time
WAdrive time
WAdrive time
WAdrive time
ORdrive time
Driving times from North Cascades National Park, one way, via road — a realistic day is 8–10 hours behind the wheel.
Hours
North Cascades National Park Service Complex
- Mon
- All Day
- Tue
- All Day
- Wed
- All Day
- Thu
- All Day
- Fri
- All Day
- Sat
- All Day
- Sun
- All Day
Activities
Getting there
The best weather for visiting the North Cascades generally occurs between mid-June and late-September. Summer daytime temperatures average in the 70's F. Snow is off most trails by mid-July. Autumn and Spring are popular for color and wildlife. Storms are common: always be prepared for a few days of rain and wind. The east side of the Cascade Mountains (Lake Chelan National Recreation Area) is drier and warmer in the summer than the west side. Summer temperatures at Stehekin reach the 90's F.
Frequently asked questions
- What is there to do at North Cascades National Park?
- Popular activities include Auto and ATV, Backcountry Camping, Biking, Boat Tour, Boating, Bookstore and Park Store.
- Which national parks are within a day's drive of North Cascades National Park?
- Within about a day's drive you can reach Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve (2 h 19 min), Wing Luke Museum Affiliated Area (2 h 35 min), Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (2 h 35 min), San Juan Island National Historical Park (3 h 20 min), Mount Rainier National Park (4 h 30 min), Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (5 h 14 min).