National Park · NPS · WA
North Cascades National Park
Photo: NPS Photo/D.Dixon, Stehekin - Looking down Lake Chelan
Alerts and conditions
Park Closure Cascade River Road Closure
Cascade River Road is closed to vehicles at milepost 21 (Johnson's Cabin) two miles before the trailhead. Foot and bicycle traffic is permitted beyond the gate. Do not block gate.
Information Stehekin is Open, Services Limited at Stehekin Landing
Visitor and recreational opportunities continue to be available in the Stehekin Valley. Some services are limited at the Stehekin Landing following flood damage in December 2025.
Caution Stehekin Flash Flood and Debris Flow Area
The Stehekin area is prone to flooding, which increases in a post-fire environment. Know before you go – visit the Post Fire Safety page for information on what to do in a flash flood and debris flow area
Park Closure Hozomeen Gate Remains Closed
Until further notice, the gate at Hozomeen will remain closed; vehicle and foot traffic across the US/Canada border is prohibited. Visitors must enter through a designated port of entry.
Park Closure Fire Closures - Trail, Area, and Camp Closures
For closures due to fire activity visit the Fire Closures page, including trail, area, and camp closures for current and post fire conditions.
Caution Diablo Lake Boat Launch Inaccessible to Powerboats
Due to silt accumulation, the Diablo Lake boat launch at Colonial Creek South Campground is not usable for launching most powerboats. Expect shallow or no water at the launch ramp and the possibility of needing to carry your boat to or from the water.
Caution Be Aware of Break-ins along State Route 20
Prevent smashed windows and theft. Break-ins are not uncommon at trailheads along State Route 20. Remove your valuables and electronics and take associated electronic cords.
Wildfire Sisi Fire: 4,816 acres, 65% contained
An active wildfire perimeter overlaps this site. Check the managing agency for closures before you go.
Wildfire Electric Fire: 495 acres, 100% contained
A wildfire perimeter that overlaps this site is fully contained. Some areas may stay closed while crews finish work.
Overview
Less than three hours from Seattle, an alpine landscape beckons. Discover communities of life adapted to moisture in the west and recurring fire in the east. Explore jagged peaks crowned by more than 300 glaciers. Listen to cascading waters in forested valleys. Witness a landscape sensitive to the Earth's changing climate. Help steward the ecological heart of the Cascades.
From the National Park Service
History
The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.
What to see and do
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Motorized Boating
- Boat Tour
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Climbing
- Rock Climbing
- Fishing
- Guided Tours
- Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Paddling
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Junior Ranger Program
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Plan your visit
Hours
North Cascades National Park Service Complex: 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.
Getting there
Access to North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake National Recreation Area is from the State Route 20 corridor. SR 20 (North Cascades Highway) connects with Interstate 5 (Exit 230) at Burlington. From the east, the highway intersects with US 97 at Okanogan and with SR 153 at Twisp. The State Department of Transportation closes a portion of the road between Ross Dam Trailhead and Lone Fir Campground in winter. The Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (Stehekin) is accessible by ferry or plane from Chelan.
Visitor centers
- Forest Info Center with HQ Administration Building
- North Cascades Visitor Center
- Wilderness Information Center
- Golden West Visitor Center
Campgrounds
- Newhalem Creek Campground (107 sites) — reserve
- Goodell Creek Campground (19 sites) — reserve
- Lower Goodell Group Campground (2 sites) — reserve
- Gorge Lake Campground (8 sites) — reserve
- Colonial Creek North Campground (38 sites) — reserve
- Colonial Creek South Campground (93 sites) — reserve
- Lakeview Campground (9 sites)
- Purple Point Campground (6 sites)
- Harlequin Campground (7 sites) — reserve
- Hozomeen Campground (75 sites)
Weather
The best weather for visiting the North Cascades generally occurs between mid-June and late-September. Summer daytime temperatures average in the 70's F. Snow is off most trails by mid-July. Autumn and Spring are popular for color and wildlife. Storms are common: always be prepared for a few days of rain and wind. The east side of the Cascade Mountains (Lake Chelan National Recreation Area) is drier and warmer in the summer than the west side. Summer temperatures at Stehekin reach the 90's F.
Phone: 3608547200
Whose lands these are
These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.
Photos
Pair it with
- North Cascades National Scenic Area USFS · 23 miles
- Mt. Baker National Forest USFS · 24 miles
- Mount Baker National Recreation Area USFS · 28 miles
- Okanogan National Forest USFS · 43 miles
- Wenatchee National Forest USFS · 71 miles
- San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 75 miles