Car Hire North Cascades National Park - Mini guide to North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park is situated in a 242,344-hectare area of parkland made up of three separate units that are managed together: North Cascades, Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. The region has the advantage of having fewer crowds than other parks, and is blessed with magical natural beauty and abundant flora and fauna.

Amid rugged mountain peaks, pristine mountain water streams over rocks and through deep valleys, giving the park its name. One of the area’s scenic highlights is its magnificent glaciers, which glisten on the mountain summits, above and from which these multiple bodies of cascading water originate.

Recreational activities offered in the park include: camping, picnicking, hiking, mountain climbing, fishing, bird-watching and boating. Traversing the park is an extensive network of nature trails, along which walking and horseback riding are popular. Professional guides are available for trail tours and mountain climbing. You can pick up basic maps and enjoy educational talks and programs at the park ranger stations.

There are several camping areas within the park, and the one that you choose will depend largely on your personality and preferences. Options range from primitive sites deep in the wilderness to much more developed areas with boat launches and comprehensive housing options. Other accommodation options include lodges, bed-and-breakfasts and cabins – both traditional and floating.

Seattle is situated a short drive southwest of North Cascades. Highlights here include the 180-metre high Seattle Space Needle, Pike Place Market and the lively Puget Sound Waterfront area. Additionally, the 80m Snoqualmie Falls and the winter ski resort at Snoqualmie Pass are within driving distance of North Cascades.

Connecting all these options are many beautiful drives, including the North Cascades Scenic Highway, which make getting there half the fun. To reach the park from other parts of the country, the best route to take is the I-5 to US 20. The nearest major airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac).