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North Cascades

Dominated by Mt Baker and – to a lesser extent – the more remote Glacier Peak, the North Cascades region is made up of a huge swath of protected forests, parks and wilderness areas that dwarf even the expansive Rainier and St Helens parks to the south. The crème de la crème is the North Cascades National Park, a primeval stash of old-growth rainforest, groaning glaciers and untainted ecosystems whose savage beauty goes unexplored by all but 2500 or so annual visitors who penetrate its rainy interior. Dotting this rugged landscape are a tiny handful of small towns, many of which are not much more than a gas station, a cafe and a general store.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout North Cascades.

  • Lake

    Diablo Lake

    Just south of Ross Lake, Diablo Lake is held back by the 389ft Diablo Dam. A pullout off Hwy 20 known as the Diablo Dam Overlook provides incredible views of the turquoise-green lake framed by glacier-capped peaks.

  • Wildlife Reserve

    Upper Skagit Bald Eagle Area

    The Bald Eagle area is essentially the 10-mile stretch of the Skagit River between Rockport and Marblemount. After salmon spawn, their spent carcasses become meals for the more than 600 eagles that winter here. January is the best time to view the eagles, which are present roughly from November through early March.

  • Lake

    Ross Lake

    Ross Lake stretches across 23 miles north toward the Canadian border. In keeping with the wild terrain, it's accessible only by trail or water. Part of the Ross Lake National Recreation Area, the lake formed as a result of the Ross Dam, an ambitious hydroelectric project from 1937 that was designed to generate electricity for the fast-growing Seattle area.

  • National Park

    North Cascades National Park

    The wildest of all Pacific Northwest wildernesses, the lightly trodden, 1000-sq-mile North Cascades National Park (inaugurated in 1968) has no major settlements and only one road. The names of the dramatic mountains pretty much set the tone: Desolation Peak, Jagged Ridge, Mt Despair and Mt Terror. Not surprisingly, the region offers some of the best backcountry adventures outside of Alaska.

  • Lake

    Baker Lake & Lake Shannon

    Just north of Concrete are two reservoirs formed by a pair of dams on the Baker River. Washington's largest colony of nesting osprey is found at Lake Shannon. Baker Lake is a popular place to launch a boat and go fishing for kokanee salmon or rainbow trout. There are also several hiking trails.

  • Farm

    Buckner Orchard

    Buckner Orchard is one of the Stehekin area's oldest homesteads and makes for a refreshing walk; pick up a self-guided-tour brochure near the historic buildings inside the orchard. Once there, you'll find a homestead cabin built in 1889, along with several other buildings, old farm equipment and hundred-year-old apple trees whose fruit is still harvested each year.

  • Museum

    North Cascade Smokejumper Base

    Smoke jumping is a method of firefighting that involves parachuting out of a plane into a rural area to tackle a forest fire before it gets out of control. It's hard to avoid feeling humbled by the heroic exploits of the people who have been trained to do it.

  • Museum

    Shafer Museum

    It's hard to differentiate the reconstructed buildings in the museum from the rest of Winthrop, such is the town's eerie authenticity. However, the museum does retain one original construction: a log cabin known as 'the Castle,' built by Winthrop founder Guy Waring in 1896 as a present to his wife.

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