Seattle | North Cascades National Park

Day 1 🥾 Thunder Knob Trail A 1.8-mile one-way trail. The beginning features a rocky path with a small stream. It gets quite hot on sunny days during the ascent. The trail is mostly dirt, and the round trip takes about 2 hours. The summit offers a view of Diablo Lake—the scenery is quite nice, making it a must-visit spot! 🏞️ Diablo Lake Overlook There’s a parking lot here, so no hiking is required. You can spend 10-15 minutes enjoying the view. The scenery and perspective are fantastic, with an unobstructed view of Diablo Lake. It’s windy on sunny days, making it a great spot for photos and taking a break. ⛰️ Washington Pass The view here is expansive, showcasing mountain landscapes and highways. In summer, the snow on the mountains has mostly melted. You can stop for 5-10 minutes to take in the sights. 🥗 Three Fingered Jack’s Saloon Arrived around 7 PM on a Saturday. Waited 20 minutes for a table and another 50 minutes for the food. The nearby tables also experienced slow service. The Top Sirloin was mediocre—ordered medium-rare but served well-done. Fish & Chips were average. The Caesar Salad was ordinary, with lots of tough stems. The highlight was the free refills on drinks! We ordered a 7-Up, and the server refilled it every time we finished. My take: It’s worth avoiding. Although the town has limited options, there must be better choices than this… 🏨 AbbyCreek Inn The service was good, and the rooms were comfortable. The hotel features an outdoor pool and lawn, making it popular with families with children. Breakfast is included, and you can even make your own waffles—typical for a small-town inn. Day 2 🥾 Rainy Lake Trail This trail is very beginner-friendly, with no elevation gain and a fully paved path. There’s a waterfall at the start, and it takes about 30 minutes one-way to reach Rainy Lake. You can go boating or swimming in the lake. While the scenery isn’t as stunning as Diablo Lake, you can still see distant snow-capped mountains and waterfalls. It’s a good backup option. 🏞️ Lake Shannon Recreation Area On the way back to Seattle, we passed by this recreational area completely unplanned but were pleasantly surprised! Accessing the area requires driving a long, bumpy dirt road. Many people come here for boating, jet skiing, swimming, and picnics. There are shaded pavilions and restrooms available. #OutdoorHiking #Seattle #SeattleLife #SeattleSurroundings #USNationalParks #NorthCascadesNationalPark