North Cascades National Park covers 504,781 acres in Washington. It became a national park on October 2, 1968, the 32nd of today’s 64 parks to get that title. It recorded 46,925 recreation visits in 2025, the 57th most of the 63 parks with a 2025 count.
Today at North Cascades
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Golden West Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
In the park service’s words
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.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Entrance fee and passes
No entrance fee is listed for this park in National Park Service data. You do not need a pass to enter. Parking, ferry, boat or other transport fees can still apply.
Best time to visit
- Best time to visit North Cascades: July to September. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: August, with about 10,539 visits in a typical recent year. That is 4.9 times as many as October.
- Quietest month: December (3 visits), when weather or closures keep most people away.
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
More detail: the best time to visit North Cascades, month by month.
Plan your visit
- Best time to visit: crowds and weather month by month
- Itinerary: a ready-made day
- Things to do: 1 hikes and 5 other activities
- Camping, RVs and lodging: 10 campgrounds, 1 lodges
- Getting there: Nearest gas to Forest Info Center with HQ Administration Building: Arco, 0.1 miles away. Closest airport Bellingham International Airport (61 mi)
- Know before you go: safety, what to pack and what to leave at home
Popular hikes
- Day Hiking in North Cascades: Hike the North Cascades to experience some of the finest mountain country in North America.
Weather, in the park service’s words
The park service says:
The best weather for visiting the North Cascades generally occurs between mid-June and late-September. Summer daytime temperatures average in the 70's F. Snow is off most trails by mid-July. Autumn and Spring are popular for color and wildlife. Storms are common: always be prepared for a few days of rain and wind. The east side of the Cascade Mountains (Lake Chelan National Recreation Area) is drier and warmer in the summer than the west side. Summer temperatures at Stehekin reach the 90's F.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Nearby national parks by road
- Olympic (Washington): about 3 h 15 min by car (101 miles)
- Mount Rainier (Washington): about 3 h 50 min by car (161 miles)
- Crater Lake (Oregon): about 10 h 25 min by car (491 miles)
- Glacier (Montana): about 10 h 50 min by car (468 miles)
Drive times run between the closest visitor centers of each pair, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads. Link several parks with the road trip planner.
Sources
Last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter North Cascades National Park?
No entrance fee is listed for this park in National Park Service data.
What state is North Cascades National Park in?
Washington.
When did North Cascades become a national park?
October 2, 1968.
How many people visit North Cascades?
46,925 recreation visits were counted in 2025.
When is the best time to visit North Cascades?
July to September. August is the busiest month and October the quietest while the park is fully open.
