North Cascades National Park, Washington
Looking for the best hiking in North Cascades National Park? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around North Cascades National Park. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Hiking Spots in and near North Cascades National Park
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Winthrop, Washington
Hike Abernathy Peak
9 mi / 5100 ft gainAbernathy Peak is one of the shortest and easiest peak on the Bulger List, as it's just a walk-up covering around 9 miles and 5100 feet in gain. The trail to starts at the Twisp River Trail, but a few paces after the trailhead, the trail splits and you head left for Scatter Lake. The next 3.5 mi...Read more -
Arlington, Washington
Boulder River Trail
4.38.12 mi / 1424 ft gainBoulder River is a great outing for those days when you feel like you just need a good hike through the forest. This makes for a nice long day hike, but because both of the large waterfalls are within the first half of the trail, you can still see the falls without going the whole way. One of the...Read more -
Darrington, Washington
Scramble Mount Pugh
5.011 mi / 5300 ft gainNot for the faint of heart - or those with a fear of heights - Mount Pugh offers some of the most rewarding summit views in the Cascades.Located off the northern end of the Mountain Loop Highway, this is an easy day trip from anywhere in the Puget Sound area. Though finding the trailhead can be t...Read more -
Winthrop, Washington
Hike to the Tawlks Foster Suspension Bridge
2 mi / 70 ft gainThe pin above is a small gravel parking lot which is clearly marked as "Trail Head" from the road. Once you park you are within eye shot of an information station and the trail is marked as "Suspension Bridge Access." Walk past this sign and continue on the well-groomed trail eastward for just sh...Read more -
Arlington, Washington
Three Fingers Lookout
4.514.31 mi / 4357 ft gainApproximately 11 miles east of Granite Falls, WA, on the Mt. Loop Highway, turn onto Forest Service road 41 and follow this road for 18.0 miles to the trailhead. The road is quite rough and it is recommended you have a four-wheel drive vehicle. There is a washout about halfway along the road, an...Read more -
Granite Falls, Washington
North Lake via Independence Lake
5.56 mi / 2431 ft gainNorth Lake is everything you could want in a subalpine lake: emerald green hues, cold, clear water, lots of brook trout and far from cell-phone reception. This backpack is perfect when the weather gets hot and sunny, though it does reside in what is known as “the wettest section of the Cascades,...Read more -
Darrington, Washington
Climb Sloan Peak via the Corkscrew Route
5.014 mi / 6035 ft gainYou'll start the approach to this climb at the Sloan Peak trailhead at 1800ft elevation. Moving south along the trail, you'll begin with a traverse through some marshlands and several water crossings along the Sauk River and its tributaries for the first mile and before gaining any elevation. It ...Read more -
Granite Falls, Washington
Dispersed Camp near Beaver Creek Group Camp, Mt. Baker Snoqualmie NF
This campsite is located along the Mountain Loop Highway. There are various options for dispersed camping around the area, as well as some you can reserve ahead of time such as the Coal Creek Campground and the Beaver Creek Group Campground. This campsite is located just before Beaver Creek grou...Read more -
Darrington, Washington
Backpack to Glacier Peak Meadows and White Chuck Glacier
34 mi / 9000 ft gainStarting at the North Fork Sauk Trailhead (NFD 49) off the Mountain Loop Highway, you will travel 5.3 miles and gain a leisurely 1,100 feet of elevation until you reach Mackinaw Shelter. This is where the real work begins. The trail gains a calf-burning 3,000 feet in the next 2.9 miles until you ...Read more -
Darrington, Washington
Hike to Goat Lake
4.510.4 mi / 1400 ft gainThe trail starts by lazily winding through beautiful forest. Fairly quickly, you'll reach a fork for the Upper and Lower Elliot Creek Trails. Both will take you to Goat Lake in about the same distance (~3 miles), but each offers a different take on the area. The lower trail winds along as it foll...Read more -
Darrington, Washington
Camp at Goat Lake
4.310.4 mi / 1400 ft gainIf you just loved your day hike to Goat Lake so much that you want to return and spend some more time, you're in luck - the lake offers a camping area that holds at least 15 campsites and even comes with a pit latrine. This is a great overnight option if you aren't looking for a difficult hike in...Read more -
Darrington, Washington
Winter Hike to Goat Lake
4.010.4 mi / 1400 ft gainThis trail is a perfect winter hike for the average outdoorsmen. Be warned that the most difficult part of this hike is getting to the trailhead in winter. The Mountain-loop highway can be a dangerous drive with black ice, snow, and serious potholes along the way. Take proper precautions like cha...Read more -
Granite Falls, Washington
Big Four Ice Caves
4.32.38 mi / 289 ft gainDisclaimer: Hiking into the caves is extremely dangerous as there is potential for the ice to fall. We do not recommend hiking inside of them and if you choose to do so, you're doing it at your own risk. This is a short hike at just 2.3 miles roundtrip with little elevation change. The hike take...Read more -
Twisp, Washington
Backpack to West Oval Lake
14 mi / 4100 ft gainThe trail to West Oval Lake begins at the Eagle Creek Trailhead, outside of Twisp, Washington. Follow the Eagle Creek trail for 1.9 miles until the trail splits. Take the left fork for Oval Creek and Oval Lakes. The trail continues winding through thick forest for approximately 4 more miles befor...Read more