When visiting Seattle or Washington state most people visit one of two national parks Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park. In fact North Cascades is the second least visited national park in the lower 48 states. It's definitely a highly underrated park. Only a two and a half hour drive from Seattle this park will amaze you with waterfalls cascading down mountainsides and beautiful overlooks of lakes and gorges.
North Cascades Highway (State Route 20)
There are various overlooks and hikes you can visit off this main highway that cuts through the park. In a lot of pictures of the park the water is an incredible milky turquoise color. This comes from glacial flour (glaciers rubbing up against rocks and leaving sediment) and the sun shining through the glacial flour. During our visit in May it was not sunny, so the water isn't quite as bright as it would be during the Summer.
Gorge Lake Overlook
Once you park in the lot you can walk the 400 meter round trip paved trail to an overlook of the Skagit Gorge and Gorge Dam. The trail continues another 600 meters on a dirt path along the river. You can also view a waterfall before reaching the Gorge Lake Overlook. Don't miss the viewpoints from the bridge of Gorge Creek Falls before continuing to the next spot.
Diablo Lake Viewpoint
This large viewpoint has spectacular sweeping views of Diablo Lake. There is lots of parking here and a restroom. You can hike Diablo Lake trail and even take the ferry back.
Lake Ross Overlook
This small overlook is just a pull out off the road. Most of the view is blocked by trees, so it wasn't out favorite although it doesn't take much time, so it's worth a stop.
Washington Pass Overlook
Technically outside of the national park this trail was covered in snow the last weekend in May. We had to park about a half mile up the road and walk to the trailhead. From there it was only a 250 meter walk to the overlook of Washington Pass and Liberty Bell Mountain. The restrooms were all snowed in when we were there.
Ladder Creek Falls
This short half mile loop takes you past a magnificent waterfall. From dusk until midnight they light the falls up for a light show, so if you're staying the area don't miss that. Ladder Creek Falls is on google maps twice. This is the correct location.
Rainy Lake
Hiking is great way to see more of the park. Unfortunately the short hike we chose was inaccessible due to snow. Rainy Lake is a short 2 mile round trip hike on a paved trail (except when it's buried in snow) to a beautiful clear lake with views of the Cascade Mountains. Let us know if you've been to Rainy Lake. How was it? What other hikes in North Cascades do you like?
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