North Cascades National Park
National park · WA, USA
North Cascades National Park in WA, USA. Operated by National Park Service.
Usual hours
- Mon–Sun 0:00–0:00
About
This park's official page lists: Wheelchair-accessible facilities.
Entrance / day-use fee applies.
Free admission.
Official facts
Public access: Open access.
Protected area: 501,251 acres (202,849 ha).
Designation: National Park. Listed as "North Cascades National Park" in the Protected Areas Database of the United States. Protection: managed for biodiversity, natural processes allowed (GAP 1). IUCN category II.
Established: 1968.
Managed by: NPS.
At the park
- Camping
- Hunting
- Waterfalls
- Hiking trails
- Boating
Before you go
- Disability access
- This park's official page states it has wheelchair-accessible facilities. Specific routes, transfer access and equipment vary — confirm with the park for your needs.
- Limits
- During the operational season reservations are required for all campgrounds
- Limits
- Pets on leash are allowed on all trails within Ross Lake National Recreation Area and Lake Chelan Recreation Area
- Getting there
- Access to North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake National Recreation Area is from the State Route 20 corridor. SR 20 (North Cascades Highway) connects with Interstate 5 (Exit 230) at Burlington. From the east, the highway intersects with US 97 at Okanogan and with SR 153 at Twisp. The State Department of Transportation closes a portion of the road between Ross Dam Trailhead and Lone Fir Campground in winter. The Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (Stehekin) is accessible by ferry or plane from Chelan.
- Weather & when to go
- The best weather for visiting the North Cascades generally occurs between mid-June and late-September. Summer daytime temperatures average in the 70's F. Snow is off most trails by mid-July. Autumn and Spring are popular for color and wildlife. Storms are common: always be prepared for a few days of rain and wind. The east side of the Cascade Mountains (Lake Chelan National Recreation Area) is drier and warmer in the summer than the west side. Summer temperatures at Stehekin reach the 90's F.