Washington Pass Overlook Trail

Because the North Cascades highway usually closes from November to May due to heavy snow and huge slides that bury the road, few people expend the energy to get there, meaning it's one of the only places where fresh tracks are almost guaranteed through the winter and early spring.To start, you'll need to snowmobile in to the pass. Approach either from the West where the road closes near Ross La...

Liberty Bell is just one mile south of Washington Pass. This peak is part of a group of spires, which include North and South Early Winters Spires, Concord Tower, and Lexington Tower. If you’ve decided to take in the viewpoints driving Hwy 20 through the park, be sure to check out Diablo Lake as well. If you’re up for being more active and moving around, check out Trappers Peak / Thornton Lake

From the Blue Lake Trailhead, hike approximately 1.5 miles to an obvious clearing with subsidiary trails that depart uphill and right at a stream crossing. These trails will eventually lead up granite slabs and converge into a main trail. Follow the cairns or aim generally for the southern-most spire (the one to the right before the saddle). After about 2k feet of gain, you should be at level w...

Blue Lake is a fantastic alpine lake along a moderate trail in the sawtooth North Cascades, featuring views of some of the most impressive peaks in the range. A 4.5-mile out-and-back gaining about 1,100 feet, the trail to Blue Lake Trail features summer wildflowers, autumn Larch and jagged snow-capped peaks and is located along one of Washington’s iconic scenic drives.Begin at the trailhead par...

Liberty Bell is one of the most prominent and well defined features of the Washington Pass formation in the North Cascades. This beautiful and stunning rock formation looks equally at home in Washington as it would in the Dolomites or Patagonia.The classic route up Liberty Bell, The Beckey Route, is a 5.6 trad-climbing multi pitch with 3 pitches of excellent class 5 climbing and a 4th pitch of ...

Looking for a distinctive high-country hike just east of the pass? Cutthroat Pass is a hearty day hike perfect for gaining elevation and views with every step. It's even more dynamic as a point-to-point, exiting via the Pacific Crest Trail if you have two vehicles. Also great for a one-night backpacking trip, with possible extension for 2+ nights by heading north on the PCT.For the basic out-an...