How to Spend 2 Days in North Cascades National Park

You might be surprised to know that North Cascades National Park is actually Washington’s least-visited national park, but not because it’s not worth visiting! Many people overlook North Cascades National Park due to its remote location, expansive footprint, or just simply because Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park are both closer to Seattle and easier to visit. However, North Cascades National Park is incredible and absolutely worth visiting if you have the ability to do so. It’s packed with stunning alpine views, glacier-fed lakes, and some of the best hiking and backpacking trails in the state.

I’ve lived in Washington for four years now and have spent plenty of time in all three of our national parks. North Cascades is one that I myself was hesitant to visit during my first few years here because I felt intimidated by the vastness of the park complex. My goal in writing this blog post is for you to not feel how I felt during those early years. Planning a trip to North Cascades National Park really isn’t that scary, and I’m here to help! After a few visits over the years, I’ve finally pieced together what I think is the perfect 2-day itinerary for anyone looking to visit North Cascades National Park.

This guide breaks down exactly how to spend two days in North Cascades National Park, with my personal recommendations on how to spend time hiking, paddling, and camping in and around the national park complex and surrounding areas. All of these tips are pulled from my first-hand experience based on trips I’ve planned and taken myself!

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My personal recommendation if you’re planning to follow this itinerary closely would be to stay in Newhalem or Concrete/Rockport on night one, and then stay in Glacier or Bellingham on night two after exploring Artists Point. This distributes the driving time semi-evenly across both days (assuming you’re starting from Bellingham), while still putting you in relatively close proximity to both main areas.

Stop at the North Cascades Visitor Center in Newhalem

I recommend that your very first stop on this 2 day North Cascades National Park itinerary be the Visitor Center in Newhalem! This is a great way to orient yourself with the park, learn about the park’s history and wildlife, and also talk to the park rangers about weather conditions throughout the park.

If you’re visiting in the summer, wildlife risk is high and the rangers can provide the most up-to-date information regarding closures around the park complex.

The North Cascades Visitor Center in Newhalem is my favorite visitor center in the entire North Cascades park complex! There’s a really great exhibit room featuring neat exhibits on the park’s natural and cultural history that visitors of all ages seem to enjoy! Plus, there’s also a theater that shows videos and presentations, as well as a well-stocked gift store with souvenirs. You can also find restrooms and a few interpretive trails at the Visitor Center in Newhalem.

The North Cascades Visitor Center in Newhalem is located along the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20) near milepost 120. The Visitor Center operates during the summer months (starting in May) and is usually open 9am-5pm daily.

Gorge Lake Overlook

Gorge Lake Overlook is a short, scenic path that overlooks Gorge Lake and the Gorge Dam. It’s a great spot to stretch your legs after driving for a while and, on a clear day, the water looks to be a bright blue-ish green color! The path is paved most of the way and there is a gravel section toward the end that leads out to an additional viewpoint.

If you cross the road from the parking area, you can also see a waterfall! Be careful crossing the road and the bridge, though, because cars tend to zoom past this section. Also, looking down from the bridge made me feel a bit queasy and I wouldn’t recommend it if you have a fear of heights or are prone to vertigo! Otherwise, the paved walking path itself is a great stop before getting to Diablo Lake.

Spend the Afternoon at Diablo Lake

I recommend spending the bulk of your first day in North Cascades National Park at Diablo Lake, a turquoise blue lake located in the heart of the park complex. There are a ton of fun things to do at Diablo Lake including hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, picnicking, camping, and more!

My favorite way to spend a day at Diablo Lake is to kayak on the lake. I wrote this entire guide about where to rent kayaks near Diablo Lake, where to launch from on the lake, and more on my blog here! Make sure to read that post thoroughly if you plan to paddle on Diablo Lake.

If paddling isn’t your thing, there are also plenty of hiking trails in the area. There are also several great overlooks for scenic views and cool photos. I’ve listed a few great options below sorted by difficulty-level, as well as some of the scenic points I recommend visiting in the Diablo Lake area!

Best Hiking Trails Near Diablo Lake

Thunder Knob Trail (Easy / Moderate)

• Distance (roundtrip): 3.6 miles, out-and-back
• Elevation gain: 425 feet
• Total hiking time: 2 hours
• Trail map here

Diablo Lake Trail (Moderate)

• Distance (roundtrip): 7.6 miles, out-and-back
• Elevation gain: 1,500 feet
• Total hiking time: 4-6 hours (depending on pace)
• Trail map here

Ross Dam + Diablo Lake Trail (Hard)

• Distance (roundtrip): 12 miles, out-and-back
• Elevation gain: 2,600 feet
• Total hiking time: 6-8 hours (depending on pace)
• Trail map here

Some great stops near Diablo Lake for scenic views and photos include Diablo Lake Vista Point (the classic photo spot for Diablo Lake pictures!), Ross Lake Overlook, and Trail of the Cedars Nature Walk (located in nearby Newhalem).

I recommend spending the night in one of the nearby towns such as Concrete, Marblemount, Newhalem, or even camping at Diablo Lake! If you opt for the camping option, my favorite campgrounds are Colonial Creek – South and Colonial Creek – North. If you want more of an adventure, you could also try the boat-in campsites! All camping reservations and permits must be made through recreation.gov.

I recommend staying the night at a cabin in Newhalem or Concrete after spending the day at Diablo Lake!

Head North Toward Mount Baker Along Mt. Baker Highway

If you’re staying in Newhalem or Marblemount after the first day, it’s about a 2-2.5-hour drive to Artists Point. If you’re camping at Diablo Lake, expect a slightly longer journey closer to 2.5-hours. To avoid a long drive in the morning after your first day, you could instead opt to stay the first and/or second night in Concrete, Rockport, Sedro-Woolley, Deming, or Glacier.

There is really no getting around the fact that a visit to North Cascades National Park involves a lot of driving. You just have to accept your fate and understand that this park is huge, which is why it takes so long to get from point to point!

Traveling on both North Cascades Highway and Mount Baker Highway is a great experience, though. Both drives are incredibly scenic and worth it. Below, you’ll find that I’ve listed out some of my favorite points to stop at if you’re making the drive from Rockport to Mount Baker/Artists Point!

Best Stops Along North Cascades Highway (West of Diablo Lake)

• Trail of the Cedars Nature Walk
• Old Number 6 Train (cool piece of history and great for photos)
• Skagit General Store (located in Newhalem, good stop for snacks)
• 5b’s Bakery (great gluten-free bakery, perfect for breakfast or lunch)
• Concrete Heritage Museum

Best Stops Along Mount Baker Highway

• Nooksack Falls (short walk to a scenic waterfall)
• Glacier Ranger Station
• Glacier Ice Cream Co. (delicious ice cream stop)
• Wake ‘N Bakery (great spot for breakfast + lunch)
• Picture Lake (incredible views of Mount Shuksan)

Spend the Day Hiking Around Artists Point

Once you reach Artists Point, you’ll have reached the end of Mount Baker Highway. This is a great spot to launch from to explore this section of the park, as there are several hiking trails that start from the parking lots of Artists Point.

In my opinion, Artists Point is one of the most beautiful places in the entire state of Washington! With 360-degree views of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, and other stunning peaks, it’s literally jaw-dropping.

Technically, Artists Point is part of the Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest and not North Cascades National Park, but many of the views you see from this area are within the national park and the area does border the national park!

Make sure to pack layers if you’re planning to hike at Artists Point, even in the peak of summer. Temperatures vary widely depending on time of day and conditions. Also, make sure to pack plenty of water, sunscreen, snacks, and bug spray for this day.

You could easily spend a whole day hiking around this area. There’s so much to see and do, whether you’re looking to enjoy a light, easy hike or instead test your endurance with a more strenuous hike. I’ve included a few of my favorite options below.

I also highly recommend stopping at Heather Meadows Visitor Center. If you’re starting a hike at Artists Point and planning to do the trail to Heather Meadows, Chain Lakes Loop, or Bagley Lakes, you’ll pass right by the Heather Meadows Visitor Center! At the Visitor Center, you’ll find a gift shop for purchasing souvenirs, as well as information about the history of the building and of the North Cascades. The Visitor Center is only open seasonally, usually from July through September.

Best Hikes From Artists Point

Artists Ridge Trail to Huntoon Point (easy)

• Distance (roundtrip): 1.5 miles, loop
• Elevation gain: 200-300 feet
• Total hiking time: 1 hour
• Trail map here

Artists Point to Heather Meadows (Moderate)

• Distance (roundtrip): 3.2 miles, out-and-back
• Elevation gain: 870 feet
• Total hiking time: 2 hours
• Trail map here

Chain Lakes Loop Trail (Moderate / Challenging)

• Distance (roundtrip): 6.5 miles, loop
• Elevation gain: 1,820 feet
• Total hiking time: 4-5 hours
• Trail map here

Stay the Night in Glacier or Bellingham

After exploring Artists Point and hiking all day (not to mention the drive from Diablo Lake area in the morning!), you’ll likely be eager to rest someplace nearby. Glacier is the closest town with accommodations to Artists Point. There are several great vacation rentals and cabins here, but I recommend booking early as these tend to fill up!

If you’re up for a slightly longer drive from Artists Point, you can stay the night in Bellingham. I love visiting Bellingham because it has college town vibes and plenty of great food and drink options in the small downtown area. Plus, there are several fantastic hotels and rentals to stay the night at.

Best Places to Stay in Glacier

• Romantic 1-Bedroom Cabin (dog-friendly cabin with a hot tub, fireplace, and full kitchen!)
• Large 3-Bedroom Log Cabin (perfect for families or groups, dog-friendly, and it has a hot tub!)
• Snowater Resort Condo (access to Snowater Resort amenities like pool, river access, and more!)

Best Places to Stay in Bellingham

• Chrysalis Inn & Spa (located on the waterfront and close to downtown!)
• Hotel Bellweather (dog-friendly and on the waterfront!)
• Best Western Plus Bellingham (affordable and dog-friendly!)

Best Time to Visit North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park is most stunning in the summer. Spring and fall are both great for visiting North Cascades National Park, too, but summer is when the park is at its peak in terms of accessibility.

During the winter, Highway 20 is closed at certain sections making it difficult to access parts of the National Park. If you snowshoe or ski, though, the Mount Baker area is extremely popular amongst winter sports fanatics!

If you’re visiting in the summer, all of the visitor centers, shops, viewpoints, trails, and other highlights are likely to be open. Whereas in the shoulder seasons and in winter, many of these things are closed or inaccessible. A lot of the cabins and accommodations are also closed for booking outside of the summer window.

Lodging near North Cascades National Park fills up quickly for the summer season, so it’s best to book your accommodation as far in advance as possible!

Where to Stay Near North Cascades National Park

Unlike Mount Rainier National Park or Olympic National Park, finding lodging in North Cascades National Park can be a bit tricky because demand is very high but supply is extremely low. Meaning… cabins, campgrounds, and lodges book out quickly.

I highly recommend you book lodging reservations that have “free cancellation” or “reserve now, pay later” so that you can at least hold your dates and then adjust accordingly if your plans change closer to your trip. This is especially useful when planning a trip to the North Cascades, as weather can shift on a dime and wildfires can spread fast in the summer.

I’ve included an interactive map below that allows you to see all the available accommodations near the North Cascades National Park complex!

Book your stay with free cancellations near North Cascades National Park!

Getting Around The North Cascades

There is no other way to get around North Cascades National Park other than by car, unfortunately. While there are several biking, hiking, paddling, and mountaineering trails throughout the park, you will absolutely need a car to access these points and get between the major areas/highlights.

If possible, I recommend launching from Bellingham and exploring the North Cascades from there by car. You can get to Bellingham from Seattle by car, plane, or Amtrak train. If you fly or train into Bellingham from Seattle or elsewhere, you can easily rent a car in Bellingham.

From Seattle, the drive out to North Cascades National Park is roughly 2.5-3 hours (one way). It’s a long drive and several sections of the road are limited to low speeds, so it can feel even longer. If you’re planning to follow this itinerary, I recommend traveling from Seattle to Bellingham or Rockport/Concrete the night prior to establish a launch point closer to Diablo Lake.

Can I Visit All 3 Washington National Parks in One Week?

It’s definitely possible to visit all 3 of Washington’s National Parks in one week, though it would involve a lot of driving. If you’re starting in Seattle, I’d recommend hitting Mount Rainier National Park first, Olympic National Park second, and then ending the road trip with North Cascades National Park. You’ll want to spend no more than 2 nights per National Park so you can fit them all in 7 days.

It would likely be more comfortable to spread out the 3 Washington National Parks over 10 days, if possible! That way you could spend multiple nights in each park without feeling rushed or like you’re behind the wheel the whole time.

Are There Any Guided Tours to North Cascades National Park?

Unlike Mount Rainier National Park or Olympic National Park, there are very few options for guided tours to North Cascades National Park due to the remoteness of the park complex and restrictions in place for tour operators in the area.

Rather, I personally recommend renting a car in either Seattle or Bellingham and driving to North Cascades National Park on your own! Plus, that way you can take your time and focus on the specific spots you want to see the most.

Is North Cascades National Park Dog Friendly?

Technically dogs are not allowed within North Cascades National Park. However, because of the layout of the park and the surrounding National Forest land, there are certain areas you are allowed to bring your dog! For example, pets are allowed at drive-in campgrounds and picnic areas as well as paved or dirt roads within the National Park. Dogs are also allowed on the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs through the National Park.

You can also bring your dog within the Ross Lake National Recreation Area and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and on most surrounding National Forest land. Many of the best hikes people associate with North Cascades National Park are technically on National Forest land or within the National Recreation Areas, so dogs are able to hike with you!

Specifically, the following trails are dog-friendly: Thunder Knob Trail, Diablo Lake Trail, Blue Lake Trail, Chain Lakes Loop Trail, and more. If there is a specific hike you have in mind, make sure to search up the rules based on where the trail is located!

You can also paddle with your dog on Diablo Lake if you’re feeling adventurous. I kayaked Diablo Lake with my Cocker Spaniel and we had the best day ever! You can read all about that experience here.

Also, make sure to have your dog on a leash at all times and pack out any waste. Bring a bowl and plenty of water, as it can get extremely hot in certain areas of the Park complex in the summer. I also recommend carrying a dog-specific first-aid kit if you’re planning to hike or paddle.