Get ready for an unforgettable adventure in the rugged wilderness of North Cascades National Park! Over the course of four days, you’ll have the opportunity to experience some of the most breathtaking and pristine landscapes that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. From towering peaks to crystal-clear alpine lakes, this hiking itinerary is designed to showcase the best that the North Cascades area has to offer. So lace up your boots, pack your backpack, and get ready to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of this iconic national park.

Entrance Fee:

North Cascades National Park does not require an entrance fee.

Several of the trails on this itinerary are on National Forest land, which does require a pass. You can purchase daily passes here- Northwest Forest Pas s. An America the Beautiful Pass would work as well. If you have a 4^th grader in your crew, check out Every Kid Outdoors for a free National Park Pass instead!

Lodging:

The park has 10 campgrounds- Goodell Creek, Colonial Creek North, Colonial Creek South, Gorge Lake, Newhalem Creek, Purple Point, Harlequin, Lakeview, Lower Goodell Group, and Upper Goodell Group. Reservations for all 10 campgrounds can be made at Recreation.gov.

Two hotel/cabin options are inside the park: Ross Lake Resort and North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin. Both are open seasonally and can only be reached by boat or a significant hike.

If you plan on staying in a hotel, consider spending days 1 and 2 on the west side of the park and days 3 and 4 on the east side to limit the driving you will have to do. Hotel options are limited, so plan on booking far in advance. Check out the towns of Marblemount and Concrete for west-side accommodations. And consider Winthrop or Mazama for east-side accommodations.

Dining:

Food options are limited in and around the park. Marblemount, Concrete, Winthrop, and Mazama all have a few dining options. The Stehekin Lodge Restaurant is also open seasonally within the park.

Truthfully, we did not dine out at this park. We grocery-shopped prior to arrival and made all of our food at our campground. We also brought lunch into the park with us each day.

Must Know Before You Go:

Food options are limited. I recommend bringing in all food you will need for the day.
If you hike early or late in the season, you’ll likely be trekking through snow and/or ice. Plan on bringing poles and spikes with you on your hikes even if there is not snow at the trailhead. As you hike to higher elevation you are more likely to need them.
If there is snow on the trails, having an AllTrails map downloaded on your phone is extremely helpful in determining the direction of the trail. (Want to check out AllTrails+? Use this link for a 30% discount- AllTrails+.)
There is plenty of unique wildlife throughout the park. Always carry bear spray with you and know how to use it safely. Also, please review all other wildlife safety here- Wildlife Safety.

4 Day Itinerary

Day 1

Visitor Center

Start your trip at the Visitor Center. Because there is no entrance fee, this is the first place you can stop and gather information about the park, ask the rangers any questions you have, and, most importantly, grab trail maps.

Ladder Creek Falls Trail

Just 2 miles east of the Visitor Center is the trailhead for the Trail of Cedars and Ladder Creek Falls. Park in the lot next to the suspension bridge. Cross the suspension bridge to begin the hike. This trail is a loop and can be hiked in either direction, but it is easier to follow if you hike it counterclockwise. This trail has lovely cascades the entire way before reaching the main event- the 100 ft tall, Ladder Creek Falls. This loop is 0.5 miles roundtrip with approximately 50+ ft of elevation gain.

Gorge Overlook Trail

After Ladder Creek Falls, head just 3 miles east on North Cascades Highway to the parking lot for the Gorge Overlook Trail. Again, this loop trail can be hiked in either direction, but I recommend hiking this one clockwise. On the easy, partially paved, 1-mile loop, you will see the bottom of Gorge Creek Falls and several stunning viewpoints of Gorge Lake.

Once you return to the parking lot, don’t just head straight to your car. Instead, use the crosswalk to access the walkway on the other side of the bridge. Gorge Creek Falls stands at an impressive 240 feet tall, and this is the only vantage point to see its full height!

Thunder Knob Trail

Just east of Colonial Creek Campground, off North Cascades Highway, is the trailhead for the Thunder Knob Trail. This 3.5-mile trail offers a variety of scenery as it winds through the forest, passes by the rushing creek, up to magnificent mountain views, and finally reaching the stunning Diablo Lake. The trail is uphill all the way there but makes for an easy downhill trip back to the trailhead.

Before heading out, head to the shoreline of Diablo Lake. A jump in the lake is a great way to cool down after your hike😊

Diablo Lake Overlook-

The day’s last stop is just another two miles east on North Cascades Highway. A large parking area on the left leads to an overlook with more stunning views of Diablo Lake.

Day 2 (Choose your own adventure😊)

Option #1

Ross Dam Trail

The first stop of the day is Ross Lake. This hike is a 2-mile roundtrip trail with over 500 feet of elevation gain if you plan on walking all the way to the dam and back. Take the Ross Dam Trail for 0.7 miles, checking out the beautiful Happy Creek waterfall along the way. The trail ends at a service road. Head left on the service road for 0.2 miles. At the next split, head right for 0.1 miles until you reach the walkway for the dam. From the dam walkway, you will have gorgeous mountain, lake, and waterfall views. Hopefully, it will be well worth the very steep hike back to the trailhead!

Pyramid Lake

From the Ross Lake parking lot, head back 7 miles west on North Cascades Highway, just past Diablo Lake. The parking lot for Pyramid Lake is small, but when we were last there, even at 11 am, the parking lot only had 1 other car in it. Pyramid Lake is a beautiful but challenging 4.2-mile roundtrip trail with over 1,200 ft of elevation gain. The hike to the small but tranquil lake is the perfect place to escape the crowds and enjoy some scenic solitude.

Option #2

If Cascade River Road is open, this is the trail I would hike today. It is fabulous. However, the road is only open for a portion of the year, making this trail often challenging to access. We hiked to the trailhead from the closed road, and I personally would not recommend it.

Cascade Pass Trail

This day’s adventure kicks off at the remote end of Cascade River Road. The Cascade Pass Trail spans 7 miles roundtrip and has 1800 ft of elevation gain. After conquering more than 30 switchbacks, the pass reveals an awe-inspiring spectacle of towering peaks and glistening glaciers in every direction. Keep your eyes peeled for mountain goats and the possibility of encountering a bear. Don’t forget to carry bear spray with you and remain aware of your surroundings as you soak in the stunning views around you.

If you are feeling extra adventurous, consider adding Sahale Arm to Cascade Pass. It will add another 4.5 miles and 2300 feet of elevation gain. But I promise, the views will not disappoint😊

Day 3

Today’s two trails are technically in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, so you must display either a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass on your dash.

Blue Lake Trail

The Blue Lake trail is 4.8 miles roundtrip and has over 900 ft of elevation gain. Do not let the elevation gain scare you away. It is a very gradual incline that even our 8 year had no difficulties completing. I recommend downloading the trail on AllTrails because there is only one marker along the entire trail and a few trail splits. If you are hiking early or late in the season, you will likely encounter plenty of snow, making the trail difficult to follow. Regardless of the time of year, you’ll be treated to stunning views of the forest, mountains, and, of course, the beautiful Blue Lake!

*We saw so much wildlife on this trail! Be aware of your surroundings, hike with bear spray, and keep a safe distance from all wildlife. This trail has many blind turns where we accidently stumbled upon an animal right on the trail in front of us.

*Hiking poles would be helpful on this trail year round, especially at the final water crossing just before you reach the lake.

Cutthroat Lake Trail

The next trail of the day is the Cutthroat Lake Trail. This trail was scenic from start to finish, and we hiked it in the evening, having the place entirely to ourselves. This is another trail I would have downloaded on AllTrails before heading out. There are multiple trail splits and water crossings with minimal or unclear signage. Having AllTrails at your fingertips will keep you on the right path.

The trail is an easy 3.8 miles roundtrip, with over 400 ft of elevation gain. Within just a few yards of the trailhead, the trail splits. Veer right and take the bridge across Cutthroat Creek. The creek should remain on your left as you make your way to Cutthroat Lake.

There will not be another trail split until right before you get to the lake. At the split, there is a path down to the water. Crossing the water is the most direct route to Cutthroat Lake and the way AllTrails will take you. However, when we were there last, the water levels were extremely high, making crossing the water difficult, if not impossible. If this is the case, continue the upper path to the lake instead. This route will add 0.2 miles onto your hike, but you will remain dry and still make it to some incredible views of Cutthroat Lake!

Like many trails in this area, you will likely encounter lots of wildlife, including mountain goats, cougars, and even bears. Please hike with bear spray and know how to use it safely.

Day 4

Again, today’s trails are technically in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, so you must display either a Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass on your dash.

Maple Pass Loop/Lake Ann/Rainy Lake

This trail starts at the Rainy Pass Picnic Area. It is a loop, so it can be hiked in either direction. The Maple Pass Loop is 7.2 miles with 2200 ft of elevation gain. If you add on the spur trails to Lake Ann and Rainy Lake, your hike will be 2.4 miles longer with 200 more feet of elevation gain.

Choose your hiking preference below.

Counterclockwise: There is a gradual incline on the way up. Lake Ann will be your first stop. There will be a very steep descent on the way back down that doesn’t feel great on your knees.

Clockwise: The climb up is steep and extremely challenging. The Rainy Lake stop is the first stop. The descent is more gradual on the way back.

We hiked this trail counterclockwise, hitting the Lake Ann Spur Trail first. The trail to Lake Ann is relatively easy and well-marked. There is one small section, just past the meadow, where the ledge can get dicey early in the season- I recommend spikes for this portion of trail. It is approximately 2 miles from the trailhead to Lake Ann. When you’re at Lake Ann, make sure to look up and spot the hikers already at the top😊

After checking out Lake Ann from below, backtrack 0.5 miles to the trail split and head left to continue up the Maple Pass Loop. Before you know it (hopefully!), you’ll find yourself above the tree line, looking at Lake Ann and the rest of the surrounding mountain peaks from the top.

From Maple Pass, you will begin the 3-mile descent to the parking area. When the dirt trail ends into the flat, paved trail, head right for Rainy Lake. Once you are on the paved path, it is 0.7 miles to Rainy Lake. It will be an easy 1 mile back to the Rainy Pass Picnic Area from Rainy Lake.

And that’s a wrap on North Cascades National Park!

I hope you have an incredible adventure😊

Looking for another National Park adventure? Check out our Glacier National Park Itinerary!