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Your Trusted Guide to the North Cascades

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Plan by Topic

Use this page to choose the right North Cascades planning guide based on what you are trying to solve first: road access, lodging, camping, food, short stops, hikes, permits, or backup plans.

If you are planning a trip soon, start with access and conditions before picking hikes or viewpoints. If you are building a full weekend plan, start with trip planning, where to stay, camping, and food services before narrowing down scenic stops or easy hikes.

Start Here If You Are Planning Soon

Traveling this week or weekend? Start with this weekend's plan, seasonal access, and current conditions before choosing hikes, viewpoints, or overnight stops.

Staying overnight? Start with where to stay, or camping if you are trying to keep the trip budget-friendly.

Driving Highway 20 for the first time? Start with trip planning, scenic stops, and food and services.

Planning with kids, limited time, or mixed abilities? Start with family-friendly stops and easy hikes before committing to longer trail days.

Browse All Topic Guides

Trip Planning Build a realistic North Cascades route with stop spacing, time, seasonal limits, and backup options. Seasonal Access Check road timing, snow closures, gate access, and seasonal limits before you commit to a plan. Where to Stay Pick the right base town for your route, budget, drive time, and overnight trip style. Camping Sort campgrounds, dispersed options, reservation pressure, and backup choices before you arrive late. Food and Services Know where to eat, fuel up, resupply, and handle basics before remote stretches of the corridor. Scenic Stops Find quick pullouts, viewpoints, waterfalls, and short stops that fit into a Highway 20 driving day. Easy Hikes Find short, lower-effort trails that still feel worth the stop without taking over the whole day. Family-Friendly Choose lower-stress stops, short walks, and practical options for kids or mixed-energy groups. Safety and Permits Avoid common mistakes with passes, dogs, road rules, trailhead access, and safety basics. Experiences Compare guided tours, rafting, audio tours, and seasonal activities that can upgrade a North Cascades trip. 

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Current Conditions

SR 20 North Cascades Highway remains closed between milepost 130 and 156 (Ross Dam trailhead to Porcupine Creek gate). Extensive repairs are needed on portions of the road from winter rockslides. More info from WSDOT here

(Click here for full Current Conditions list)

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