Northwest Get-Aways: Exploring the North Cascades

One of the most scenic drives in the United States is right here in our backyard! The North Cascades Highway is approximately 75 miles of the most rugged beauty in the lower 48 states and leads to North Cascades National Park.

Completed in 1964, Highway 20 follows a covered-wagon route established in 1896 and is one of the oldest roads in Washington.

Unfortunately, during the winter months, the snow accumulation makes the access road to the park impossible. But it’s not too early to plan for May or June trip. It’s best to go earlier in the season, as mid-summer can get crowded with cars and pedestrians.

Just remember to bring warm clothes with you, since the weather at that altitude can be very chilly.

Almost 40,000 visitors descended on North Cascades National Park in 2019, and much of the park was closed in 2020 due to COVID-19. After the pandemic subsides people will want to get away even more than usual, so going early will avoid the rush.

A pleasant surprise is that there are no entrance fees to visit the park! There aren’t many places left that don’t charge fees to enjoy. This is one of them!

How to Get There

Once you get to Everett, the Cascade loop begins at the Highway 2 exit off of Interstate 5. While the entire loop is 440 miles of scenic road that includes Highway 2, Highway 97, and Highway 20, it’s not necessary to drive that far to get to the national park and see some amazing nature.

Your ultimate destination is the North Cascades National Park, which features incredible, unspoiled scenery and nature. Wildlife is abundant throughout the park, with black-tailed deer, mule deer, bobcats, cougars, black bears, and even some grizzly bears! All told, there are 75 different mammals that inhabit the park.

The scenery is very different from place to place on your trip. There are dense forests and rugged mountains on the west side, contrasted with pine forests and grasslands on the east side of the mountains. There are pristine alpine lakes and an impressive dam on Diablo Lake.

Make sure to have plenty of gas in the tank, as there are no gas stations for most of the route. Also, you’ll probably need to leave Fido at home. Dogs are not allowed in the national park except on the Pacific Crest Trail and within 50 feet of roads. This is to protect both the wildlife and your dog.

It’s an amazing trip, but it’s important to check and make sure the road and park are open before heading out on your road trip.

It’s also a good idea to make sure your auto insurance is up to date. Get a free quote!