National park · Washington

North Cascades National Park

Washington's wilderness park holds the most extensive glacial system in the contiguous U.S., with over 300 glaciers, jagged peaks, and the alpine lakes of the North Cascades complex.

Entrance
No fee listed by NPS
Hours
Open 24 hours daily North Cascades National Park Service Complex
Established
October 2, 1968
Region
Pacific Northwest
North Cascades National Park
Photo: NPS Photo · Public domain (US National Park Service)
The North Cascades National Park patch

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History

North Cascades National Park is the largest unit of the North Cascades National Park Complex, showcasing the most expansive glacial system in the contiguous United States. It serves as a critical area for biodiversity and conservation, protecting numerous plant and animal species native to the region.

Key events

  1. October 2, 1968North Cascades National Park established by Congress as part of the same act creating the North Cascades National Park Complex.
  2. 1968Complex includes Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas as well as the park itself.
  3. 1988Designated as wilderness; 93% of the park is now federally protected wilderness — among the highest percentages in the National Park System.

Trails

  • Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm 12 mi · Hard
  • Maple Pass Loop 7.2 mi · Moderate
  • Blue Lake Trail 4.4 mi · Moderate
  • Trail of the Cedars 1.7 mi · Easy
  • Thunder Knob Trail 3.6 mi · Easy

Plan your visit

Hours · North Cascades National Park Service Complex

Open 24 hours, every day

North Cascades National Park Service Complex is open year-round. The park operational season is late May-late September, with limited services outside the operational season. The North Cascades Visitor Center in Newhalem is open during the operational season, dates may vary annually.

Entrance fees

NPS lists no entrance fee for this park.

Fees and hours as of May 2026. Check current details on NPS.gov

When to go

  • Summer. All trails open, best weather, wildflowers bloom
  • Fall. Fall colors, fewer crowds, clear views
  • Spring. Lower elevation trails open, waterfalls at peak
  • Winter. Highway closed, limited backcountry skiing access

Wildlife

Grizzly bearsBlack bearsGray wolvesWolverinesMountain goatsMarmotsPikaBald eagles

Nearby patches

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