A Perfect June Day Trip In North Cascades National Park

In all honesty, we had never heard of North Cascades until very recently. After researching National Parks from Seattle, we determined that we’d realistically only be able to fit in two of the three Washington NPs-( Mt.Rainier, Olympic or North Cascades). North Cascades is the 4th least visited National Park in the country and the idea of a less crowded experience was exactly what we were after. It’s been a beat since we hiked a National Park and navigating them during the summer months can be overwhelming. We wanted a more laid back experience and North Cascades certainly delivered.

We made home base from Camano Island in the San Juan Islands- about an hour north or Seattle. This put us about an hour and a half from the North Cascades Visitor Center. North Cascades National Park is part of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex that includes a number of state forest land trusts. North Cascades is free to enter, however some of the forest land parking areas require a small fee ($5)- but the America The Beautiful Pass covers those fees. We obtained our National Parks Pass in person directly from LLBean.

1. When to Go

Higher elevations in Washington State often remain snow-covered through mid-July, so when we planned our trip to the North Cascades in late June, we were a little concerned we might need micro-spikes. We checked and could not carry them onto our flight. Fortunately, the trail to Blue Lake was completely clear. One of the perks of visiting this park early in the season is witnessing the landscape at its most vibrant—rushing waterfalls, snow-capped peaks, and blooming fields of wildflowers.

2. What to See

North Cascades National park is BIG. It will take almost an hour to get from the Visitor Center to Washington Pass Overlook without stopping. Heading into the park along Rt. 20 offers some incredible views of the turquoise Skagit River and it will be difficult not to stop along the route but we pushed on to try and get into the park early morning and avoid the crowds. We were stunned to reach the parking lots at 8am to find we were the only ones there! We made it to Washington Pass Overlook by 9am and had it pretty much all to ourselves! You can make the following stops along your route going into or coming out of the park. You can spend as little or as long as you like at these overlooks but if you are planning on hiking, we recommend getting to your destination early and then making stops on your way back out of the park.

“To be a mountain you have to climb alone and accept all that rain and snow. You have to look far away when evening comes. If a forest grows, you care; you stand there leaning against the wind, waiting for someone with faith enough to ask you to move. Great stones will tumble against each other and gorge your sides. A storm will live somewhere in your canyons hoarding its lightning. If you are lucky, people will give you a dignified name and bring crowds to admire how sturdy you are, how long you can hold still for the camera.”

William Stafford from Silver Star

Washington Pass Overlook

This easy walk will bring you to stunning overlooks across the jagged peaks of North Cascades. We recommend starting here to avoid the “crowds” and grab a bathroom break. We spent about a half hour here and sat just taking in the incredible panoramic views. Pinch yourself- this is not the Dolomites!

Diablo Lake Overlook

We actually stopped here twice- on our way in and again on our way out. Diablo’s turquoise waters are best seen with sunlight and we wanted to be sure to see its waters sparkle in the morning light! You can also see Diablo lake from the beach at the Thunder Knob Trail Head. We had every intention of hiking this trail in the afternoon but spent longer at Blue Lake than expected and opted out of the Thunder Knob trail at the end of the day.

Gorge Creek Overlook

This was a quick stop but the waterfalls were impressive cascading over the mountain side. Be sure to cross the street and walk along the bridge for some incredible views of the falls. There are also some great pull offs to view the Skagit River along the route into the park.

3. Hiking Blue Lake Trail

This was the highlight of our trip to North Cascades. We arrived at the parking lot for the trail head at about 9:45am and still found a parking spot in the main parking lot. When we left at 1pm there were probably another 30 cars parked along the side of the road. This trailhead is technically part of the State Forest and there was a $5 parking fee that could be paid using a QR code- cash was not accepted. The America The Beautiful pass covers this cost if you display it on your dashboard. We did not find markings for this trail. Just behind the trailhead display is a wooden board walk where you’ll begin the hike. Despite a lack of trail markers, this is a direct trail without any real intersections so it’s easy to follow. This is a 4.4 mile out and back trail that takes about 2.5 hours to complete depending on how long you spend at Blue Lake. We found this to be on the easy side of moderate offering maximum reward for moderate effort. This trail is dog friendly and we saw lots of them!

The first Mile

The first mile or so is a gradual ascent through an alpine forest. The trail is wide and well maintained and you’ll catch some stunning views of wild flowers and snow capped peaks along the way. You will start to notice mosquitos, especially if you stop, so be sure to bring bug spray! We saw families with small children hiking this trail- it’s truly fairly easy aside from the last 1/2 mile that gets significantly steeper but its on the easier side of moderate.

The Second Mile

You’ll start to notice the incline getting steeper and the trail will become more narrow. We did not encounter many people on our way up but the trail was significantly busier on our way down in the afternoon. You will hear a brook and as you pass over the brook the view of Blue Lake will come into view!

The Views of Blue Lake

The glacier water sediment turns the lake this incredible turquoise blue-green color and backed by snow capped peaks, the views are nothing short of spectacular! We were incredibly lucky to see a Mama mountain goat and her two babies wandering the lake. There are hiking trails along both sides of the lake if you are looking for a more serene experience but the rocky out croppings make for some pretty incredible viewpoints looking across the lake. There were people here but the earlier you go, the less “crowds” you will encounter. Overall we did not find it “crowded” and spent a good hour or so just exploring and even swimming in this beautiful alpine lake.

Where to Have Lunch

We arrived back down the trail by 1:30pm and we were hungry for our picnic lunch. There are no restaurants or food establishments available inside North Cascades National Park so packing in your own food is a must. Please practice “Leave No Trace” principles and pack out any trash. The overlook at Diablo lake has picnic tables and trash receptacles but we recommend driving down a bit farther to the Thunder Knob Trail Head where you’ll find a small beach along Diablo Lake that is perfect for a picnic lunch. Hiking Thunder Knob Trail (3.4 miles) is the perfect way to spend your afternoon after re-charging from lunch. We had planned to hike this in the afternoon but were pretty spent and decided to head home instead. It had been a perfect day and we were still battling a bit of jet flag coming from the northeast the day before.

Other hiking Options in North Cascades

North Cascades is a hikers National Park-there are no shortage of options for hiking in the North Cascades, however; the hiking season is only a few short months throughout most of the park. The Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm (12 miles) would have been a top pick later in the season but we were concerned about accessibility in June. Maple Pass is another highly rated hike if you are coming to NCNP in July, August or September. We loved coming early in the season for the abundance of wildflowers, snow capped vistas and the rush of the waterfalls. I also imagine the crowds will increase as the season progresses.

Where To Stay When Visiting North Cascades

North Cascades is pretty remote and there is limited infrastructure surrounding the park. Winthrop is the closest town on the Eastern side of the park and Sedro-Woolley is considered the closest town on the western side of the park. North Cascades is doable from Seattle but we found the San Juan Islands to be a wonderful place to day trip into the NCNP.

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