When the dust settles
A guide to 4 epic day hikes in the North Cascades with some additional commentary
So you’re thinking about going to the North Cascades (the range and the national park)? Good thing I have the perfect 4 day itinerary that will take you to some of the most spectacular views and leave you totally exhausted.
*Please note the majority of this itinerary is advanced and only recommended for experienced hikers unless otherwise noted. Always take the proper precautions when hiking and remember to leave no trace.*
Despite being less than three hours from Seattle, North Cascades National Park is one of the least visited national parks in the US. The park is part of the larger North Cascade range, a range of rugged mountains, with precipitous crags. The Greater North Cascades Ecosystem comprises one of the most intact wildlands in the contiguous US—that’s pretty cool.
Day 1: Cutthroat Pass via Pacific Crest Trail
Length: 10 miles
Elevation gain: 2,100 ft
Time: 5-8 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Info: Click here for trail info
This hike heads north on the Pacific Crest Trail starting at Rainy Pass and heads uphill to the ridgeline and Cutthroat Pass. The incline is pretty gradual, slowly creeping up following a series of switchbacks. The first section takes you through a dark forest where you’ll get a few snippets through the trees of the stunning views ahead. This trail is frequented by a lot of avid hikers and thru-hikers, especially those on their PCT journey.
If you’re looking for a longer day, you can keep hiking along the PCT, you will need to turn around eventually unless you plan on a multi-day hike. Alternatively, you can hike it as a point to point (16ish miles). At the top of Cutthroat pass, take the Cutthroat Creek Trail which will lead you down near the lake before letting you out at the Cutthroat Trailhead. Our group opted to continue on the PCT for a few extra miles and I was very sad when I had to turn around because it just kept getting more beautiful.
I’ve dreamt about hiking the PCT, so getting to cross off just a tiny section was super cool and meaningful to me.
~Interlude to pay respects to Vince’s mules~
Before leaving the trailhead that morning we saw a note about Vince’s loose mules. This quickly became a running joke and team effort among everyone on trail as we passed other hikers and it became clear Vince was actively searching the trail.
So…you can imagine how delighted we were when we stopped for a snack break just shy of the pass and stumbled upon none other than THE Vince and three of the missing mules—yay! Unfortunately I don’t know the details of how they escaped and the final outcome, but if anyone finds it on a Reddit thread please let me know, we became quite invested.
I still can’t get over this sunset and had to share it. We were treated to one of the most stunning pink sunsets that evening while coming back from dinner in Winthrop. The dining scene is limited, but The Mazama Store has the most amazing baguette and fantastic cheese selection. Their baguette is available starting at 9am and always sells out.
Day 2: Blue Lake Trail
Length: 5 miles
Elevation gain: 1,000 ft
Time: 2-3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Info: Click here for more trail info
This hike is generally described as moderate, but with the amount of families populating the trail, I’d say it’s closer to easy side of moderate. The trail takes you through subalpine forest, and occasionally, the trees part just enough to offer striking glimpses of Liberty Bell and the Winter Spires—popular climbing spots. Once you reach the lake, you’re greeted with a shimmering, iridescent pool with some of the clearest water you’ll ever see. Find a spot on one of the many granite boulders to take a snack break and a dip.
The lake’s water is fed by glacial melt and mountain runoff that gather to form a creek. Follow the shoreline and you’ll pass the creek’s headwaters, where you’ll find the remains of a long-submerged beaver dam.
Day 3: Maple Pass Trail
Length: 7 miles
Elevation gain: 2,100 ft
Time: 4-5 hours
Difficulty: Hard
Info: Click here for trail info
This is one of the more popular trails in the park, especially in the fall, and because it’s relatively easy to access. The parking lot fills up quickly so arrive early, or be prepared to park along Route 20 and walk to the trailhead. You’ll start at the Rainy Lake Trailhead. We went counterclockwise for a more gradual ascent and better views of Black Peak. You’ll pass a meadow, bursting with wildflowers when in season, and eventually climb towards Heather Pass which looks down on Lake Ann—you can also opt for a short side quest and go down to the lake—before continuing along the rim and reaching Maple Pass. The trail is mostly exposed with little to no shade, and also very dry and dusty during the summer months. We stopped for a snack break at the top of the pass before making our descent. I have to say, this was my least favorite part, as you’re in dense forest with tight switchbacks.
Day 4: Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm Trail
Length: 13 miles
Elevation gain: 4,500 ft
Time: 8-12 hours
Difficulty: Hard
Info: Click here for more trail info
This was one of the most epic days I’ve ever had on trail and still can’t get over it—for a more in-depth account read my post Long, Hard, and Epic. It was also the most technical hike of the four that we did. Before getting into details, let me warn you that this is a long day. Be prepared for various mountain conditions and pack plenty of food, water (we each carried 4.5 liters), and layers. Including breaks, this took us just over 8.5 hours.
We left Mazama around 6am to drive the two hours to the trailhead which is on the south side of the park. Note that 4WD is STRONGLY recommended, as is a vehicle with high clearance. The 23 mile dirt road is no joke and I was very glad my 5’3” frame was in a Bighorn 2500—yes, I still won’t stop talking about my massive rental truck.
The trail starts with 33 switchbacks in lush forest gaining just under 2,000 feet over three miles. Once you’re through the first set of switchbacks, the forest opens into epic mountain views that just keep coming. The trail merge to get off Cascade Pass and onto the Sahale Arm Trail is a great place to have a snack before continuing your journey up to the glacier. If you continue another mile, there’s another epic break spot overlooking Doubtful Lake. Continue on the Sahale Arm trail which is about 3 miles with 2,200 feet of elevation gain that gradually gets steeper and more technical as you approach the summit and campsites. The final mile is the hardest section of the hike, a rock scramble gaining over 1,000 feet of elevation and requiring frequent route finding since the trail disappears. I was really happy to have my hiking poles for these final two sections.
Final thoughts
If the North Cascades aren’t on your bucket list, take this as a sign to change that. This range is beautiful and a hiker’s dream. While we covered a decent amount of ground we barely touched the surface. I will be back for a multi-day trek, so if anyone would like to join me, let me know.
If you’re wondering about the title…you will be covered in dirt. It’s dusty, but I’ll take a little dirt over wildfires or rain any day.