North Cascades National Park is located in northern Washington State and is a hiker’s paradise with almost 644 miles of trails. But this park isn’t only for serious backpackers and elite hikers.
If you’re not big into crowds, and shy away from parks that see annual visitor counts in the millions like the Great Smoky Mountains and Yellowstone, North Cascades may be just the kind of park you’ll love.
The least visited national park in the US lower 48 states is Isle Royale NP in Michigan. That park records only about 25,000 visitors annually. But nipping close at the heels for 2nd place in this “least popular” category is North Cascades National Park, which is only visited by 30,000 people each year.
But just like we learned in high school, popularity isn’t everything. And although this park isn’t big on visitor counts, it boast incredible views. Not only that, North Cascades NP is a very family-friendly place to visit, with some great family-friendly hiking options.
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North Cascades NP: The Basics
North Cascades NP gets its name from the North Cascades mountain range of which it is a part. And it’s an appropriate name for this range, which sits in at the northern edge of the United States lower 48, and proudly displays many beautiful waterfalls.
1968 is the year this park was created by Congress. It now encompasses just over 500,000 acres of land, and is bordered on all sides by national forests including the Okanogan-Wenatchee to the south and east, and Mount Baker-Snoqualmie to the west.
The park travels all the way to our US northern border, where it greets three distinct Canadian provincial parks within British Columbia.
Unlike many of the other national parks, there is no fee to enter North Cascades. If you plan to camp, you will need to cover camping fees, however.
The parking is free for any trails that begin on national park owned land, but if the trailhead is found on US Forest Service land, you will need a Northwest Forest Pass to park. These passes are only $5 a day and can be found at the ranger station or online.
Getting To North Cascades
Almost all visitors will head to this park from the west, specifically either Seattle or Vancouver.
North Cascades via car
The main way to access this park is by State Route 20 (WA 20), typically from I-5, which runs north-south through the state of Washington and up into British Columbia along the west coast.
The park is just a 2-hour drive (north and east) from Seattle. Coming from Vancouver, Canada, the car trip will take you about 3 hours, again on the I-5, this time heading south and east.
North Cascades via plane
If you are flying, you’ll want to book a flight into either Seattle, WA (SEA) or Vancouver, BC (YVR).
Driving Inside the Park
There is really only one road inside this national park…WA-20. The WA 20 is known as the North Cascades Highway inside the park and measures 132 miles in length, crossing the park in the east-west direction.
Once inside the park, most family-friendly trails will be found right along WA 20.
Before You Go
Whether you plan to walk the boardwalk with your little children or get a bit off the beaten path, it is important that you be prepared and safe.
Always check the park service website for any alerts and important safety notifications. They will be listed right at the top of the site.
Some safety tips before heading out:
- Wear proper footwear for your planned activity.
- Have a paper map and / or compass with you. Do not depend on your cell phone as there is not reliable service.
- Bring an emergency first aid kit along with you.
- Be sure to have food and water for all members of your party.
- Know your route – is there a possibility of it turning into an overnight? Is there a chance you’ll get wet? Is there a possibility of severe weather? Pack accordingly for your answer to these questions.
- Be prepared for the wildlife. Black bears, as well as grizzly bears, are residents of every habitat within the park. It is important to be bear aware before heading out to enjoy your beautiful hike. Bear spray should always be carried on all North Cascades hikes.
- All wildlife should be enjoyed from a distance. There is a variety within this national forest, such as mountain goats, mountain lions and the already mentioned bears.
- Bring mosquito and tick repellant.
Best Hikes in North Cascades National Park: Short, Accessible Trails
North Cascades, while certainly a hikers paradise, also boasts great options for sight-seeing families who are not expert hikers.
There are a number of short and accessible trails even if you are bringing along a stroller. These trails also allow any family members who use a wheelchair or other assistive devices to join in on the adventures.
If your kids are new to hiking, but you would like to try a new experience, there are options for you as well to experience the beauty of the park.
1. Sterling Munro Boardwalk
- Distance : 100 m one way. Out and back boardwalk.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Location: NW Corner of the Visitor Center in Newhalem
This would be considered a walk rather than a hike, but is perfect for families with strollers, or elderly family members as it is all on a maintained boardwalk. While the walk isn’t taxing, the view is stunning.
From the end of the boardwalk you can see the Terror Glacier. There is signage along the route with beautiful quotes, and poems like this one I loved by William Stafford, entitled “Silver Star”.
And there are also benches where you can sit, relax, and enjoy the view. If you enjoy travel, beautiful views and new experiences but are not looking to hike, this is a great option for you!
2. Happy Creek Forest Walk
- Distance: 0.3 miles round trip
- Difficulty: Easy
- Location: 14 miles east of Newhalem
This is another accessible, mostly boardwalk trail, this time through beautiful old-growth forests.
You will feel tiny in the midst of the giant trees. Kids really enjoy seeing how tall these trees are. The small section that isn’t a boardwalk is still groomed, flat and easily accessible for any wheels.
From the trail, you can hear the sound of the creek bubbling alongside. The boardwalk itself is safe for kids as it has a built up railing on either side to prevent anyone from going off the edge of the boardwalk. This trail is perfect for a scenic stroll.
Due to a small parking lot at the trail head, the forest walk can look busy, but it is one of the lesser known trails and is often much less busy than others.
An outhouse at the beginning of the trail makes this an even better trail for young families.
If all, or part, of your group would like something a little more challenging, you can choose the waterfall trail which juts off where the boardwalk trail loops around to circle back.
This trail only adds a little over 2 additional miles, however a much higher level of difficulty. This difficult hike to the falls is not family friendly for young children as it is rugged, steep, and narrow terrain that is mostly uphill switchbacks.
Whether or not you see much of a waterfall is dependent on the time of year. During late summer months, I would skip this as it is barely a trickle. In spring and late fall, the water runs much more freely so the view is nice if you can manage the climb.
3. Ladder Creek Falls Trail
- Distance: 0.4 miles round trip
- Difficulty: Easy
- Location: Milepost 120 along WA 20
Located behind the Gorge Powerhouse, the Ladder Creek Falls Trail is a 0.4 mile round trip trail gives you the view of manicured gardens, woodlands and a close up view of Ladder Creek Falls.
The path is paved so it is very accessible and on the way back you take a more direct route across a suspension bridge. All kids are enamored with suspension bridges!
One of the best things about this hike is the surprise you will get after dusk. From dusk until midnight, there is a 15 minute light show where the falls are lit up by changing colors.
Year round you can feel the mist from the falls while seeing the captivating light show.
For those parents who appreciate the learning opportunities that happen while exploring and in nature, stop at Gorge Powerhouse on your way back to the car to read about the power of electricity!
4. Trail of the Cedars
- Distance: 0.5 miles loop
- Difficulty: Easy
- Location: Across from the Gorge Inn in Newhalem, WA on WA 20
Within the hundreds of miles of hiking trails in North Cascades National Park, there are a number of trails that are accessible to wheelchairs (and therefore strollers).
This makes it a desirable destination for all families as everyone can explore together. The Trail of the Cedars is one of these accessible, family-friendly trails.
This easy trail begins with crossing a short suspension bridge over the Skagit River, which your kids will enjoy.
The trail proceeds to do a 0.5 mile loop around through giant red cedar trees. The variety of plants and animals on this well – groomed trail will make this one your younger children will love!
Parents will love it as well for the informative signs placed along the trail. What a fun way for kids to learn about these elements of nature while they are immersing themselves in it!
As with many other of these accessible trails, there is a toilet at the trailhead.
5. Rock Shelter Trail
- Distance: 0.6 miles out and back
- Difficulty: Easy
- Location: 0.3 miles east on service road just past loop C in the Newhalem Campground.
This out and back, accessible trail is 0.6 miles in length and has the unique feature of bringing you past a 1400 year old hunting camp. The camp is sheltered by a boulder along Newhalem Creek.
It is interesting to see where Indigenous people used to hunt, prepare food and camp. This can bring about lots of great discussion and learning about how our modern way of life differs from the past. We can also have conversations with our children about learning from others’ way of life and respecting the land.
The Upper Skagit Tribe handles the preservation of these sites. There are interpretive signs on the trail to learn more about the Skagit people and the work they do at this hunting camp site.
There is limited parking on the shoulder of the service road so beware. However this is not typically a busy trail so you should have no trouble parking.
Best Hikes in North Cascades National Park: Top Options for Families
While any of the above listed trails are family-friendly, they are easy, flat, groomed trails less than a mile in length.
There are also many family-friendly hiking trails for those who want to do a little more off-road trails that cover a slightly longer distance.
None of these hikes are high difficulty but do require your kids (and any adults present) to have some stamina and ability to navigate different terrains. These trails will vary in their elevation gain, but none are completely flat. They range in their completion time from approximately 1- 5 hours.
1. Thunder Creek Trail
- Distance: 4 miles out and back
- Difficulty: Easy
- Location: Near amphitheater in Colonial Creek Campground, just past mile post 130 on HWY WA 20.
The Thunder Creek Trail is the beginning portion of a longer and more difficult section of trails . This particular portion of the trail is 4 miles out and back if you want to stick to the easier portion.
This forest trail was originally begun by prospectors and trappers to get into their camps. You begin at the parking lot near the amphitheater and enter a wide trail into the forest. You will pass a turn off for another trail, but stay the course until you come to a fork and then continue right toward the nature loop.
The trail follows along glacier-fed Thunder Creek that you will get periodic glimpses of as you walk. You may admire the turquoise color of the creek.
This color is because of the “rock flour” (fine glacial sediment) that is ground up by the glaciers that feed this creek. The part of the creek that you view from this hike is the lower reaches of the origin which is high up in the Park Creek Pass.
This trail leads to a wooden bridge that crosses the creek, approximately 1.5 miles into your hike. The bridge is an excellent place to bird watch from and allows unobstructed views of the beautiful creek. Owls, woodpeckers and ospreys are just some of the birds you might see from your place on the bridge.
Not far past the bridge you will arrive at Thunder Camp. There are some rocks to sit on here if you want a rest before heading back to the trailhead. This is also a good location for families that want to try their hand at backpack camping. If you wish to camp overnight within the National Park, you need a backcountry pass which is an extra cost. From here you could head back the way you came or carry on to more difficult sections of the trails.
From there, if you wish, you can carry on to Fourth of July Pass but be aware that is no longer an easy trail. With its over 3 miles of switchbacks up a steep incline, taking on this path requires more stamina and sure footing, but you do end up with some great views!
2. Thunder Knob Trail
- Distance: 3.6 miles roundtrip
- Difficulty: Easy
- Location: Inside Colonial Creek Campground, near mile post 130 on WA 20
The Thunder Knob Trail is one of the most popular hikes within the North Cascades trail system and an easy hike to do with children.
This trail is found inside the Colonial Creek Campground. Parking is available at the trailhead (you’ll see the sign) at the entrance to the campground. Once parked, you can walk through the north side of the campground until you see some foot bridges that cross Colonial Creek. This is the beginning of the trail.
BEWARE that these bridges are taken down in the winter to prevent the creek from washing them out. This is important information to note when you are planning your trip.
After you cross the footbridges you soon find yourself in a dried up, rocky creek bed. This was the original location of Colonial Creek before the floods in 2003 – 2006 changed its path to where you see it now. The walking here can be rocky and uneven so watch your step.
The trail quickly transitions into dense forest surroundings. In the fall you will see the stunning orange maple while in the spring you will be treated to the white blossoms on the dogwood trees.
As you make your way up a gradual incline you will reach some benches to catch your breath, rest your legs and take in the first views of Colonial Peak. After this, the trail climbs up and back down a little before that last incline up to Thunder Knob. All of the climbs are gentle ascents.
Off to the left you will find some benches to enjoy the views and perhaps a snack. To the west you will see the ridge of Sourdough Mountain and Davis Peak over Diablo Lake, which is glacier fed and a beautiful color. The color you will see the most is dependent on the time of year.
Earlier in the year, the water will appear more blue and later in the summer it will look more green. Over time, as the glaciers melt in the warm summer weather, the “rock flour” builds up in the Lake and makes it look more green to our eye. You can see Diablo Dam in the distance, which was the tallest dam in the world when it was built in 1930.
For those parents who like to tie education naturally into their outdoor adventures, the view from up here can lend itself well to a discussion on why Diablo Dam is important and what Skagit River and the area might look like without it.
Down another short trail you will see, to the south, Colonial Peak and Pyramid Peak and to the Northwest Jack Mountain. Once you have enjoyed all the sites and feel ready to go again, you can head back down the trail the way you came.
3. Blue Lake Trail
- Distance: 4.4 miles round trip
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Location: off WA 20, near Washington Pass Overlook
There are so many good things to say about this 4.4 mile round trip hike that it would be hard to leave this one off your list! This hike is not actually within the park boundaries, but rather in the adjacent Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
While not an easy trail with a 1050 foot elevation gain, it is extremely worth it! Not to give away the ending, but this one is park ranger recommended for the best place to get into the water. (Be warned, this water is freezing!)
Blue Lake, aptly named, is surrounded by forests and snow covered mountains, making it one of the best views you will see.
Pull right off the highway into the trailhead parking lot and head right out onto the trail. This is a great hike if you don’t have much time but want to see an incredible view. This interesting trail boasts varying terrains such as several short boardwalks, a rocky path in the forest, through alpine meadows, and passing over a small creek on rocks or a makeshift bridge.
A little over 2 miles in and you will pass a dilapidated, old log cabin. The cabin site is fun to explore and then you can find a resting place along the shore overlooking the beautiful Blue Lake. This breathtaking view is one to be appreciated! Adults and kids can put their feet in the water, or if you’re brave enough, jump right in! If you are lucky, you may even see a mountain goat!
The cabin sits at the halfway-turning point in the trail. When you are ready, you can head back to the parking lot. Take as long as you like enjoying the scenery.
Don’t Forget to Check
It is always important to check the park website before traveling. Weather and natural disasters can happen at any time, causing certain trails to be closed down.
To avoid disappointment, be sure to check before you go!
Other Scenic Opportunities
Beyond the hikes and trails mentioned above, as you drive through North Cascades Park on Rt. 20, you’ll see numerous scenic overlook signs. Pull over! Many of these quick stops offer some of the absolute best viewing points in the park.
You’ll never be sorry to take a quick stretch break at any of these points!
Dig Deeper
Looking for more information about North Cascades National Park, or other family-friendly adventures in more amazing US national parks? Be sure to check out these articles, too:
Pin these family-friendly North Cascades hiking ideas for later! And if you found this article helpful, leave a comment on the pin. That helps others decide whether to try some of these trails for their own family vacations!
Thanks for this post! We are planning a trip to Washington for next summer so I’m just starting to plan. I’ve also checked out your Olympic NP and Mount Rainier NP posts! Quick question about North Cascades. I see that you stopped by the shore of Lake Diablo. Did you have to hike down or is there an easier way to just stop by the shore? Also, did you visit Ross Lake?
Sounds like an amazing trip!! There was a large wildfire (Sourdough Fire) when we were in the park in 2023, so much of the area around Diablo Lake was inaccessible. But that’s definitely a must-see spot in that park, for sure. Check out the Thunder Knob Trail which is a good family-friendly hike with views of the lake (but from above). There’s definitely an easy way to get to the shore as well. As you’re driving Rt. 20, you’ll go past an overlook (definitely stop there), and then you’ll end up crossing over the lake at the southern end. There’s a pull-off there with a few parking spots. Stop there, or you can park at Colonial Creek Campground/Picnic area and walk to the lake from there 🙂 Ross Lake has some great family-friendly trails, mostly on the east side and the southwest corner, near Ross Lake Resort. Here’s a link to a map of that area. We are hoping to get back there this summer to explore more since our time was cut short with the fire. It’s a STUNNING park!
These sound like some wonderful hikes!
Oh my goodness this park is gorgeous! I love your details and information within. And your photos are stunning.
Thank you so much for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friends September Link up dear friend.