A Weekend in North Cascades National Park
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Summary:
You've picked a great destination! Phenomenal views are in the cards for this weekend trip from Seattle. While we could spend weeks exploring North Cascades National Park, you can fit many of the park's highlights into one weekend. Follow this step by step itinerary to make easy planning of the weekend ahead. You'll be leaving from Seattle on Saturday morning, overnighting in Winthrop, WA, and returning to Seattle late Sunday afternoon.
Where to Stay/Eat:
You'll need a good nights rest between adventuring on Saturday and Sunday. The town of Winthrop is a great stop shortly outside of the park. Below are my recommendations for lodging and dining!
What to Pack:
Packing all the sights of North Cascades National Park into one weekend is no easy feat, but it can be done and preparation is key!
Trip Necessities:
-Food & Snacks: Keeping your energy up will be important for this trip! Pack snacks for both days and a lunch for the first day, so you don't miss out on any of the top sights!
-Water & Pedialyte: Hydration is a must, in general but especially for a hiking trip! It's recommended to bring 1 liter of water for every two hours of hiking. Across this itinerary, that would be 9 liters across the two days.
-Overnight Bag: You'll be staying overnight in Winthrop, so don't forget to pack your toiletries and a change of clothes for day two!
-Hiking Gear: Stay safe on your hikes! See details below.
Hiking Gear:
-Bear Spray: You're in their territory, don't be caught without this!
-Lightweight Hiking Backpack: One this trip, you won't be camping overnight so a day pack will serve you fine!
-Compact First Aid Kit: Hopefully you won't need it, but you don't want to be caught without it if you do.
-Flashlight
-Swiss Army Knife: Helpful tool for the trails, just make sure you have it in your checked bag if you are flying to Washington first
-Personal Safety Alarm (Birdie): Again, another one I hope you don't need but if you do find yourself in trouble on the trail, this alarm will help notify others your in need of help. I keep mine on the strap of my backpack so I'm able to easily grab.
Day 1:
-7:45 AM: Pack your car (or rental) and head out of Seattle on I-5 North towards North Cascades National Park Visitors Center (2hrs 45mins).
-10:30 AM: Arrive at the Visitor Center and explore their exhibits to learn more about the park. Check in with the rangers for current conditions and tips! They also have a gift shop and restroom facilities here before you head out to the trails!
-11:00 AM: Drive 10 minutes from the Visitor Center to Gorge Overlook Trail. This short .5 mile trail gives you amazing lake and waterfall views and is a great stop to stretch your legs before heading to longer trails. Expect to spend around 30 minutes here and stop for a snack!
-11:30 AM: Drive 15 minutes to Thunder Knob Trail and head out on this moderate 3.4 mile trail with stunning views of the crazy blue waters of Diablo Lake. Stop for lunch at the top while enjoying the view before heading back to the trailhead. Expect to spend around 2 hours on this hike, depending on how long you stop for lunch.
-2:00 PM: Drive 5 minutes to Diablo Lake Vista Point, a brief stop but another stunning view of the blue waters and nice point to celebrate your recent hike.
-2:15 PM: Drive 30 minutes to Blue Lake Trail and head out on this moderate, 4.6 mile trail that delivers stunning mountain views on the way to your destination, the aptly named Blue Lake. Expect to spend around 2.5 hours here. If you are a moderately experienced hiker, you shouldn't having a problem adding this to your day. If you are a beginner or just don't have two hikes in you, you can skip this hike and head straight to Washington Pass Vista Point.
-5:15 PM: Drive 5 minutes to Washington Pass Vista Point to take in the amazing views of Liberty Bell Mountain before heading into town for the night.
-5:30 PM: Head into your stop for the night, the lovely town of Winthrop, WA! The drive should take you around 40 minutes and there are plenty of lodging and dining options around the area. Enjoy the night and get some sleep before more exploring tomorrow!
Day 2:
-8:00 AM: Repack the car and drive 45 minutes to the stunning Maple Pass Trail. The most difficult of the trails on this itinerary, it is still plenty doable for the moderate hiker. This 6.5 mile trail will take you through the stunning landscape of Black Peak and Maple Pass. Take the route counterclockwise for a more gradual ascent (and better views). You'll definitely want to take the short detour trail to Lake Ann to enjoy the water before heading back up the main trail loop. Expect to take around 4 hours for this trail.
If you are heading back to Seattle Day 2:
-12:00 PM: Congrats, you made it! Take a minute to rest and rehydrate before hitting the road to head back to Seattle. The drive itself will take around 3 hours and 20 minutes, but I'm guessing you'll want to stop for lunch along the way!
-4:30 PM: Arrive back in Seattle and get some rest before your next adventure! Check out my Seattle Guide for the best recommendations for your time in town!
If you are staying an additional day:
-12:00 PM: Congrats, you made it! Head back to Winthrop for a well-deserved lunch and break! (See above for recommended spots)
For a light afternoon:
-2:00 PM: After lunch, stop by the Shafer Museum to learn about the history of the area. Alternatively, head downtown for some shopping
-4:00 PM: Head to Lost River Winery to shop local and try some WA wine. Alternatively, take an easy stroll along Staeekhwa Bridge and Trail
-6:00 PM: Grab dinner and rest up for tomorrow
For a more active afternoon:
-2:00 PM: Head out Rafting with Methow Rafting!
-6:00 PM: Grab dinner and rest up for tomorrow
Day 3:
-7:00 AM: Repack the car and drive 1 hour 20 minutes to Sourdough Mountain Lookout trail. You've probably seen this one all over tiktok due to its continuous breathtaking views and great payoff. It is a challenging hike that shouldn't be attempted without any experience, but well worth it. Around 12 miles out and back and you can expect to take around 7 hours so don't forget lunch!
-3:30 PM: Wow what a weekend! Take some time to rest and head back to Seattle, which will take around 3 hours.
-6:30 PM: Arrive back in town! Check out my Seattle Guide for the best recommendations for your time in town!
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