Experience the North Cascades: Highway 20 Hikes and Sights

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Experience the North Cascades: Highway 20 Hikes and Sights Osceola Carru Peak Mountain #

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LA K E C H EL A NSAWTO OT H WI LD ER N ES S

Highway 20 Featured Hikes & Sights

Cascade Loop Scenic Highway

Newhalem Area Trails

Canyon Creek Trail

• Explore the lush forest environment and creeks of Newhalem through a variety of easy trails. Interpretive signs help you learn along the way.

• Several trails depart from the North Cascades National Park Visitor Center, located south of Highway 20 at milepost 120.

Restrooms available. Trails also depart from the Newhalem campground and Main Street in Newhalem.

Photo: Holly Werran, courtesy of REI

• Explore two creeks, two bridges, and an historic cabin along Canyon Creek in less than a mile (one-way). For a longer hike, continue your trip along Canyon Creek.

• Located north of Highway 20 near milepost 141. Restrooms available. Northwest Forest Pass required.

Photo: Dave Snyder

Rainy Pass Trails

Gorge Creek Falls Trail

• Experience the roar and mists of Gorge Creek Falls as they tumble right to the highway. A short trail leads to an overlook and more waterfalls.

• Located south of Highway 20 at milepost 123. Restrooms available.

Photo: North Cascades National Park

Photo: Cameron Maddux

• Stretch your legs at Rainy Pass, where you can find rewarding hikes of various lengths. A one-mile trail leads you to scenic Rainy Lake; a two-mile trail takes you to Lake Ann; and a longer loop trail offers alpine meadows and views of majestic peaks along Heather and Maple passes.

• Located south of Highway 20 near milepost 158 at the Rainy Pass Picnic Area. Restrooms and water available. Northwest Forest Pass required.

Cutthroat Lake Trail

Diablo Lake Trail

• Take a gentle, two-mile trail (one-way) along Cutthroat Creek and past lichen-covered granite boulders to Cutthroat Lake, surrounded by rocky cliffs. For a longer hike, continue 3.8 miles to Cutthroat Pass.

• Located north of Highway 20 near milepost 167, turn onto Forest Road 400, continue one mile to the trailhead. Restrooms available.

Northwest Forest Pass required.

• View snowy peaks and glacial-fed Diablo Lake from this quiet trail. Mossy forests, boulder fields, and overlooks make any portion of this four-mile trail (one-way) a great excursion.

• Drive across Diablo Dam at milepost 127.5 then turn right. Access the trail at the trailhead on the left across from North Cascades Institute’s parking lot.

Photo: Dave Snyder

Photo: H. Warren, courtesy of REI

Thunder Knob Trail

Photo: North Cascades National Park

• Explore this two-mile interpretive loop trail that departs from the Lone Fir campground and follows Early Winters Creek.

• Located south of Highway 20 between mileposts 168 and 169 at the Lone Fir Campground. Restrooms and limited parking available.

Photo: Steph Taylor

Pacific Crest Trail (to Tatie Peak)

• Follow the Pacific Crest Trail for two miles across alpine meadows to breathtaking views of Tatie Peak.

• Take Lost River Road (or Harts Pass Road 5400) east from Mazama 18.5 miles to Harts Pass (this mostly dirt road can be rough, especially the last few miles). At the pass, turn south onto Spur Road 54-500 to Meadows Campground; continue two miles beyond campground to the trailhead.

Happy Creek Forest Walk

• Explore this half-mile interpretive trail loop through tall trees and along bubbling Happy Creek. A steeper, rustic trail (1.8 miles) to Happy Creek Falls is accessible from this boardwalk.

• Located south of Highway 20 between mileposts 134 and 135.

Restrooms available.

Map and Permit Information

This map is intended to help you access easier, rewarding hikes in the North Cascades. Green Trails Maps are recommended for navigational purposes on hiking trails. You can purchase Green Trails Maps online at www.greentrails.com or at a local vendor. Many recreation destinations require a pass: Discover Pass: $35 annual, $11.50 daily. Required at Washington state-managed recreation lands. Available at www.discoverpass.wa.gov, in person from any hunting or fishing license vendor, and by phone: (866) 320-9933.

Photo: Jason Hollinger

National Forest Recreation Day Pass: $5. Required at all Forest Service day use or entrance fee sites in Washington or Oregon. Available at National Forest offices and visitor centers, via private vendors, or www.discovernw.org.

Northwest Forest Pass: $30. Annual pass honored at all Forest Service day use or entrance fee sites in Washington or Oregon. Available at National Forest offices and visitor centers, via private vendors or www.discovernw.org.

Interagency Annual Pass: $80. Annual pass honored at all federal recreation sites charging day use or entrance fees. Available at National Forest offices or

www.cascadeloop.com, (509) 662-3888 Cascade Loop Scenic Highway provides visitor information for communities along the 440-mile Cascade Loop Scenic Highway. Contact the Chambers of Commerce in Winthrop (888) 463-8469 and Concrete for more local tourist information (360) 853-8767.

North Cascades Institute

www.ncascades.org, (360) 854-2599 North Cascades Institute seeks to inspire a closer relationship with nature through direct experiences in the natural world. The Institute provides a wide variety of workshops, classes, and tours. Visit the Institute’s Environmental Learning Center on the north shore of Diablo Lake.

North Cascades National Park

www.nps.gov/noca, (360) 854-7200 North Cascades National Park Service Complex is made up of three units managed as one: North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. More than 90 percent of the complex is managed as the Stephen Mather Wilderness. Visit the North Cascades Visitor Center in Newhalem and the Wilderness Support Center near Marblemount for hiking and permit information.

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

www.fs.usda.gov/okawen, (509) 996-4003 (Methow Ranger District) The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest stretches north to south from the Canadian border to the base of Mt. Rainier, and east of the Cascade Crest to the Okanogan highlands. The Methow Valley Ranger District extends from the town of Twisp to the crest of the Cascades in the Pasayten Wilderness and North Cascades National Park.

REI Guidepost Lone Fir Loop Interpretive Trail

• Take a two-mile trail (one-way) up to Thunder Knob, perched above Diablo Lake. Bridges, moss-covered ledges, forests of hemlock and pine, and overlooks delight you along the way.

• Located north of Highway 20 at the Colonial Campground near milepost 130; parking is to the right of the entrance. Water and restrooms available.

Photo: D. Parrish, courtesy of REI

Resources

www.discovernw.org.

Interagency Senior Pass: $10. Lifetime pass for those 62 and older honored at all federal recreation sites charging day use or entrance fees. Passes issued in person; available at National Forest offices.

Interagency Military Pass, Interagency Access Pass: Free. Passes for active duty military and their dependents as well as individuals with a permanent disability honored at all federal sites charging day use or entrance fees. Passes issued in person; available at National Forest offices.

www.rei.com/guidepost REI is a national outdoor retail co-op dedicated to inspiring, educating, and outfitting its members and the community for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship. The REI Guidepost provides detailed information and an interactive map of recreational activities for areas such as the North Cascades.

Seattle City Light

www.seattlegov/light, (206) 684-3030 Seattle City Light has generated hydroelectric power on the Skagit River since 1918. Today three dams provide power to the citizenowners in Seattle. Seattle City Light provides several tours to learn about the North Cascades and its long history of environmental stewardship along the Skagit River.

The Wilderness Society

www.experiencewilderness.org, (206) 624-6430 The Wilderness Society (TWS) aims to protect and enhance the wild lands and waters of the North Cascades and inspire communities to care for our public lands. TWS works with a variety of partners to protect wild lands and waters, expand recreational opportunities, and steward our natural resources.

Washington Trails Association

www.wta.org, (206) 625-1367 Washington Trails Association’s (WTA) mission is to preserve, enhance, and promote hiking opportunities through collaboration, education, advocacy, and volunteer trail maintenance. Visit WTA’s website to access a wealth of hiking resources and learn about volunteer opportunities.