The North Cascades has some of Washington’s most dramatic alpine terrain - they don’t call the the American Alps for no reason. In my opinion, the North Cascades has some of the best backpacking adventures you can find in Washington.
The North Cascades is massive and a lot of folks generally referring it to only the national park but it goes beyond that.
Hiking and Backpacking in the North Cascades
Most of the North Cascades adventures mentioned here are accessible via three main corridors: the Mountain Loop Highway out of Granite Falls, the Mount Baker Highway (SR-542) heading towards Bellingham, and the North Cascades Highway (SR-20) through the national park. Each corridor has its own character, its own trailheads, and its own crowd patterns; not to mention what passes are required. Having all this information will make a real difference for each trip you are planning.
A few things to know before you go:
The North Cascades have a short summer window. Many trails are above 4000 feet and generally don’t melt out until mid-July. Snow can also return as early as the end of September and October.
The Mount Baker Wilderness is one of the snowiest regions; which means some of the best winter snowshoe terrain can be found here.
A Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass (Interagency Pass) covers most trailheads, but always double check before you go!
Dogs are allowed on most trails in the national forest portions of this region, though leash rules do apply and are not permitted in certain areas within North Cascades National Park. I noted dog-friendliness in each guide below!
