North Cascades National Park: A True Wonder for the Nature Lovers

North Cascades National Park is one of the most amazing parks in Washington State. The park's landscape is one of the most picturesque in the whole country. It's not just the spectacular mountains punctuated by glaciers that make it hard to inhabit, but more than 90 percent of its territory is designated as the Stephen Mather Wilderness and remains completely wild with little development. Although the local wildlife is thriving, do not be discouraged to hike here. This is one of the most amazing places to find the perfect trails.

3 Great Hikes in the North Cascades

One of the best hikes for any level of experience is the Diablo Lake trail. This hike takes you to a gorgeous reservoir in the Cascade mountains. It is a man-made, developed by the Diablo hydroelectric dam in the Skagit River. Nevertheless, this remote location is perfect for the whole family to enjoy the great outdoors.

Another great hike is the Maple Pass Loop. It’s a gem of a trail offering beautiful views throughout the trail. The big decision when hiking Maple Pass is which way to go. This is an amazing hike for the hikers who have some experience but are not necessarily experts. Venture through gorgeous woods and try to spot the amazing and diverse local wildlife as this trail is famous among the wildlife and bird watching enthusiasts.

And if you're looking for something really strenuous, The Copper Ridge hike is a great choice that takes you into the heart of the North Cascade Mountains. It features a ridgeline atmosphere, miles of sub-alpine meadows, and a lot of different ways to explore this amazing mountain trail. Keep in mind that this trail is more geared towards overnight backpackers, who must obtain a back country permit before heading out.

Outdoor Recreation in the North Cascades

The adventure seekers tend to hit the trails and immerse themselves in the wild. But North Cascades is an outdoor paradise for people who love to spend their time in the great outdoors.

North Cascades National Park is a wonderful place for many outdoor activities for individuals and for the whole family.

Camping

One of the best ways to spend time in nature with your friends or family is the front-country camping. North Cascades National Park has some amazing campground choices and they all are within the same price range.

If you like to keep the car or your RV near, you can choose the drive-in campgrounds. These campgrounds are often located right by the water and offer potable water, restroom and informational services as well as cooking rings and the fire grids so you could cook your meals comfortably. Another amazing feature of these campgrounds is the National Park Service (NPS) evening events, where you can learn a lot of great things about the nature surrounding you.

If you'd like to stay further from the busiest campgrounds, you can always choose the boat-in campgrounds near Diablo Lake or get a permit and go back-country camping.

Water activities

The park is famous for its lakes and Skagit River, which is especially busy during the summer season. It's a perfect destination if you want to take a boat ride or go on a kayaking trip. Recently, paddle boarding has been increasing in popularity here as well.

You can also go take a swim in here, but bear in mind that the water is pretty cold and you won't see many people in the water before or after the month of August.

Fishing

North Cascades is also extremely popular for fishing. Skagit River is the primary habitat to five salmon species, cutthroat trout, steelhead and char. The Gorge, Diablo and Ross Lakes are also home to the rainbow trout.

The National Park Service is working on increasing the opportunities to fish by preserving and developing these fisheries. For more information on fishing in the North Cascades, check out the official NPS website.

North Cascades offers amazing activities for adventurers and outdoor lovers alike. Whether you want to reach the toughest peaks or spend a great time with the whole family in the campground, this is the place to be.