North Cascades National Park — Attraction in Area E (Chilliwack River Valley)

North Cascades is a hiker's park, NOT one to visit if you're looking for extensive facilities, bus tours, or a park and see kind location. As opposed to many of the big name national parks, you'll have to leave the comfort of your vehicle and really prep for a decent slog to get the full experience.

That isn't to say that "taking a drive" through the park will be a waste, or won't impress. The views from your car, or from the couple lookouts along highway 20 will definitely expose you to rugged mountains, glacial views, and untamed forests, but if you stay in your car you will miss out on the far better views available. If car travel is all you have, you'll be happy with staying on highway 20, but taking the unnervingly narrow road to Hart's pass could add to the views. I do mean narrow, so drive carefully and work with opposing traffic.

Those looking for good suggestions for trails to take should start with maple pass loop, or cascade pass. Both are relatively short, 3-7 miles, with extremely impressive views of mountain peaks and glacial hangs. The trails are by no means easy for novice hikers, but are manageable for most decently fit folks. Thornton lakes and hidden lakes are also great hikes, but a little less maintained and traveled. For longer hikes, look at mcalister or rainy passes, which can turn into a loop off of 20 itself, or could turn into a through hike to stehekin at the top of lake chelan.

For facilities, there isn't a true visitors center like you may find at other western parks, but a visitors center in Burlington marblemount, or in stehekin provides park information.

If you plan on backcountry camping, permits are picked up at the ranger's station in marblemount, accessed by turning left off of highway 20 onto a very unassuming, but signed road. For campground camping, most are on the east side of the park, along the road. Many options exist, and they tend to not be as crowded as one would expect. The campgrounds are well kept, and have great locations.

Resource facilities (restaurants, fuel, etc) are essentially nonexistent after Diablo dam, until you get out of the park headed towards Winthrop. The distance isn't terrible, but don't expect a heavily developed park once you pass the dam. If you need to find food after a long stay in the park, I recommend one of the many great but casual options in downtown Winthrop.

As a neat side, the highway may be labelled as in the park, but it actually parallels the road. If you fail to leave the roadway, you never truly...

Want to get wild? Then head to this National Park! This park encompasses lakes, rivers, waterfalls, mountains, scenic hillsides, and glaciers! It is also one of the least visited National Parks in the US. The scenery is stunning and it is easy to find a trail and not come into contact with another person. You most likely will come into contact with wildlife though! In a single hike I saw the typical squirrels and chipmunks, but also came across a black bear (gave him his space and turned around promptly), a curious deer, and a marmot! This park took my breath away in the best way during the COVID pandemic!

Please do not come here expecting to find some of the conveniences that more popular national parks offer. There is a visitor center with plenty of friendly rangers that will help guide you towards a great visit. But there is not a restaurant, gas station, or lodge. Come prepared and be sure to get gas at one of the towns before you enter the park! Also be sure to check the weather before heading out, as summer storms can roll through the area and there is ample snow during the cooler seasons, both of which can impact hiking.

Also, there are no visitor fees to this park, you can simply drive along the highway and then be in the park. You can stop at the different scenic points, or park at a trail head and head up into the mountains.

Some points to note for COVID-19 practices: Visitor center is open but you may not enter, all activities are conducted outside -The general store located within the park is closed for the season (so plan ahead and don't just think that you will be able to buy a forgotten item in the park) -Campgrounds are open, you can reserve a site or try the first come sites (do show up early to ensure you find a place) -Bathrooms are closed in certain areas but Porta-Potties are available

Enjoy the park, be respectful of wildlife, take only pictures and leave only footprints, stay safe and continue to physical distance,...

Glacial peaks & Wilderness: North Cascade National Park , USA

North Cascades National Park has a rugged beauty with the wildest alpine landscapes and ice-clad jagged peaks. The Park is having over 300 glaciers as the most heavily glaciated area outside of Alaska. Some of the peaks are above 3000 meters in altitude. The deep forested valleys and cascading waterfalls made it more beautiful.

When we reached the Newhalem North Cascades National Park Visitor Centre it was already 10 ‘o clock by my watch. Stopped there to get some information about the road status, trails and viewpoints in the park from the park rangers.

The Cascade Range was named so after the Cascade Rapids of the Columbia River, now it has been submerged below the Bonneville Reservoir. Paleo-Indian Native Americans were the early settlers of the area, later it was inhabited by Skagit tribes

After getting all the required information from the park center, we stopped at Marblemount a small town at the western gateway to the park for breakfast. There are charming cafes and restaurants along the road. We had a savoury hearty breakfast with chicken sandwiches and coffee.

North Cascades National Park has an extensive network of over 400 miles of trails with varying ranges of difficulties. Each of the trails are having its unique charm and breathtaking views. We Checked out some less crowded trails, such as Stetattle Creek, Pyramid Lake, or Sourdough Creek and start our hiking at Sourdough Creek.

As we moved forward, we were awestruck by the mesmerizing beauty of the park. At the onset of summer, the Subalpine wildflowers were beginning to bloom, coming out of long winter snow cover, snowmelt was feeding hundreds of waterfalls, creating incredible views all around. Park rangers said that there are chances of encountering wildlife from pikas, black bears, red...