For the most part, long (~10-mile) day hikes are required to cross the border into North Cascades National Park. Any hikes that do not cross into the park are noted as such.

🥾 Ross Dam (1.4 miles, 360 feet elev. gain): This short trail guides visitors across the dam that created Ross Lake. This trail resides entirely in Ross Lake NRA.
🥾 Thunder Knob (3.4 miles, 675 feet elev. gain): This trail takes visitors to a scenic overlook of Diablo Lake. This trail resides entirely in Ross Lake NRA.
🥾 Thornton Lake (10.9 miles, 3,057 feet elev. gain): The only trail I’ve hiked in North Cascades National Park is a must-do. The trail begins in a dense forest before breaking above the tree line, where great views of the park abound. Be sure to go for a swim in the lake, and don’t miss the Trappers Peak detour. The road to this trailhead is rough, unpaved, and often covered with potholes: it’s best to navigate the road with a high clearance, AWD vehicle. This trail begins in Ross Lake NRA and crosses into North Cascades National Park.
🥾 Sourdough Mountain (9.9 miles, 5,055 feet elev. gain): This trail guides hikers to a fire lookout tower that offers great views of Diablo Lake and Ross Lake. This trail begins in Ross Lake NRA and crosses into North Cascades National Park.
🥾 Hidden Lake (9 miles, 2,900 feet elev. gain): This trail provides access to a small lake tucked away in the mountains and a fire lookout tower. To access this trail, hikers will have to drive on the rough, rocky, and steep Cascade River Road, so bring a vehicle with AWD.
🥾 Cascade Pass Trail to Sahale Glacier (12.1 miles, 5,029 feet elev. gain): The Cascade Pass Trail offers incredible views of the national park, and hikers can even see Mount Rainier on a clear day. To access this trail, hikers will have to drive on the rough, rocky, and steep Cascade River Road, so bring a vehicle with AWD.
🥾 Ruby Mountain Summit (18.6 miles, 6,466 feet elev. gain): To reach the top of Ruby Mountain, hikers can utilize the Thunder Creek Trail, followed by the Fourth of July Trail, then finally the Ruby Mountain Trail. The peak’s prominence provides incredible views of the park. This trail resides entirely in Ross Lake NRA.

📷 Diablo Lake & Ross Lake Overlooks: If it’s your first time in the area, you must check out the overlooks for Diablo Lake and Ross Lake. Located along the North Cascades Highway, these overlooks are easily reachable by car.
🎒 Backpacking: The best way to experience North Cascades National Park to its fullest is through a multi-day backpacking trip. This will allow you to see the park’s depths in ways not feasible with a day hike.
⛺ Camping: Wilderness camping (i.e., backpacking) is the only way to camp within the park borders. Several developed campgrounds are available in the adjacent national recreation areas and along roads leading into the park.
🚣‍♂️ Canoeing/Kayaking: While neither Ross Lake nor Lake Chelan sit within the boundaries of the national park, both lakes are worth visiting. The lakes offer opportunities to explore their waters with motorboats or canoes/kayaks.

🏔️ Mount Baker: Washington’s third-tallest mountain sits just to the west of North Cascades, and is visible from many of the park’s vantage points. Even if you don’t plan to summit the mountain, the area offers some excellent hiking opportunities.
🏙️ Seattle: Washington’s most populous city sits about 2 hours from North Cascades, and is a common jump-off point for those visiting the park. The city offers lots to do for visitors, including the MoPOP, Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Pike Place Market, and various sporting events.
🍁 Canada: If you’ve never visited Canada and possess a valid passport, you could consider doing so while in northern Washington. Toronto and several provincial parks sit just north of the Washington-Canada border.

📅 When to Visit: North Cascades sees the best weather for hiking and backpacking in late summer. Most trails are snow-free typically by mid-July. Some people try to visit in the fall to see vibrant colors.
⌚ How Long to Visit: This answer is largely dependent on what visitors want. It’s easy to make a day trip to North Cascades from Seattle – enough time to stop at the visitor center, see Diablo Lake and Ross Lake, and complete a strenuous day hike. It’s also easy to spend 3-5 days there backpacking and exploring the park’s lakes.
🚗 How to Visit: North Cascades is easiest to access by car from Seattle. Bring a vehicle with high clearance and AWD if accessing some of the more remote hikes.
🛏️ Where to Stay: Ross Lake Resort and the North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin both offer accommodations for those not camping. Several developed campgrounds exist within Ross Lake National Recreation Area and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, usable by both tent campers and those with RVs. Wilderness and boat-in camping are the only ways to stay inside the national park.
🧳 What to Bring: When hiking in North Cascades National Park, consider bringing trail crampons and/or hiking poles in case you encounter snow & ice on the trails. Wear hiking boots with solid traction. Since there is little cell service at North Cascades, consider bringing some sort of satellite phone or communicator (e.g., Garmin InReach). Otherwise, bring your usual camping, hiking, and backpacking gear.

✅ DO be prepared to encounter snow on the trails, even if visiting North Cascades in the heat of the summer.
✅ DO tell a friend or family member about your travel plans when visiting North Cascades. This is good practice whenever you embark on an adventure in the wilderness, but bears repeating for North Cascades since the trails are very remote.
✅ DO be prepared for the challenge of reaching North Cascades National Park. While paved roads will bring you to the neighboring national recreation areas, the park’s borders can only be reached by way of hiking paths and/or rough, unpaved roads.
❌ DON’T leave valuables in your car when parking along State Route 20, since break-ins are common.