Best Hikes in North Cascades National Park
We had no idea what we were in for when we were driving along the North Cascades Highway. Thankfully, we had some local Washingtonians tell us a few hikes that we shouldn't miss out on. Hiking in the North Cascades, for the most part, is pretty strenuous, requiring at least 2,000 ft of a vertical climb on most of these trails. But we’ve been training all summer, so we were ready for a challenge. We were blown away by this area's beauty. From the turquoise waters to glaciated peaks, this is one of America’s most beautiful mountain ranges.
Also, on all hikes in North Cascades National Park, you’ll want to carry plenty of water, bear spray, sunscreen, and sun apparel (hats, SPF shirts)
Maple Pass (7.1 Miles - Hard)
Located on the East end of the North Cascades Highway, Maple Pass is a great starter hike to get you warmed up for what’s ahead on your North Cascades adventure. You’ll climb 2,188 Feet on this trail to the top of the pass. Maple Pass is a fairly busy trail. We started at about 5 am so we could get to the summit for sunrise. The hike begins at Rainy Pass and is a nice loop hike. We did it in a counterclockwise direction, and we would recommend you do the same it was a more mellow climb. Once at the top of the pass, you have the opportunity to scramble up some rocky peaks. We highly recommend getting up higher for amazing 360-degree views. On the way down, we walked along the ridge and connected back up with the trail, which added a really cool dynamic to this already epic hike.
Cascade Pass to Sahale Arm (11.6 Miles - Hard)
This is a pretty intense climb up Cascade Pass to the base of the Sahale Glacier and climbs 4,038 Feet in 11.6 miles, so be ready for non-stop climbing. This is a great place to overnight. But we will warn you that getting permits at the Cascades Wilderness Information Center (WIC) is pretty intense the citizens of Washington are outdoor enthusiast, so you might as well camp out at the center to get the permits you want in the morning. When writing this article, the North Cascades WIC issued all backcountry permits on a first-come, first-served basis. We had no luck getting any permits, so we just day hiked it and camped in the Cascade Pass Parking lot. This was the premier hike in the area. Although it was tons of work, we loved it. We highly recommend trying to get a backcountry permit to camp up here. This is a must-do hike if you are in shape for it. We couldn't recommend it more. We also saw three black bears on the trail, so be bear aware and carry bear mace.
Ptarmigan Ridge (11.6 miles - Moderate)
This is an absolutely stunning hike! If you don't want to hike lots of vertical that most of the North Cascades hikes require, you are in luck. You can drive up to the Artist Point Parking lot, at about 5,000ft, making it much easier on your legs. You will still climb 2,480 Feet on this trail, but it’s very gradual, and the views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan and the rest of the glaciated Cascade peaks are so stunning you won’t notice all the climbing that you are doing. The trail ends once it gets way too technical and sketchy to go on without proper climbing gear and knowledge. We headed back down and took a few side trails down to some lower lakes for a lunch break. We hiked about 15 miles on this trail and couldn't recommend it more.
Artist Point (Short and Easy)
If you aren't that into hiking and going on an all-day excursion, you’re in luck. The hike to Artist Point from the parking lot is short, and it delivers amazing views of surrounding peaks and Baker Lake with its turquoise hue down below. You’ll want to make sure that it's clear and sunny before heading up. We had a few days of fog and cold even in summer, so always check the weather before departing anywhere in Washington. Artist point is a hot spot or wedding and family portraits for all the Bellingham locals. Also, be aware that you will come across many Instagrammers and other social media addicts with their phones attached to their hands, taking selfies and photos to relive the moment, sometime later, rather than being present in the moment. We camped in the parking lot for 4 days. We would wake up early and take in sunrise and sunset on the point every day. This was one of our favorite parking lots to camp, ever!
