Summary
Free
Entrance fee
1 live cam
Camera feeds
Historic Crowd Data
Avg. monthly visitors, 2015–2024 · National Park Service
Light
Moderate
Busy
Very Busy
Peak season is July–August, when around 59% of annual visitors arrive. For lighter crowds, aim for October–May.
Plan Your Visit
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 OverlookRoadside
Famous turquoise water — color comes from glacial "rock flour" suspended in the lake
Ross LakeVaries
Dam-formed reservoir, popular for boating and remote camping
Trails & High Country1 stop▾
Cascade Pass TrailheadStrenuous
classic alpine views, seasonal road access
~7.4 mi RT
Stehekin Valley1 stop▾
StehekinVaries
Remote village, no road access — see Park Access section above
Things to Do7 categories▾
Hiking Trails6 trails▾
Thunder Knob TrailEasy–Mod.
Popular short climb to a view of Diablo Lake's turquoise water, Mile Post 130
3.7 mi RT · 680 ft
Diablo Lake Trail7.6 mi RT · 1,312 ft · Half-day
Forested lakeside route linking Colonial Creek Campground toward Diablo, Mile Post 128
Cascade Pass TrailModerate
Switchbacks to a historic Native American and mining-era pass; trailhead only reachable once Cascade River Road opens, typically late June
7.4 mi RT · 1,700 ft
Sahale ArmStrenuous
Continuation above Cascade Pass to alpine meadows below Sahale Glacier; steep snow can require an ice axe into July
11.8 mi RT · 3,940 ft
Sourdough Mountain TrailDifficult
Relentless climb to a historic fire lookout high above Diablo Lake, Mile Post 126
10.4 mi RT · 4,870 ft
Easy Pass TrailStrenuous
Steep trail to a mountain pass with panoramic vistas, Mile Post 151
7.4 mi RT · 3,000 ft
Mountaineering & Climbing3 areas▾
Forbidden Peak — West RidgeTechnical · Permit
Classic technical alpine rock route and one of the park's best-known objectives
Mt. Challenger, Picket RangeMulti-day approach
Remote mixed glacier route deep in one of the range's most rugged sub-ranges
Skagit GorgeRoadside access
Roadside sport climbing and bouldering along SR-20 between Newhalem and Diablo; new fixed anchor bolts are prohibited park-wide
Boating — Ross & Diablo Lakes4 ways▾
Ross Lake ResortSeasonal · Jun–Oct
Power boat, canoe & kayak rentals plus water-taxi service to trailheads and camps; no road reaches the resort
Hozomeen Boat RampsMid-Jun–Sep
Two graded-cement ramps at the lake's north end, reached from the Canadian side
Colonial Creek Portage Route5 mi paddle + 1 mi portage
Paddle 5 miles from Diablo Lake, then portage a gravel road around Ross Dam to reach Ross Lake
Boat-In Camping19 camps · Permit
Nineteen shoreline camps along Ross Lake with fire rings, vault toilets & bear-proof boxes; permit required
Fishing3 waters▾
Washington Fishing LicenseRequired
Required for all anglers; not sold at any park facility — buy through WDFW before arrival
Gorge, Diablo & Ross LakesHook-and-line only
Rainbow, eastern brook & cutthroat trout; hook-and-line only
Skagit & Stehekin RiversSeasonal closures
Steelhead, cutthroat & rainbow trout; Ruby Creek and parts of Big Beaver Creek are closed to fishing
Backcountry Permits3 notes▾
Overnight Wilderness PermitRequired
Required year-round for every overnight trip into the backcountry
ReservationsAdvance or walk-up
Reserve ahead on Recreation.gov, or pick up a walk-up permit in person
Wilderness Information CenterMarblemount
Marblemount trip-planning office & permit pickup location · 360-854-7200
Stargazing & Night SkyNo certification▾
Loading…
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 ↗
Bird WatchingTop 5 species▾
Golden Eagle
Soars above the glaciated peaks
Harlequin Duck
Nests along fast mountain streams
American Dipper
Forages in the glacial rivers
Clark's Nutcracker
High-elevation conifer forests
Gray Jay
Bold camp visitor in the backcountry
River Conditions2 gauges▾
Skagit River near Marblemount, WA
FlowLoading…
Gauge HeightLoading…
Water TempLoading…
Stehekin River at Stehekin, WA
FlowLoading…
Gauge HeightLoading…
Water TempLoading…
Concession Information2 groups▾
Diablo Lake1 operator▾
Skagit ToursSeasonal
Seasonal boat tours of Diablo Lake, run in partnership with Seattle City Light
Stehekin Valley2 operators▾
North Cascades Lodge at StehekinSeasonal
Lodging, dining — accessible only via ferry/floatplane
Stehekin Valley RanchSeasonal
Rustic lodging, family-style meals
Park Contact Information