North Cascades is free to enter, relatively uncrowded, and has some great hiking trails with even more incredible views. The North Cascades Highway is the main road, connecting the key viewpoints and trailheads along the way, making it easy to explore.
For an overview on the entire Washington trip, check out Hiker’s Paradise: 12-day Washington Road Trip.
North Cascades arrival
We drove straight to Diablo Lake Vista Point the moment we arrived in North Cascades. One step out of the car and we were speechless. Surreal turquoise water, jagged peaks on every side, and the sun dropping behind in a wash of orange. We just stood in awe. Not a bad way to start a trip.
Overnight: North Cascades Inn
Perfectly located for easy access in and out of the North Cascades. There’s a small coffee trailer next door, plus a really good bar and grill across the street with plenty of local ciders and brews, a great way to end the day after exploring.
North Cascades: day 1
We started our day at the Visitor Center near Marblemount entrance, which turned out to be a great move. A park ranger directed us toward Maple Pass Loop, which was not in our original plan, but we took the advice. Best decision of the day.
This trail is still one of our all-time favorites. The kind of hike where you keep thinking it can’t get better, and then it does.
The hike is about a 7-mile loop and took us around 4 hours, including a stop at the top for lunch. We loved that it’s a loop, so you’re always seeing something new and different.
When we reached the top, we took a moment to catch our breath and soak in the views. Those are the moments you hike for.
After the hike, we drove as far as we could along the North Cascades Highway before hitting road closures due to wildfires. Thankfully, we were still able to make it to Washington Pass, which was a beautiful and super easy scenic stop right off the road—no hiking required.
After that, we headed back toward our hotel and grabbed dinner at Upriver Grill and Taproom, right across the street from North Cascades Inn. It was nice to park the car and just walk over without worrying about driving. It’s a great spot for a post-hike meal and a great selection of local brews and ciders.
Travel tips
- Stop at the visitor center your first morning (or the day before) to get up-to-date info and talk to park rangers
- The North Cascades Highway makes it easy to access most of the major hiking trails and viewpoints
- Check for road closures ahead of time, especially during wildfire season
Food
- Breakfast / Coffee: Prospectors Country Coffee
- Lunch / Snacks: Pack your own—limited options in the park
- Dinner: Upriver Grill & Taproom
Activities
- Hiking: Maple Pass Loop (~7 miles, moderate/challenging, incredible views)
- Scenic drive along North Cascades Highway
- Washington Pass Overlook (quick, easy stop right off the road with amazing views)
North Cascades: day 2
We started the morning with coffee from Prospectors and packed up some snacks before heading toward the Ross Dam area.
We took a ferry over to Ross Lake Resort and spent some time exploring the area before heading out for a short hike along the Ross Dam Trail. The area has options for boating, paddling, fishing, and hiking, but we kept it simple—just wandered around a bit and enjoyed the scenery.
After that, we made our way to Thunder Knob Trail. It’s a relatively short hike but gives you a different vantage point of Diablo Lake and the surrounding mountains.
By the end of the day, we were feeling the miles from the day before, so we kept things easy and grabbed a pizza at Annie’s Pizza Station before heading back to our place to relax with a couple of local ciders.
Travel tips
- Keep this day flexible—perfect for either light exploring or a bigger hike
- The Ross Dam area is worth a stop, even for a short walk—the ferry and lake views make it feel like an experience
- Thunder Knob is a great shorter hike; for more of a challenge, consider Sauk Mountain
- Winthrop is a fun nearby town—great for a river float or exploring
- Pack snacks and drinks—options are limited once you’re out exploring
Activities
- Ross Dam area + ferry + short hike (Ross Dam Trail)
- Thunder Knob Trail
Food
- Breakfast / Coffee: Prospectors Country Coffee
- Lunch / Snacks: packed snacks for the day
- Dinner: Annie’s Pizza Station