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North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park can be reached via trails off the North Cascades Highway (SR 20), from Marblemount on the western side and from Mazama through Okanogan National Forest on the eastern side. The highway is closed between Diablo Lake and Mazama from the first major snowfall until April or May. From Marblemount, Cascade River Road leads east for 22 miles and is the only accessible road into the park. The park also can be reached by boat via Lake Chelan or from Canada via Ross Lake.
The park embraces 505,000 acres in north-central Washington. Its northern and southern sections, separated by Ross Lake National Recreation Area, are bordered by Okanogan National Forest to the east, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area to the southeast, Wenatchee National Forest to the south and Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest to the west.
Park terrain is the result of glaciation; more than 315 glaciers remain active. Jagged peaks, sheer canyons and many rivers and lakes characterize the landscape.
Mountain goats, deer and black and grizzly bears are among the most common animals in the park. Rarely visible but present are cougars and wolverines. Smaller mammals and a host of birds, including white-tailed ptarmigans, also inhabit the area. Hunting is prohibited. Several varieties of trout live in park waters.
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