Cascade Pass Trail - 2-Day Camping Adventure

Summer camping season is here! 🏕️ This time, we scored a spot at Newhalem Creek Campground, conveniently located near North Cascades Visitor Center—perfect for hitting the trails and exploring park attractions. Day 1: Sahale Arm & Cascade Pass Trail This hard-rated trail became our moderate adventure since we had camp chores later. We hiked just beyond Cascade Pass, and wow—this segment alone earned a spot in my Top 3 Washington trails! 🚗 Getting There: • 20 minutes on a bumpy gravel road led us to the trailhead. • Lucky encounter: A kind local told us parking was still available at the trailhead (saved us a 2-mile walk from the overflow lot!). Trail Highlights: 🌲 First Half: Switchbacks under cool, shaded trees with glimpses of towering peaks through the branches. 🌸 Second Half: After the final switchback—BAM! A sea of wildflowers with snow-capped mountains as the backdrop. Beyond Cascade Pass, the views expanded, showcasing layers of blooms (even some rare WA wildflowers!). Pro tip: Bring a jacket—it gets chilly at higher elevations! Wildlife Encounters: 🐐 Mountain goats—one bold buddy strolled the trail like he owned it, only sauntering away when we got too close. 🐭 Pika sighting! Spotted this tiny round furball near the rocks. Later learned its name from a Visitor Center booklet—"It’s so nice to be a Pika!" Cutest. Thing. Ever. Day 2: Post-Camping Exploration Checked out North Cascades’ iconic spots, including the vibrant blue Diablo Lake! Next time, kayaking here is a MUST. 🚣♂️ Why You’ll Love This Trip: ✔ Epic alpine meadows + wildflower overload ✔ Goat selfie opportunities (they’re basically trail influencers) ✔ Flexible hiking options (go hard or keep it chill) ✔ Kayak-worthy lakes for future adventures #HikeWithAView #SeattleAdventures #NorthCascades #WildflowerHike #MountainGoats #PikaLove #DiabloLake #CampAndHike #PNWParadise #TrailMagic