North Cascades National Park, Nature reserve in Whatcom County, US
North Cascades National Park is a protected area in northern Washington State, covering a range of steep mountain peaks, deep valleys, old-growth forests, glaciers, and lakes. The park is part of a larger protected complex that includes Ross Lake and Lake Chelan to the south and east.
Indigenous peoples such as the Skagit and Nooksack lived in the region for thousands of years before European explorers and trappers arrived in the 1800s. The park was officially established in the late 1960s to protect the mountains and forests from further development.
The Stehekin Valley, deep inside the park, can only be reached by boat, plane, or on foot, which gives it a character unlike most places in the region. People who make the effort to get there find a small community that still lives at a slow, unhurried pace.
The main road through the park, the North Cascades Highway, is often closed during winter, so most visits happen between late spring and early fall. Weather in the mountains can change quickly, so it is worth checking trail and road conditions before heading out.
The park contains more glaciers than any other area in the lower 48 states of the US, which makes it unusual even among protected mountain areas. There are also active plans to reintroduce grizzly bears, a species that once moved freely through these mountains.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
