North Cascades National Park Travel Page

North Cascades National Park is located in northwest Washington approximately 85 miles east of Bellingham, WA. The North Cascades National Park Service Complex is in the middle of millions of acres of public lands, including much Congressionally-designated wilderness. The Pacific Crest Trail, stretching from Mexico to Canada, passes through the area.

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Getting Here

The closest major airport is Seattle, and there is a smaller airport in Bellingham, Washington.

From the North

1. Take I-5 South to Stateroad 20 East to the park.

2. Take Highway 97 South to Stateroad 20 West to the park.

From the East

1. Take Stateroad 20 West to the park.

From the South

1. Take I-5 North to Stateroad 20 East to the park.

2. Take I-82 North to I-90 West to I-5 North to Stateroad 20 West to the park.

3. Take I-82 North to I-90 East to Stateroad 281 North to Stateroad 28 / Highway 2 / 97 North to Stateroad 153 North to Stateroad 20 West to the park.

From the West

1. Head to I-5 North or South and follow the directions above for North or South to the park.

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Directions

Access to the North Cascades and Ross Lake area is from I-5 at Burlington, west of the mountains, and Twisp, on the east, following Washington Stateroad 20 with branch routes to Baker Lake and the Cascade River.

The only road access to the shore of Ross Lake is via the Silver-Skagit Road (gravel) from near Hope, British Columbia.

Hiking access and roadside views, of the northwest corner of the park, are available by Stateroad 542, east from Bellingham. (Note: All access roads that lead into the National Park itself are gravel roads.)

The main access to Stehekin, in the Lake Chelan NRA, is by float plane from the town of Chelan on Highway 97, by boat from the Lake Chelan Boat Company from Chelan, Field's Point (17 miles north of Chelan), or Chelan Airways . There is no road access into Stehekin, or any other part, of Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. (Note: During summer months visitors can reach this area via hiking trails.)

Two roads, both gravel, enter North Cascades National Park: the Cascade River Road from Marblemount and the Stehekin Valley Road. Note that the latter does not connect to any roads outside the Stehekin Valley.

Transportation

To Park

Access by Interstate Highway (I-5) and various state highways. Mount Vernon has bus service and an Amtrak station. Chelan has bus service.

In Park

Personal vehicle, bicycle, bus (in Stehekin Valley only), rental boats (outboard, canoe, kayak: Ross Lake only), and commercial ferry (Lake Chelan).

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North Cascades National Park Links

Accessibility Activity & Calendar Page Address, Email & Phone Guide Be Bear Aware Biodiversity Bird Information Brochures, Maps, Written Info Biking Boating Guide Camping Guide Cougar Information

Establishment Fees Fishing Glaciers Geology Hiking Guide History Indigenous People Jobs, SCA, Volunteer Positions Leave No Trace Principles Location Lodging Guide

Map Guide Park Information Permits Pet Information Search Sights Guide Size & Visitation Travel Guide Visitors Guide Weather Wildlife Information Wolves

North Cascades National Park
Washington National Parks
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by John William Uhler

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This site is in no way associated with the United States Government, the Department of the Interior or the National Park Service