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.

Access to North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake National Recreation Area is from the State Route 20 corridor. SR 20 (North Cascades Highway) connects with Interstate 5 (Exit 230) at Burlington. From the east, the highway intersects with US 97 at Okanogan and with SR 153 at Twisp. The State Department of Transportation closes a portion of the road between Ross Dam Trailhead and Lone Fir Campground in winter. The Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (Stehekin) is accessible by ferry or plane from Chelan.

  • Auto and ATV
  • Scenic Driving
  • Biking
  • Road Biking
  • Boating
  • Motorized Boating
  • Boat Tour
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Canoe or Kayak Camping
  • Car or Front Country Camping
  • Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
  • Group Camping
  • RV Camping
  • Climbing
  • Rock Climbing
  • Fishing
  • Guided Tours
  • Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
  • Hands-On
  • Citizen Science
  • Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Horse Trekking
  • Horseback Riding
  • Paddling
  • Canoe or Kayak Camping
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

  • Animals
  • Birds
  • Cats (wild)
  • Fish
  • Wolves
  • Climate Change
  • Forests and Woodlands
  • Glaciers
  • Lakes
  • Mountains
  • Natural Sounds
  • Wilderness

Stehekin - Looking down Lake Chelan

boats on the water with mountains and trees surrounding

Stehekin sits at the top of Lake Chelan, welcoming visitors to take a life at a slower pace.

Camping on Ross Lake

Tents set up in a wooded area.

Grab your tent, your sleeping bag, and adventurous soul and camp along Ross Lake.

Pelton Basin from Cascade Pass

Trees surround the frame with glacier and mountains in the background

Let the wow factor exceed your expectations while hiking Cascade Pass.

Backpack the North Cascades

Person with backpacking and climbing gear hikes on a trail.

Explore the trails and backcountry camping and climbing in a landscape over 9,000 feet of vertical relief.

Jagged Mountain Peaks

Jagged mountain peaks give way to glaciers.

Explore jagged peaks crowned by more than 300 glaciers as you traverse the landscape.