After moving back to Seattle, reunions with all three of Washington’s national parks were high on my to-do list. Visiting North Cascades National Park requires somewhat strategic timing, as Highway 2 (also known as the North Cascades Highway) closes during the winter – and if you visit too soon after it reopens, many of the trails will still be covered in snow. I ended up waiting until October, and timed a weekend trip to North Cascades National Park to coincide with both my mom’s birthday and peak larch season. (IYKYK – if not, here’s an intro.
Day 1 – Diablo Lake, Ross Lake, Mazama
3pm – If you’re making the trip in the fall, try to cut out of work a couple hours early so that you can stop to enjoy the views on the drive in. You’ll need at least 4 hours to make the drive from Seattle; plan for a bathroom and/or coffee stop in Darrington, Concrete (yes that’s a town), or Marblemount before things get really remote. Consider packing or picking up a picnic dinner to enjoy at one of the viewpoint stops. And if you’re early enough, you might be able to stop at the North Cascades Visitor Center in Marblemount.
6pm – If you time it right, you might be able to enjoy your picnic dinner with a sunset view over Diablo Lake or Ross Lake! Or if you’re timing the trip differently, there are plenty of great hikes in this area to start exploring right away.
8pm – Mazama is a great place to land just on the other side of the pass; if you didn’t pack a picnic, you might be in luck for dinner at the Mazama Public House, scheduled to open in summer 2022. We stayed at the lovely Inn at Mazama, and there are a variety of other great cabins and lodging options in the area. Or, if you want to split your time between camping and comfort, consider camping Night 1 (if you don’t mind potentially setting up camp in the dark) so that you can have that hot hotel shower on Night 2. The Klipchuck Campground is very close to Mazama, in a peaceful forest setting near Early Winters Creek.
Day 2 – Hiking & Winthrop
8am – Consider stopping into the Mazama Store for breakfast, coffee, and lunch to bring on your hike. The homemade bagels are a local favorite!
9am – There are so many incredible hikes in this area – and be sure to look in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest just east of the park as well as within North Cascades National Park itself – but I have to recommend the classic Heather Pass/Maple Pass loop. You’ll put some good miles in, but the alpine lake and incredible mountain views are well worth it. Plus – if you’re lucky – larches galore!
6pm – If you’re staying in a hotel tonight, a hot shower will certainly be welcome after a day of hiking. If not, no worries, you can still grab dinner in town in Winthrop and fit right in. (Winthrop also has several outdoor stores and the nearest gas station and full-service grocery store in the area, should you need to stock up.) We enjoyed the river-side seating at the Old Schoolhouse Brewery and happily zipped into our tents with warm bellies after enjoying Okanogan County Angus burgers.
Day 3 – West through North Cascades National Park
9am – Enjoy a slower start if you like, or pack in another hike as you make your way back west on Highway 20. If you didn’t catch it on your way in, make the Washington Pass viewpoint your first stop on your way back up the pass, and then take your time exploring any of the stops within the national park that you might have missed on your way in.
12pm – Roadside park highlights include the Seattle City Light company town of Newhalem, and the viewpoints at Diablo Lake and Ross Lake. And, don’t forget there’s still a chance to stop for roadside espresso on your way back to Seattle!
Google probably wants me to make sure you know that you can find other sample weekend 48-hour trip itineraries here, and other national park guides here. And, I should probably re-state that this is a post about a weekend trip to North Cascades National Park. Happy walking!
