North Cascades National Park
Designation: National Park
Location: Washington
📘 Park Overview
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.
🌤 Weather Information
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.
🚗 Directions
Access to North Cascades National Park and Ross Lake National Recreation Area is from the State Route 20 corridor. SR 20 (North Cascades Highway) connects with Interstate 5 (Exit 230) at Burlington. From the east, the highway intersects with US 97 at Okanogan and with SR 153 at Twisp. The State Department of Transportation closes a portion of the road between Ross Dam Trailhead and Lone Fir Campground in winter. The Lake Chelan National Recreation Area (Stehekin) is accessible by ferry or plane from Chelan.
Images
Stehekin sits at the top of Lake Chelan, welcoming visitors to take a life at a slower pace.
Credit: NPS Photo/D.Dixon
Grab your tent, your sleeping bag, and adventurous soul and camp along Ross Lake.
Credit: NPS Photo/D. Dixon
Let the wow factor exceed your expectations while hiking Cascade Pass.
Credit: NPS Photo/D. Dixon
Explore the trails and backcountry camping and climbing in a landscape over 9,000 feet of vertical relief.
Credit: NPS Photo/D. Dixon
Explore jagged peaks crowned by more than 300 glaciers as you traverse the landscape.
Credit: NPS Photo/T. Baldwin
Activities
Topics
Operating Hours
Entrance Fees
No entrance fees listed.
Entrance Passes
No entrance passes listed.
3-Day Weather Forecast
Thursday, Jun 25
Sunny
High: 74.8°F | Low: 47.1°F
Humidity: 47%
Wind: 6.9 mph
Rain Chance: 17%
UV Index: 4.2
Sunrise: 05:02 AM
Sunset: 09:11 PM
Moon: Waxing Gibbous (87%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 54.3°F
Cloud Cover: 17%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Friday, Jun 26
Patchy rain nearby
High: 53.5°F | Low: 43.8°F
Humidity: 83%
Wind: 6 mph
Rain Chance: 79%
UV Index: 1.3
Sunrise: 05:03 AM
Sunset: 09:11 PM
Moon: Waxing Gibbous (93%)
Visibility: 4 mi
Dew Point: 43.4°F
Cloud Cover: 79%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Saturday, Jun 27
Patchy rain nearby
High: 48.9°F | Low: 41.6°F
Humidity: 86%
Wind: 4.3 mph
Rain Chance: 73%
UV Index: 1.4
Sunrise: 05:03 AM
Sunset: 09:11 PM
Moon: Full Moon (97%)
Visibility: 5 mi
Dew Point: 42.1°F
Cloud Cover: 73%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Weather Alerts (2)
Red Flag Warning issued June 24 at 10:58PM PDT until June 25 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Effective: Jun 25, 2026 1:58am
Expires: Jun 25, 2026 10:00am
...Breezy winds and low relative humidity expected Thursday...
.The combination of breezy winds and low relative humidity is
expected to generate weather conditions conducive to rapid fire
spread for new and existing fires in the lower Columbia Basin,
Yakima and Kittitas valleys, and the Warm Springs Reservation.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 690 Kittitas Valley and 691
Lower Columbia Basin of Washington.
* TIMING...From noon to 9 PM PDT Thursday.
* WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread
quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
Red Flag Warning issued June 25 at 2:00AM PDT until June 25 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Pendleton OR
Effective: Jun 25, 2026 5:00am
Expires: Jun 25, 2026 7:00pm
...Breezy winds and low relative humidity expected Today...
.The combination of breezy winds and low relative humidity is
expected to generate weather conditions conducive to rapid fire
spread for new and existing fires in the lower Columbia Basin,
Yakima and Kittitas valleys, and the Warm Springs and Yakama
Reservations.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zones 690 Kittitas Valley and 691
Lower Columbia Basin of Washington.
* TIMING...From noon today to 9 PM PDT this evening.
* WINDS...West 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 14 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread
quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
Park Alerts
Park Events
Ranger Talk
Join a park ranger for a 30-minute talk to discover one of the many fascinating stories of the North Cascades.
Meet at the North Cascades Visitor Center
Date: Jun 9, 2026 12:00am to Jun 9, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
All About Bears Program
Learn all about bears, their behavior, and how to stay safe in bear country in this 30-minute program.
Meet at Colonial Creek South Campground Amphitheater.
Date: Jun 13, 2026 12:00am to Jun 13, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Junior Ranger Program
Become a Junior Ranger at this interactive 30-minute program.
Meet at Newhalem Creek Campground Amphitheater.
Date: Jul 1, 2026 12:00am to Jul 1, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Trail of Cedars Guided Walk
Join a ranger for a 45-minute, one-third mile accessible walk to discover the sights, sounds, and stories along the Trail of Cedars.
Meet at Trail of Cedars in Newhalem.
Date: Jul 1, 2026 12:00am to Jul 1, 2026 12:00am
Paid Event
Visitor Center & Contacts
📍 Physical Address:
810 State Route 20
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
🏤 Mailing Address:
810 State Route 20
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
📞 Voice Phone: 3608547200
📞 Fax Phone: 3608561934
✉️ Email: noca_information@nps.gov