North Cascades National Park Complex

The North Cascades National Park Complex is a mountainous reserve in Washington featuring jagged peaks, deep valleys, and numerous rivers and streams. Hundreds of glaciers shape the landscape, remaining frozen year-round in the higher elevations.

Skagit peoples originally inhabited this region, relying on its waterways for their survival. European fur trading posts arrived in the 1800s, and the area became a national park in 1968.

The Skagit tribes established settlements near waterways, building lodges and conducting ceremonies while using natural resources for their traditional practices.

The park is accessible via State Route 20, which frequently closes in winter due to heavy snow. Visitors should prepare for variable weather conditions and obtain required permits if planning overnight backcountry trips.

This reserve contains more glaciers than any other national park outside Alaska in the United States. From certain valleys, visitors can see glacier ice with the naked eye, a view rare in the continental United States.

Location: Washington

GPS coordinates: 48.33330,-121.00000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:54