North Cascades National Park

North Cascades is the most heavily glaciated park in the lower 48 — over 300 glaciers, more than the rest of the contiguous US combined — and one of the least-visited (~30,000 paid recreation visits per year, plus drive-through visitors on WA-20). The park complex spans 685,000 acres of jagged, lightly trailed wilderness directly south of the Canadian border. WA-20, the North Cascades Highway, is the only road that crosses the park; it runs east-west through the heart of the range, connecting the Skagit Valley west of Newhalem to the Methow Valley around Winthrop. From I-5 the access is Exit 230 in Burlington, then 60 mi east on WA-20. The park itself charges no entrance fee, but WA-20 closes in winter — usually from late November through mid-April — making this one of the most seasonally constrained access roads in the National Park System.

• Over 300 glaciers — more than all other contiguous US national parks combined
• No entrance fee at any time of year
• WA-20 is the only road through the park; closes November to mid-April
• About 685,000 acres including the adjoining Lake Chelan and Ross Lake National Recreation Areas
• ~30,000 paid recreation visits per year — among the least-visited US national parks

• Diablo Lake Overlook
• Washington Pass Overlook (mile post 162 on WA-20)
• Newhalem Visitor Center and Trail of the Cedars
• Cascade Pass / Sahale Arm trailhead (Cascade River Road)
• Stehekin (boat-only access from Lake Chelan)

Best months: Late June through early October — WA-20 fully open, all visitor centers staffed.

Closures: WA-20 closes for winter typically in mid-to-late November between Ross Dam (mile 134) and Mazama (mile 178). Reopening is weather-dependent — usually late April or early May. Lake Chelan ferries to Stehekin run year-round on a reduced winter schedule.

Notes: Avalanche control delays the WA-20 reopening every spring — check WSDOT before planning a late-April or early-May trip.