Long Weekend in North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park is in Washington State close to Seattle. During our visit in July, we were greeted by stunning landscapes, with snow-capped peaks still visible at higher elevations. It’s important to come prepared with trekking poles and sturdy footwear, as some sections of the trails can be challenging. We even noticed some visitors equipping themselves with shoe tractions to navigate icy terrain. Check conditions before planning or going.

If you’re a fan of kayaking, North Cascades National Park offers to explore its pristine waters. You can bring your own kayak or opt to rent one at Ross Lodge. Keep in mind that rentals can be pricey, and availability may vary, so it’s advisable to plan ahead.

This park does not have entrance fee. We visited this park during Covid-19 in 2020 but still all trails were open. We stayed here 3 days and camp in Newhalem Campground. Place is really nice to stay, less crowded that other. Newhalem Campground you should reserve on recreation.com.

As we hiked along the trails, we were surprised to come across (for us first-time encounter) black bears. In this park for first time we saw Black bears and it was on our trail. We couldn’t do all the best hikes because of snow.

Trails

The Cascades Pass Trail

Length: 12.5 miles
Elevation gain: 3130 ft
Difficulty: Strenuous
Alltrails trail: link

Our first hike to Sahale Peak was an incredible experience that we highly recommend. Although the trailhead was around 2 miles away due to snow on the road, it was worth it to park on the side and hike the rest of the way.

The trail includes several switchbacks, but the stunning mountain views along the way make the climb well worth it. We encountered some snow on the slope, so it’s important to be careful while hiking. Additionally, we were lucky enough to spot some mountain goats at the top, although they can be aggressive, so caution is advised.

Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to Sahale Glacier since we didn’t have trekking poles and there was still a lot of snow. Nonetheless, we highly recommend this hike for anyone seeking a challenging yet rewarding outdoor adventure.

Thunder Creek via 4 of July Pass

Length: 10.6 miles
Elevation gain: 2575 ft
Difficulty: Moderate
Alltrails trail: link

Compare to Cascade Pass this hike was just ok. If you like hiking in the forest this is for you.

Thunder Knob Trail

Length: 4 miles
Elevation gain: 666 ft
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Alltrails trail: link

Hike is 4 miles and is nice view on the top from where you have nice overlook on Ross Lake.

Ross Dome Trail

Length: 2.2 miles
Elevation gain: 568 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Alltrails trail: link

During our trip, we decided to take a spontaneous hike to Ross Lake and Dome, which was around 2 miles. After reaching Cascades Pass, it quickly became our favorite hike due to the stunning scenery. However, on our way back, we had a close encounter with a black bear.

At first, the bear was hidden behind a corner and looking at us. We were startled, but remembered the park guidelines and slowly moved away while talking loudly to the bear. We weren’t sure if it was still following us, but suddenly it reappeared on the trail behind us.

This experience reminded us of the importance of being prepared while hiking in bear country. We didn’t have bear spray with us, but thankfully, the bear wasn’t aggressive. It’s essential to keep a safe distance from bears and talk loudly while hiking to avoid surprising them.