Hidden Gem
North Cascades National Park
- Difficulty
- Expert
- Trip length
- 4–7 days
- Budget
- $250–$900
- per person · excl. airfare
- Best months
- Jul–Sep
HikingBackpacking
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.
Highlights
- Jagged glaciated peaks
- Turquoise Diablo Lake
- Remote alpine wilderness
Photos
Photos via Wikimedia Commons under their respective licences.
Map
Trails (5)· Moderate–Expert
- View →Goodell Creek TrailRepresentative6.8 mi5,735 ft gainExpert~5.1 h
- View →Stetattle Creek TrailRepresentative4.6 mi1,499 ft gainModerate~2.3 h
- View →Sourdough Mountain TrailRepresentative2.4 mi2,923 ft gainModerate~2.3 h
- View →Pyramid Lake TrailRepresentative1.9 mi1,555 ft gainModerate~1.4 h
- View →Davis Peak TrailRepresentative1.6 mi4,478 ft gainExpert~2.8 h
Getting there
- SEA Seattle-Tacoma Intl · 101 mi
- GEG Spokane Intl · 185 mi
- PDX Portland Intl · 225 mi
Straight-line distances to nearby airports. Airfare and drive times are not included.
Permits & access
Reservation required
Wilderness permit for overnight; remote and rugged terrain — confirm current rules on the official site.
Official permit & conditions ↗Last verified 7/24/2026