Closed in Winter
SR-20 highway
Free
Entrance fee
6 areas
Campgrounds
300+ glaciers
Park highlight
No certification
Dark sky status
0 live cams
Camera feeds
SR-20 Seasonal ClosureWinter road closure▾
Park Access & FeesFree · 3 entry points▾
West Side
Newhalem / Marblemount
Visitor center & main services
The North Cascades Visitor Center sits in Newhalem, a small company town built for Seattle City Light's dam operations along the Skagit River.
NPS directions ↗
East Side
Mazama / Winthrop
Gateway via Methow Valley
Reached via SR-20 from the drier east side — only accessible when the highway is open for the season.
💡 Check the WSDOT pass report before planning any trip that crosses the park.
NPS directions ↗
Stehekin
No Road Access
Remote village at Lake Chelan's head
Stehekin sits at the north end of Lake Chelan inside the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, part of the North Cascades Complex — reachable only by passenger ferry, floatplane, or a long trail hike. No road connects it to the outside world.
Stehekin access info ↗
Campgrounds6 areas▾
Colonial Creek South Reservation Only ▾
Sites93
LocationOn Diablo Lake, near milepost 130
SeasonLate May – mid/late Sep
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Colonial Creek North Reservation Only ▾
Sites43
SeasonLate May – mid/late Sep
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Newhalem Creek Reservation Only ▾
Sites107 + 2 group
LocationNear visitor center, milepost 120
SeasonSummer
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Goodell Creek First-Come, First-Served ▾
NotesSmall, primitive, along the Skagit River
Campground details ↗
Purple Point (Stehekin) Boat / Hike-In Only ▾
AccessFerry, floatplane, or trail
NotesWalking distance from Stehekin Landing
Stehekin access info ↗
Landmarks & Trailheads3 groups▾
Diablo Lake Corridor2 stops▾
Diablo Lake OverlookFamous turquoise water — color comes from glacial "rock flour" suspended in the lakeRoadside
Ross LakeDam-formed reservoir, popular for boating and remote campingVaries
Trails & High Country1 stop▾
Cascade Pass TrailheadStrenuous · classic alpine views, seasonal road access~7.4 mi RT
Stehekin Valley1 stop▾
StehekinRemote village, no road access — see Park Access section aboveVaries
River Conditions2 gauges▾
Skagit River near Marblemount, WA
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Stehekin River at Stehekin, WA
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Stargazing & Night SkyNo certification▾
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North Cascades has no official Dark Sky certification, but it's one of the least-visited, most remote parks in the Lower 48, with minimal light pollution across most of its backcountry. Best viewed from Diablo Lake area or higher trail overlooks on clear, new-moon nights. Bring warm layers — mountain nights stay cold even in summer. NPS night sky info ↗
Concession Information2 groups▾
Diablo Lake1 operator▾
Skagit ToursSeasonal boat tours of Diablo Lake, run in partnership with Seattle City LightSeasonal
Stehekin Valley2 operators▾
North Cascades Lodge at StehekinLodging, dining — accessible only via ferry/floatplaneSeasonal
Stehekin Valley RanchRustic lodging, family-style mealsSeasonal
Live Cameras
North Cascades does not currently operate a public live webcam feed. For real-time road and pass conditions, WSDOT's North Cascades Highway pass report is the most reliable live source — it includes current photos and closure status.
View WSDOT Pass Report ↗
Park Contact Information