Beautiful and peaceful State Park…read more We were heading to North Cascades Park and saw the sign for Rockport. We try to check out any state parks we can, so we made an impromptu turn in. There were only a couple cars in the lot, and no one in sight. As I was in the bathroom...which by the way, as another reviewer mentioned, were some of the cleanest I've ever seen in a park...my husband was checking out the trail map. Knowing my deep affinity for trees, especially the elderly ones, he had quickly made the decision we were taking a short trail while here. We took off across the highway to Sauk Springs Trail to see the old grandmother cedar. The trail was a bit muddy at times but nothing tragic. A narrow, serene path winds through the old growth forest passing by the GORGEOUS old cedar and continuing on the loop back to the park entrance. On our way back to the van we noticed a sign about the now closed campground portion of the park. Personally I loved the idea that rather than destroy the precious old growth trees that had become fragile, the park decided in 2007 to close the campground, letting nature have its home while letting hikers still take in the beauty via foot or by driving through. As we left we did just that, drove a loop through the old campgrounds...so cool to see nature slowly reclaiming the space. This park is beautiful. Pristine grounds and lovely trails. Definitely a great place to stop by for a picnic, a hike, and to check out old Grandmother!

My mom and I came to Rockport State Park on Wednesday the 1st of July 2020 together. The park is…read morepart of the Washington State Parks and you need a Discover Pass to park at the location. After parking and putting our annual Discover Pass on display we visited the informational pavilions. One was stocked with maps of the trail systems at both Rasar and Rockport State Park. We took one of those to help us if we got lost in the forest. We were happy to find the trail we chose to hike that day was marked with a trail system map at the trail junction with the paved road. A restroom building is located just uphill from the parking lot. We stopped there before venturing out on the Fern Creek Trail. The day we visited it was supposed to be rainy most of the day and we had found a brief window where it was not raining. Thus we decided to take a shorter trail just to see what we could see before it started raining again. It was simple to find the Fern Creek Trail, this was one of the few times I referred to the paper map while hiking just to double check we hadn't taken a wrong turn along the road. Trees along the Fern Creek Trail reach over 400 years in age. Cool to be hiking with giants that are older than the United States of America is on paper. Birds called and flitted around as we made our way through the old growth forest. We encountered a tree that had cracked and fallen. Hedgy the Hedgehog liked exploring this tree. Huckleberries and wild blueberries lined the path in several places. The trail itself was mostly flat. Due to the recent rain some parts of the trail had standing water, other parts were muddy. We didn't do much talking except exclamations of excitement over how neat the forest and trees were. After finishing the trail we made our way back to the car and departed the park for the day. It started raining as we started driving back west on Washington State Route 20.

Spontaneous Saturday trip to Diablo Lake in Northern Washington but we parked and stayed in Thunder…read moreKnob Trailhead. We drove for almost 3 hours, but when we were looking for a place to park, I lost my signal sevice! Diablo Lake is big and long! We found a spot to relax and swim, but the water was 10°C (so cold, hahaha!). It's still a gorgeous place to visit! Remember, it's better with chairs, snacks, kayaks, paddleboards, and drinks! It's so nice to set aside city and technology life! Just for sure, we are looking to rest and swim and not to hike! But still it is a beautiful nature to see

A vibrant trail with some sensational views! The Thunder Knob trail is a short but moderate 3.5…read moremile out and back trail that's located within North Cascades National Park. The trail begins just behind Diablo Lake and crosses over the beautiful rushing waters of Colonial Creek. It then begins to gently switchback through a lush forest that's filled with beautiful Douglas Fir and Western Hemlock trees. The trail is mostly shaded but features a few breaks within the trees that will reveal some amazing glimpses of the snowcapped mountaintops. As you ascend up the trail, you're rewarded with gorgeous views of the forest and mountains. The forest vegetation is super versatile. I was able to spot daisies, ferns, Western Hemlocks, Douglas Firs, an array of different wildflowers, and so on. The views are the best at the top, of course. There's this stunning vista point that features an aerial view of Diablo Lake with the striking North Cascades Mountain Range in the background. If there was ever a time to get a photo while on this hike, THIS is where you need to do it. It's simply breathtaking to witness. This is also a great spot to bring a picnic and/or take a lunch or snack break for heading back down to finish the second half of the hike. What I genuinely loved about this trail (aside from the views) was how incredibly green it is. The vibrancy is out of this world. Also, to see how clear Diablo Lake is from the top is just insane. It doesn't even look real, but it definitely is! The best part about hiking this trail is being able to literally walk right down to lake to relax after you've finished your hike. It's the perfect reward, and hiking this trail was truly a wonderful experience.

I highly recommend visiting Mount Baker and the Picture Lake area of the mountain. The views are…read moreextraordinary, it's a great way to spend the summer. The roads to the mountain are only open in the summer.

Gorgeous as always! Perfect day for a picnic lunch- making sure not to drop any food. Pack it in…read morepack it out! Do not feed wildlife or leave any trash. There were three boys from a family who decided to walk off path and waited for them to correct their behavior. When they didn't I told them to get back on the trail- don't be one of those humans who thinks nature is there just for them. Leave it better than you found it!

A must-stop on the North Cascades Highway! ​If you are…read moredriving the Cascade Loop, you absolutely cannot pass by the Diablo Lake Overlook. The view from up here is nothing short of breathtaking. The contrast between the vibrant turquoise water and the deep green of the surrounding forest is unreal--it almost looks like it's been photoshopped in real life. Pictures and videos don't even do it justice; you have to see it with your own eyes to believe it. ​There is plenty of parking, a well-maintained viewing platform, and great informational signs explaining how the glaciers and faults shaped this stunning landscape. It can get a bit windy, but the breeze is incredibly refreshing. It's easily one of the most beautiful and rewarding road trip stops in Washington State. Bring your camera and take your time taking it all in!

I do feel slightly weird reviewing natural wonders on Yelp, but why the heck not…read more Diablo Lake is undoubtedly stunning. It's most notable feature is it's gorgeous turquoise color, caused by the reflection of "rock flour". This Vista Point is a super easy turnout from the highway. There's also nice picnic tables and out-houses.

Honestly not sure if there is a better view to be had! You could just take it in from the parking…read morelot (it's worth the drive up), or embark on one of many hikes which originate from the trail head. Even the short trails give you unbeatable views of Baker and Shuksan. Definitely check snow and weather conditions before you drive up, especially in the shoulder season. It's otherwise usually closed in the winter. Will be back for sure!

World class views and potential photos here with minimal effort so long as the snow conditions are…read morenot a problem for your vehicle, driving skills, or patience.

Beautiful state Park!! One of my favorites!!! Love my Skagit River Spot and we can go hiking. The…read morePark host is very nice and SO helpful! Rusty & Greg are great, Park Rangers!! Always get back to you and answer questions that you have about many camp grounds they take care of in the area. We always have a great time & feel refreshed after our camping weekend!

The park is beautiful , peaceful and clean but coin operated shower is a downfall and no laundry at…read moresite .

As a first-time white water rafter, I wasn't sure what to expect--but Cascadia Rafting delivered an…read moreexperience that was equal parts exhilarating, safe, and genuinely fun from start to finish. Our guides, Teo and Nick, were fantastic--clearly experienced, highly professional, and excellent at balancing safety with a great sense of adventure. They gave clear instructions, made everyone feel comfortable on the water, and brought a relaxed, friendly energy to the trip that helped calm any first-time nerves. And then there's Jesse Bean, the company's resident water rescue dog. While we didn't need rescuing (thanks to our skilled guides), knowing Jesse was on standby, complete with her own life vest added a charming and unexpected highlight to the day. Every rafting company should have a dog like Jesse Bean. The Skagit River is breathtaking: cold, clean glacial water, surrounded by dense Northwest greenery and mountain views. The mix of calm stretches and exciting rapids made it ideal for beginners like us, but I imagine experienced rafters would enjoy it just as much! All in all, Cascadia Rafting offers an extremely well-run and memorable experience. Whether you're new to rafting or a seasoned paddler, I highly recommend this team. Thanks again to Teo, Nick, and, of course, Jesse Bean for an unforgettable day on the river!

Such an epic time!!! Could not recommend more. Ethan was a fantastic guide, so knowledgeable,…read moreoutgoing and fun wrapped into one. And Nick took some awesome photos! We didn't realize there would be photos and we're stoked when they said they would airdrop them at the end for free. Just totally amazing overall.

Wow! This sure lived up to its name, world's smallest park you got that right ha ha ha! if you're…read morethinking about coming to this park or not, ask yourself, do you enjoy a good game of checkers if you do, I would highly recommend coming to this place. My friend and I spent a good hour here just playing checkers, while you're sitting and playing checkers at the world's smallest park, you can look around to see a beautiful town named concrete. although there's not much nature here we were surrounded by leaves and some greenery. Plenty of parking unless it's busy but for us on a Monday at 2 PM it's not busy. I would highly recommend if you're a tourist of the sorts!